Tonight on Amazon: the Nazis won the war in this terrifying series noted 4.2 out of 5

In the galaxy of the authors very often adapted to the screen, Philip K. Dick undoubtedly occupies a place of choice. We thus note at least a dozen news or novels carried on the big screen, with more or less happiness elsewhere.

To an absolute masterpiece like Blade Runner or the rather solid minority Report and a scanner Darkly, oppose adaptations like Next or Paycheck who have not completely shone in the firmament of the 7th art …

Written in 1962 and crowned the following year by the prestigious Hugo Prize for best novel, The master of the high castle is one of the most famous K. Dick works – and read in the world. A cult uchronic novel, it also drags a reputation for being more or less unsuitable (just like Ubik, on which Michel Gondry broke his teeth), so introspections and sub -intrigues multiply. The author even practices abyss by creating an uchrony in uchronia. Not really the kind of thing that the Hollywood mainstream Raves, unless you practice a generous cavioning …

Amazon

It must also be said that the adaptation of this novel experienced a very, very difficult childbirth. We have been talking about it since 2010. On that date, the production company of Ridley Scott, Scott Freewanted to take care of it, with the blessing of the BBC, which finally retracted. Then it was the Syfy chain of withdrawing from the project.

The next generation was finally ensured thanks to Amazon Studios. And Ridley Scott as an executive producer, who was also praising praise on the work of K. Dick: “The master of the high castle is one of the most imaginative and captivating Dick works. Certainly one of my favorites”.

Amazon

If the initial project was to create a mini series in four episodes, then finally ten, only the pilot, scripted by Frank Spotnitz (well known to X-File lovers) and produced by David Semel, was born at first.

Unveiled to premium subscribers, the latter then had to vote to give a favorable sequence or not to this pilot, and thus transform the test. And the least we can say is that the feedback from the public as well as criticism were very complimentary. The enthusiasm for the series, which benefited from a wide word of mouth, ultimately made it possible to develop no less than four seasons, from 2015 to 2019.

An absolutely terrifying uchrony

Based on the principle of uchrony, the novel describes a terrifying universe. Or an alternative reality, in which the Allies would have lost the Second World War in the face of Nazi Germany, Imperialist Japan and Fascist Italy.

After the capitulation of the Allies in 1947, the Nazis now occupied part of the American territory, while Japan occupied another, thus forming the great Nazi Reich and the Japanese peaceful states. In the center, a zone that constitutes a vassalized and bloodless country, where the company's rebus are shipped.

The plot takes place in 1962. Hitler is 73 years old, and sick. Goebbels and Himmler are fighting to succeed him at the head of the Grand Reich. In American territory, a clandestine struggle has committed to try to resist, mercilessly repressed by the Nazi and Japanese occupants.

Between these two conquering powers, courteous diplomatic relations are only pure facade: Nazi Germany actually despises their Japanese allies, to the point of preparing to hit them soon …

Amazon

We will not say more at the risk of spoiling the effects of surprise. Benefiting from a detail maniac treatment, both in terms of sets and costumes, to best immerse the spectator in its logically very oppressive atmosphere, the series is brought to arm by a sensational skewer of talents.

The Franco-American actress Alexa Davalos, as a resistant in spite of herself. Joel de la Fuente, freezing as an inspector of the Kenpeitaithe equivalent of the Japanese Gestapo. Brennan Brown, in the guise of an antique dealer in the key role in events tearing the country.

But we will award the special mention to Rufus Sewell, absolutely brilliant and terrifying in the guise of a former US army officer who made allegiance to the Nazis, managing to rise to the highest peak of the State at the cost of all possible compromises and sacrifices, including of course the worst.

On the famous question “And if …”, whose reflection can easily be vertiginous, The Man in the High Castle undoubtedly part of the top of the basket. A fiction which, moreover, has quite frosty resonances with the news in the United States … To see absolutely!