Welcome to The Man in the High Castle season two watch-along, episode six “Kintsugi”. The second season has made its premiere on Amazon Prime. Over the next few weeks, we are running recap and reactions to the 10-episode season. If you haven’t started watching yet, read at your own risk as SPOILERS follow.
Tagomi was left shocked to find his daughter-in-law in an alternate reality. In the midst of Tagomi’s discoveries, the Cuban missile crisis is at its peak. His son, Nori, had organized a “ban the bomb” meeting, much to his confusion. Of course, he learns that he has an uneasy relationship with his son. During a quick shopping trip, he is left distraught when his son chose American beliefs over Japanese.
Juliana Crain is sent to join Helen Smith and her circle of friends. George reveals that beneath the generous woman that is Helen, she is nothing but a Queen Bee. While infiltrating their circle, she learns that they must report genetic defects so the Nazi’s remain strong. Of course, Helen is keeping her own secrets. She isn’t the only one, a fellow woman is unable to have children. Despite the woman’s generosity to Juliana claimed to have only sympathized for her the slightest. Juliana brings up to George that Trudy claimed to have known a way out, but brought up she didn’t mean death. Perhaps with Tagomi’s story, Trudy found a way to the “alternate” reality?
Thomas Smith finds a letter and to his excitement, he was invited to an expedition in South America. Of course with his illness, his mother refuses to let him leave. John Smith appears to be excited for his son but we are thrown with another twist. John arranged to cover for his son. He planned for his son to be kidnapped during the expedition while he’ll spearhead the search. Ultimately, he has to fail, much to Helen’s disappointment. Unfortunately, this was the only way his son could live his remaining days in peace. Although they may never see their son again, Helen reluctantly agrees. How John Smith calmly dealt with this situation is beyond anyone.
Surprise, surprise Nicole was sent by Joe’s father to keep him in Berlin. While Joe moaned how he is nothing but the product of a failed breeding program, Nicole claimed she is the same. However, Nicole wasn’t too bothered about that fact. Joe is “drugged” ala every drugged character story which leaves them contemplating. Joe hallucinates Juliana, who he believes is dead no thanks to him. As with any story, his hallucination shifts and he finds himself over his dead body.
Joe is told that it didn’t matter if he was dead or alive as they are all a speck of dust that makes no difference. This is nothing but a nightmare as he eventually wakes up. This may have set him on a new path, as by the end, Joe finds himself in uniform while contemplating with a swastika armband. Could this just be a misdirect and he’s exploiting his father? Or is the Grasshopper Lies Heavy coming to fruition?
Observations
- Has Tagomi’s doppelganger always worn the rising sun pin? No one seems to be questioning him on it.
- Interesting how the Cuban Missile Crisis is paralleling the Grasshopper Lies Heavy. Good way to tie plots together.
- If the Smith’s don’t agree with the Nazi’s killing their son, why are they so strongly aligned? They should start seeing more issues.
