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 The Plot Against America is a new series from power team David Simon and Ed Burns based on the 2014 novel by Philip Roth. It is a period show that takes place initially in the 1940 of our history before diverging into an alternate history when FDR loses the presidential election to Charles Lindbergh (aviator, Nazi sympathizer). As with all Simons/Burns shows, the characters are completely realistic. The main focus of the series is on the Levin family, a Jewish family living in New Jersey and their experiences with antisemitism, suburban middle class life, and the growing signs of fascism they see and hear on the news.  Winona Ryder as Evelyn Finkel, Bess's older unmarried independently minded sister John Turturro as Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf, a charismatic leader and supporter of Charles Lindbergh Zoe Kazan as Elizabeth "Bess" Levin, Herman's wife and stay at home mother Morgan Spector as Herman Levin, an insurance agent with a promising career, and an opinionated New Deal socialist I am only part way through the second (of six) episodes, but so far this show is fantastic. I have avoided any reviews to keep myself from being spoiled, however from what I have read the series is extremely tense and depressing. Based on what I have seen so far, I am recommending it for fans of Simons/Burns!
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May 7, 2020 20:46
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| # ¿ May 10, 2024 21:12 |
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I just finished Episode 3 The show does a great job raising the tension level. Herman believes that he’s well informed but he’s living in the past/ is in denial. He happily looks at all the new great deals on listings because he’s preoccupied with buying his American family a nice American house, not realizing until Bess points it out that all those houses belonged to people who have seen the writing on the wall and moved to Canada. When they’re in DC Herman talks about how things should be and again it is Bess who knows that the time for free speech is over. Finally, after he’s confronted in the restaurant he immediately goes back to how he and Bess used to be. I’m getting a very bad vibe that the Herman may refuse to leave and the Levin’s will end up like the German Jews who refused to leave until it was too late. USA dystopia rule #1: get to Canada asap! Acting continues to be incredible. Morgan Spector is awesome, the child actors are great!
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May 8, 2020 00:13
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I had to pause 1/3 of the way through the final episode and will have to wait until later to finish it, but I actually laughed out loud during Lindbergh’s speech: [Paraphrasing] “I was in Washington, but I came here! *Holds for applause* Thank you! I am here, and I will go back to Washington! That is where I am going now. Good bye!”. It really captures what it’s like to listen to a Trump speech, with a bit more of a connection to linear time.
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May 11, 2020 14:20
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Just finished it. While it was pretty on the nose, I really liked it. The Into the South Rescue Mission of Seldon was well done and I'm glad that he gets to grow up with a couple brothers ( ).
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May 12, 2020 02:12
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DropsySufferer posted:I thought the show was a bit too slow to build up I only watched it because David Simon from the Wire was involved. It was wasn't bad but nothing amazing. I liked the limited scope tbh, it felt real. Lindbergh's assassination not being shown or really anything happening with one of the main characters was unique and cool because of the lack of information.
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May 13, 2020 17:02
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| # ¿ May 10, 2024 21:12 |
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Xealot posted:Late to the party on this show, but I just finished it. It’s so good at showing a believable, gradual descent into fascism. I guess it helps that actual reality looks a bit like this now, so I have a model for it to compare. I think that the living room fight at the end is a great way to show that the world is going to live with the effects of Trump's America long after he is out of office. As you said, a horrible sector of our society (not just the US) has become emboldened and believe that it's safe to express their most hosed up and violent beliefs, and that isn't something that turns off like the flick of a lightswitch. Families and friendships are going to be shattered by these people and an intensified division in politics.
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May 24, 2020 11:17
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