The Man in the High Castle season 4, episode 6 recap: All Serious Daring

Smith returns home to new challenges. Juliana and Wyatt set out for New York to contact Helen while the BCR regroups in the wake of Equiano’s death. Kido makes a tough call on The Man in the High Castle.

Smith’s time in the alt-world is running out. He needs to catch the portal while it’s open at the scheduled time or he’ll be stuck until someone comes to get him. But alt-Helen knows something is up, saying that Smith has never been so dark before on The Man in the High Castle. Before he leaves, Thomas reveals that he’s already enlisted for the military. He is escorted away by his recruiters in an echo of Smith’s own son being taken away by Nazis. Both Thomases believed it was the right thing to do, and both times because of Smith’s influence. It’s like some terrible joke, Smith says.

Smith leaves to catch his portal, with vague promises to alt-Helen that he won’t let Thomas go off to war, that he can fix this. When he arrives back in his own world, he demands to speak to Abendsen. He needs to know the repercussions if he interferes in that world, but he already has; he’s living with the repercussions right now. He thinks he can fix it, but Abendsen knows better.

Amy Smith is a scary little Nazi. She is completely indoctrinated and really can’t comprehend anything that contradicts the moral constructs that she’s learned. She suggests that Helen should go to a re-education camp. People are supposed to be happy all the time and if you’re not, there must be something wrong. And Helen is definitely not happy. She wants out of the metaphorical cell the Reich has put her in. She asks Smith where it will all end, but he doesn’t know.

More from Show Snob

• The Santa Clauses season 2, episode 6 recap “Wanga Banga Langa!”
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 1, episode 7 preview: Non-spoiler thoughts for Part VII
• Goosebumps season 1, episode 6 recap: “Night of the Living Dummy”
• Beacon 23 season 1, episode 3 recap: “Why Can’t We Go on as Three?”
• Upload season 3, episode 2 recap: “Strawberry”

Meanwhile, Juliana believes that there is some kind of code in Abendsen’s High Castle monologues. As she and Wyatt set off for New York to see Helen, she is able to discover that Smith travels through the portal by bullet train, but there’s another part of the code that she can’t crack.

The BCR cell leaders meet but end up arguing amongst themselves while Bell is dismissed. While they fight, she comes up with a plan to attack the Crimson Pipeline, which would destroy Japan’s oil source and cripple the Empire in the war against China. She essentially becomes the movement’s new leader in the wake of Equiano’s death. The BCR starts to put their plan into action.

Kido is called to testify during Admiral Inokuchi’s court-martial and he must decide whether to let the conspiracy play out or to reveal Yamori’s treason. The Crown Princess reveals that Inokuchi met with Equiano under her instructions, but Yamori disregards her confession and has her confined to quarters “for her own protection.” Kido ultimately takes Yamori into custody and reveals his involvement in Tagomi’s murder. The Crown Princess thanks him, but he says he was merely doing his duty.

Like previous seasons, The Man in the High Castle has been a deliciously slow burn punctuated by some big events. It feels like all the characters are being inextricably pulled toward an inescapable fate, destined to come together in an epic finale. It is beautifully paced, and more importantly, takes the time to explore the human and social aspects behind the plot. Now, more than ever, it’s important to understand the spread of fascism, the danger is poses, and how to stop it. John and Helen Smith were not fascists, but they were tempted by the promise of food and shelter and subdued by the threat of extermination. It’s an easy choice to make when you feel like it’s your only one.

What did you think of this episode of The Man in the High Castle? Be sure to tell us in the comment section below!