Re: The Man in the High Castle
Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:00 pm
Still haven't watched season 1 and still wanna. Am totally still interested in hearing people's opinions on this still. 
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:53 pm
It's not the greatest thing in the world. But it does what it sets out to do: tells a story about a hypothetical axis-occupied America. Which is a pretty cool premise. And they succeed in doing the premise justice and making it worthwhile watching (which is difficult when there's so much choice for good tv out there) - but if you're looking for Breaking-Bad/Mad-Men quality TV this aint it. In terms of quality, I'd compare it to 11.22.63, except maybe a little bit worse? Not bad by any means. In fact, quite good. But not a "masterpiece" in what is currently a golden age of good television.
Something that bugged me was that almost every shot had a camera filter on it that made all the colours incredibly washed out and lifeless. This was almost certainly a stylistic choice to show how hopeless and downtrodden life is like for Americans within the japanese states. However while it was a stylistic choice that was effective in what it set out to do, it does make it incredibly laboureous to watch at times. The neutral zone suffers from the same problem. And even though the comparatively idyllic Reich introduces some much needed colour to the mix, they still make it feel incredibly flat and faded.
Anyway, it's a show that mainly coasts on having a good concept rather than providing incredibly thrilling tv that you can't peel your eyes away from and will be subject to many water-cooler conversations. Having said that, they absolutely handle the concept adequately. And by "adequately" I don't mean "phoned-in by-the-numbers 90's-TV quality - just good enough to exist, not get cancelled, and to have viewers that watch it non-ironically" like that show Zoo, or Arrow, or something similar. It's actually good. You won't be disappointed unless you expect Casa Blanca.
Something that bugged me was that almost every shot had a camera filter on it that made all the colours incredibly washed out and lifeless. This was almost certainly a stylistic choice to show how hopeless and downtrodden life is like for Americans within the japanese states. However while it was a stylistic choice that was effective in what it set out to do, it does make it incredibly laboureous to watch at times. The neutral zone suffers from the same problem. And even though the comparatively idyllic Reich introduces some much needed colour to the mix, they still make it feel incredibly flat and faded.
Anyway, it's a show that mainly coasts on having a good concept rather than providing incredibly thrilling tv that you can't peel your eyes away from and will be subject to many water-cooler conversations. Having said that, they absolutely handle the concept adequately. And by "adequately" I don't mean "phoned-in by-the-numbers 90's-TV quality - just good enough to exist, not get cancelled, and to have viewers that watch it non-ironically" like that show Zoo, or Arrow, or something similar. It's actually good. You won't be disappointed unless you expect Casa Blanca.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Sun Dec 25, 2016 3:14 pm
Season two is much better than season one...It still has its problems, but the acting has improved overall. I think they've done well enough expanding the plot past the novel, but the more mystic side is kind of lacking. The mystic stuff is still there but it is different and more kind of fluid I guess...It just doesn't feel like the creators are as interested in that stuff (much like Scott taking out the religious side of blade runner...This leaves more in though). Just a different take.
Some of the events are kind of handled strangely and abruptly and others are drawn out kind of randomly.
Beyond the acting, the the next least polished part of the show is the scene transitions: they can feel straight Days of our Lives soap style....Say something, stern question reply, freeze on face about to reply for a bit too long, next scene.
Overall, I thought season two made the kinda lame season one worth the watch. The show is catching it's stride I think. Like others have said, not the best show but a totally worthy watch with some bright points and some flaws.
Some of the events are kind of handled strangely and abruptly and others are drawn out kind of randomly.
Beyond the acting, the the next least polished part of the show is the scene transitions: they can feel straight Days of our Lives soap style....Say something, stern question reply, freeze on face about to reply for a bit too long, next scene.
Overall, I thought season two made the kinda lame season one worth the watch. The show is catching it's stride I think. Like others have said, not the best show but a totally worthy watch with some bright points and some flaws.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Sun Dec 25, 2016 3:53 pm
Might possibly be like I like this show but Juliana Crane is a terrible character and it annoys me.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Mon Dec 26, 2016 12:13 pm
mysteryroach wrote:It's not the greatest thing in the world. But it does what it sets out to do: tells a story about a hypothetical axis-occupied America. Which is a pretty cool premise. And they succeed in doing the premise justice and making it worthwhile watching (which is difficult when there's so much choice for good tv out there) - but if you're looking for Breaking-Bad/Mad-Men quality TV this aint it. In terms of quality, I'd compare it to 11.22.63, except maybe a little bit worse? Not bad by any means. In fact, quite good. But not a "masterpiece" in what is currently a golden age of good television.
