The Man in the High Castle: Too Insensitive for Some Viewers?

     2015 had a lot of truly fantastic TV shows premiere, and one of the best also became one of the most controversial. Over the past few years, Amazon Prime has been attempting to stack their video lineup with hit original series in an attempt to compete with Netflix and Hulu. Some of Amazon's highlights include "Transparent," a show revolving around a 60 year old transgender man and his family, and "Mozart in the Jungle," the story about an eccentric conductor leading the New York City orchestra; but I can make a strong argument that their 2015 hit is their best show yet. "The Man in the High Castle" is a drama based off the 1963 novel of the same name, and takes place in a world where the axis powers won World War 2. Upon its release the show was lauded by critics, but was met with harsh criticism for its insensitivity. Not sure why people were surprised that a show about Nazi's could be offensive, but whatever. 

     The story kicks off in 1962 in a world where the axis powers won World War 2; Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan reign supreme, controlling much of what was once the free world. The plot revolves around several characters on all sides of the political spectrum; a young woman from San Francisco looking to join a group of rebels, her long time boyfriends out for revenge against the Empire of Japan, a Nazi going undercover to expose the rebels, a high ranking Nazi commander, and the Japanese Trade Minister in San Francisco. What follows is a truly crazy story. 

     While "The Man in the High Castle" was met with positive reviews, it was attacked on all sides. Many from the Jewish community condemned the show, calling it insensitive towards the Jewish people. Early on in the first season, a Jewish family was executed by the Japanese since they have to follow their race laws. Many also called the series racist against black people; while the show does take place in the 1960s, which was already pretty racist in reality, the parts of America under the Germans and Japanese show no black people, leading many to assume that they would have been executed. The series was also called insulting towards homosexuals and those with disabilities, with some exchanges about them being executed were played off as if they were common. So this show has been called racist, homophobic, and bigoted after only one season; but from what I can tell the people complaining are missing one important detail, the fact it takes place in an alternate reality run by Nazis. Of course it's offensive, if it wasn't then it would have meant nothing. Minus one particularly insensitive marketing stunt, the show's only insensitive if you take it as historically accurate. But there is always a way where you can stop the show if you find it offensive, don't watch it.

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