When the episode begins, Juliana (Alexa Davalos) and Frank Frink (Rupert Evans) continue watching the film and resume their contemplation. Joe (Luke Kleintank) arrives moments later and a fight ensues. Joe head butts Frank, but his glasses never leave his head. Joe leaves moments later with the tape in hand. Afterwards, John Smith (Rufus Sewell) leaves his home, after giving his wife a gun to use for protection. Juliana and Frank meet up with Lem (Rick Worthy) and Karen (Camille Sullivan). They formulate a plan to draw Joe out of the Nazi embassy and for Lem to shoot him dead.

Meanwhile, Inspector Kido (Joel de la Fuente) and Sergeant Yoshida (Lee Shorten) raid an apartment and manage to find the real shooter. Upon finding the gun, Kido kills the shooter and insists he will give up his life, if it keeps the Empire safe. Meanwhile, John Smith arrives at the hunting grounds. Rudolph Wegener (Carsten Norgaard) arrives back home and spends a little time with his wife and children. Joe makes it to the embassy and awaits John Smith’s call. Inspector Kido pays a visit to Nobusuke Tagomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and tells him about their responsibilities and duties for their country. Juliana says her goodbyes and prepares to enter the embassy.

At work, Ed McCarthy (DJ Qualls) formulates a plan to dispose of the gun. Unfortunately, he gets caught by his boss and finds himself in a heap of trouble. Tagomi cancels his day’s duties and insists he will be leaving for the day. Next, Inspector Kido prepares to kill himself, but he is stopped, when the Sergeant arrives with the gun. Back at the embassy, Joe Blake answers the ringing phone and speaks to Major Klemm (Steve Byers). He is told to stay away from Diels, who is working with Heydrich. Afterwards, Diels returns and tells Joe to travel to the basement, so he can prepare to head to New York.

Finally, Reinhard Heydrich (Ray Proscia) and his man take John Smith hostage and steal his gun. Juliana enters the embassy, while Joe is taken downstairs. Joe makes it to the basement, turns around and heads back up. He runs into Juliana and they escape out of the back of the building. Joe finally comes clean and insists he had to fulfill his duty for the sake of himself and those around him. Meanwhile, John Smith is hassled by Heydrich, who attempts to convince him to join his side. He is told he will receive a phone call and he must make a choice, before the call arrives. Meanwhile, Rudolph arrives at the Nazi headquarters and prepares to meet with Adolf Hitler (Wolf Muser).

Meanwhile, Frank learns about Ed being taken into custody from Karen. Frank places a call to Ed’s house and is belittled by his father. He quickly rushes to the Kempeitai headquarters. While John Smith is ordered to hurry and make a decision, Rudolph makes his move and attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler. We finally see Adolf and he looks strangely similar to David Bowie. He confronts Rudolph and admits he knows why he has come. Adolf gives Rudolph the opportunity to save his family, by eliminating himself.

Finally, the phone rings and John Smith is forced to make a decision. Of course, he receives assistance from a sniper and manages to disable Heydrich. He picks up the phone and speaks directly to Hitler, after Rudolph kills himself. Juliana and Joe arrive at the execution site. They speak outside and Juliana falls for Joe, so she spares him. She sends him away on a boat, which greatly angers Lem and Karen. Frank arrives in the knick of time to see Ed get drug away by the Japanese. At the end of the episode, we see Tagomi sitting on a street bench. He meditates, awakes and finds himself in America, as it should be.

 

The Man in the High Castle Finale Review

Well, this season is finally over and it will undoubtedly be my last. The Man in the High Castle should be a show that I love! The alternative history and the time period are very compelling. Also, the scenery is great. Unfortunately, the rest of the show is pure rubbish. Juliana, Frank and Joe are incredibly annoying. Frank has made stupid mistake, after stupid mistake. If Ed dies, he will be the fifth or sixth victim of Frank. Of course, Juliana is no better.

Also, some of the casting choices were horrendous. Ray Proscia, who is thankfully dead, sounds nothing like a German. His Indian sounding accent is painful. And, we wait all season for the introduction of Adolf Hitler. Instead, we get a fat David Bowie. A more authentic representation could’ve been found.

I suppose The Man in the High Castle is propaganda or was meant to be at the time. However, it actually backfires. The Japanese and Nazis are the smartest of the bunch. Not only are the foreign characters more intriguing and compelling, but the foreign actors outshine their counterparts. Rupert Evans is cringeworthy and Juliana’s parents were dreadful. Without compelling characters, the series falls flat. Is it worth watching for Joel de la Fuente, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Rufus Sewell? Not quite, but these three stand above the smelly heap.

Sadly, The Man in the High Castle could’ve been something special, but it is plagued by bad acting, laughable writing and nonexistent character development. The first season deserves a 6 out of 10 and that might be generous. Catch up with previous recaps of The Man in the High Castle right now.