Something that bugged me was that almost every shot had a camera filter on it that made all the colours incredibly washed out and lifeless. This was almost certainly a stylistic choice to show how hopeless and downtrodden life is like for Americans within the japanese states. However while it was a stylistic choice that was effective in what it set out to do, it does make it incredibly laboureous to watch at times. The neutral zone suffers from the same problem. And even though the comparatively idyllic Reich introduces some much needed colour to the mix, they still make it feel incredibly flat and faded.
Anyway, it's a show that mainly coasts on having a good concept rather than providing incredibly thrilling tv that you can't peel your eyes away from and will be subject to many water-cooler conversations. Having said that, they absolutely handle the concept adequately. And by "adequately" I don't mean "phoned-in by-the-numbers 90's-TV quality - just good enough to exist, not get cancelled, and to have viewers that watch it non-ironically" like that show Zoo, or Arrow, or something similar. It's actually good. You won't be disappointed unless you expect Casa Blanca.
Maybe I should try 11.22.63. I read the book.
I think -- and I have no technical knowledge whatsoever, just a hunch -- those filters are often used to disguise the CGI. The filters were my least favorite part of the Lord Of The Rings movies. In this series I bet that a lot of the sets and backgrounds are CGI.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Wed Jan 04, 2017 6:38 pm
Watching S2 now.
I actually prefer it over the first. Mostly because they pretty much axed the whole love triangle bullshit.
I actually prefer it over the first. Mostly because they pretty much axed the whole love triangle bullshit.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:14 pm
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Mon Mar 13, 2017 8:05 pm
Missed this thread, but watched the first season with Invisible Woman. I am a patient man, but Jesus this show is slow. Now a few eps deep in season 2, and there are some where I'm not sure I could accurately summarize the plot because nothing happens.
It is beautifully shot, but wer'e mostly watching it because of the lack of better options.
It is beautifully shot, but wer'e mostly watching it because of the lack of better options.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Mon Mar 13, 2017 8:51 pm
Invisible Man wrote:It is beautifully shot, but we're mostly watching it because of the lack of better options.
Probably the main reason anyone watches it.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:21 am
Anyone watch season 3 yet?
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:51 am
I'm a few episodes deep in the new season. I think I like the show a lot more than most people in this thread, though.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:30 pm
Currently trudging through the season because I can't stop getting bored/confused.
Sidenote:
Sidenote:
SPOILER : show
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:36 pm
I have yet to start...I won't click the spoilers but i really want to.
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Wed Oct 17, 2018 11:18 am
Season 3 feels even slower so far. One hour feels way longer.
Some plots have come out of nowhere or I forgot/missed them during season 2. The characters at times do some random actions that I don't know if they fit overall with the character or arc. Some good stuff and I think they've gone in the right direction in some ways, but, eh...I do chores while my wife watches and intermittently come back during an episode...she tells me nothing happened haha.
Nothing better to watch though. Only at episode 2 or 3 though (we started the weekend it came out).
Spoiler kinda:
Some plots have come out of nowhere or I forgot/missed them during season 2. The characters at times do some random actions that I don't know if they fit overall with the character or arc. Some good stuff and I think they've gone in the right direction in some ways, but, eh...I do chores while my wife watches and intermittently come back during an episode...she tells me nothing happened haha.
Nothing better to watch though. Only at episode 2 or 3 though (we started the weekend it came out).
Spoiler kinda:
NSFW: show
Re: The Man in the High Castle
Thu Oct 18, 2018 1:32 am
lordgalvar wrote:Season 3 feels even slower so far. One hour feels way longer.
Yeah, I find myself having a REALLY hard time getting through this season. I'm a little over halfway, but I can only handle a single episode per sitting vs binging it previously, and when an ep is over, I'm more relieved than interested in what actually happened. Combined with the dead serious tone and the filters cooling everything down, the even slower pacing has kinda pushed it over the line into comatose and has made it too much of a slog. I'm only watching still to see what happens with the Trade Minister, as he's the sole likable character in pretty much any sense, imo.
