Obsessive stuff

Anything I obsess at the moment and don't want to flood followers on my main blog. For now it's stuff from thought provoking series The Man in the High Castle, mostly its complex, best written/acted character Obergruppenführer John Smith. Warning: possible dark humour and fangirling ahead

[campaignstripes-blog]

A small little art cover for a Man in the High Castle Fic I’m helping co-write, the Right Hand of God. 

Erich is one of my favourite unexplored characters. Man did not deserve to go out the way he did ;;

[toostubborntocroak]

The Man in the High Castle + contrasts

beneath the surface  

[toostubborntocroak]

Obergruppenführer John Smith + what they call him

[toostubborntocroak]

2x10 Fallout, The Man in the High Castle

[toostubborntocroak]

2x10 Fallout, The Man in the High Castle

low camera angle

[joexjuliana]

the man in the high castle + hogwarts founders

[toostubborntocroak]

Just some clearing of terminology. Helen is not “wife of a Nazi” as I’ve seen some refer to her as. She is a Nazi too. She supports John and ideology. In fact so are their daughters. Nazis are not just ones who wear uniform nor they have to kill or directly harm anyone. It doesn’t matter if they choose it or are pulled into it by their parents/educational system/state or situation. They don’t have to always agree/follow the policies to be Nazis. Didn’t you hear about ‘exception confirms the rule’? Historically hypocrisy was pretty rampant among Nazis - especially in higher circles of Nazi party. Everyone who agrees/supports ideology is a Nazi.  

I understand why some people are confused - Nazis are too often only shown in series/films as sadistic 2D villains in black SS uniform beating someone up. Perfect cannon fodder villains for the heroes. Nazi grannies and grandpas, Nazi housewives, Nazi little boys and girls are not exactly convenient for that role 

[toostubborntocroak]

@bexinthecity05 said: Definitely interested in the theory of why you think Helen callously said that (referring to my tags where I said that I had theory why Helen was so callous in talk with John about his brother in 1x08)

Okay then, with  delay here is my theory -

First reason is that cos she didn't meet John's brother so she didn't feel connection to him. Also there is a fact she was only child so it's harder for her to understand closeness between siblings.

But really main reason why she sounded so uncharacteristically callous is that she was defensive. As she said in s2 when John told her what was going on, she felt that there was something (wrong). She knows John very well, and it was obvious she sensed he was hiding something from her when he falsely answered about visit to Thomas' doctor. And then the same night he can't sleep and is talking about his dead brother who died from disease which is not tolerated in the Reich? It must had rung all kind of alarms in her, even if she didn't acknowledge it consciously. I mean, did you notice how when talking about John's brother illness, she doesn't focus on John's turmoil but on how his father was affected.

“I worshiped him.” “Seeing your brother like that, it must have broken your father's heart.” “Yeah.”

What bothers her is how parent would feel in that situation. First reason could also be cause for that, but since that is only time I can remember her being that unfeeling with John or anyone she loves, I think callousness was jerk reaction of defensiveness. Entire topic and its implications were scaring her. So instead of comforting John and perhaps asking him what made him think about his brother as you would expect from couple with such good communication, she shoots down entire topic with some ideological platitudes and says to John to come back to bed. Essentially telling him to stop thinking and talking about those disturbing things and go back to sleep, literally and metaphorically.

[toostubborntocroak]

2x10 Fallout, The Man in the High Castle

[joexjuliana]

tmithc + four temperaments

[toostubborntocroak]

[dustysalmon]

Helen’s right, you know, John looks positively dashing !

[oberstgruppana]

[danaskulls]

john touching helen’s face (◡‿◡✿)

[toostubborntocroak]

Barnstorm VFX’s seamless CGI craft, TMitHC S2

Volkshalle interior 3

[seasonalb1tch]

Frank “I’m 100% done with this fucker” Frink

[joexjuliana]

Nobody wants to admit that compassion  and cruelty can live together in one heart.  And that each individual is capable  of the best and the worst.

[toostubborntocroak]

This is the one of the main reasons why he is my favourite character. Through nuanced writing and acting he (and his family) embodies complexity of human nature and life in general. Absolutely brilliant idea and gif set.

[toostubborntocroak]

So I haven't watched season three yet. I was trying to decide to watch it or not for about two weeks. You see I have this thing where I avoid watching something if I find out it will rip my heart out and dance on it (especially if I feel they ramp up angst to unrealistic levels). And I've found out some non-detailed spoilers that promise that S3 will do just that.

I know, I know, I'm not “a real fan” if I'm not watching one of my favourite series and/or characters no matter what writers do to them. Well, I was “a real fan” once, and then I decided that pain is not worth of that honourable title. I've avoided several seasons and couple of films since then and I'm very happy about it. I don't see why I would have obligation to watch something just cos I liked installments that came before.

On other hand TMitHC has that escape clause where parallel universes theory is confirmed so there are billions of universes with all sort of outcomes out there. One we are shown is merely one possibility or even just variant of one possibility. Also while there are flaws, series is still one of the best I've ever watched so there is that.

In the end I decided to write some meta I've been putting off forever, and get it out of me without any new stuff clouding my mind. Shouldn't take longer than month or so. Possibly less. After that, I'll see how I feel about watching S3.  

Until then I'll post and re-blog only vague posts about S3 together with stuff from S1-2.

P.S. If there are ones who think I'm silly for investing so much in characters, how it's just a series and I should lighten up and similar nonsense, it seems they missed name of my blog. And if some from those who are new here (btw hello newcomers hope you have fun here:) are wondering if I'm aware that my favourite characters are in many ways very bad people, and literal Nazis on top of that, yes I am well aware, thank you. Doesn't change a thing for me, I'm afraid.