The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time.
What Is It?
Loosely based on the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, this series is set in a world where the Axis powers won World War II, and the United States has been divided into territories controlled by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, with a neutral zone in between. The story follows multiple characters as they navigate the complexities of life under authoritarian rule, including resistance fighters, collaborators, and everyday citizens. A mysterious series of films showing alternate realities where the Allies won the war sparks hope and rebellion, and their origins are linked to the enigmatic figure known as “The Man in the High Castle.”
Aired: Prime Video, 2015-19, 4 Seasons Totaling 40 Episodes
Starring: Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls, Rufus Sewell, Stephen Root
Created By: Frank Spotnitz
Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows:
This series counts as one of the new classics of sci-fi TV, demonstrating the full potential of the genre when brought to life with excellent production values and a first-rate creative team. Streaming services were ramping up their original programming and investing heavily in shows to draw subscribers, and that investment was put to good use in this adaptation of the well-known Philip K. Dick novel. It delivered a look at his alternate world where the Axis powers won World War II while also expanding beyond the book to deliver a complete story over its four-season run.
The series begins by revealing the America of this alternate universe and showing the oppression people live under, both on the Japanese side and the German side. Then it weaves its story through multiple characters, some fighting against the oppression and others in positions of control within the country. Through these story threads, it reveals the moral quandaries that each of the characters face as they decide whether to accept the new order or fight against it. The show explores themes of resistance, loyalty, identity, and the impact of propaganda and oppression, while also offering hope through glimpses of another reality where the Allied Powers won the war. Considering the current political climate in the country, the show seems somewhat prescient—and at times quite chilling—when you look back at it now.
The Man in the High Castle is led by a stellar cast and was one of the early streaming entries to receive a big budget to bring its story to life. The creative team made the most of this and delivered a show with substance, not just slick production values, while also offering strong world-building. Sadly, this one has not received the attention it deserves, but it truly stands out as a notable genre entry and should be considered among the greatest sci-fi TV shows of all time.
ALSO READ: 20 of the Greatest Sci Fi and Fantasy TV Shows of All Time
Argument Against:
The Man in the High Castle starts off as a good adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s book but eventually diverges from the source material and goes far beyond the original premise. In so doing, it becomes rather convoluted in its story and ends up feeling padded over its four seasons. It also suffered from slow pacing, especially in the first two seasons, and a lack of character and story development. By the time the show reached its fourth and final season, it had far too many storylines to wrap up and ended on an unsatisfying conclusion that felt rushed. So, while this is a notable genre entry from the Peak TV era, it ultimately gets overshadowed by better productions from that time and falls short of being one of the greatest sci-fi TV shows of all time.
Johnny Jay’s Take:
This series was a revelation when it first arrived and definitely an indication of what the television industry can achieve with first-rate production values and a strong creative team. Even though creator Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files) left after the first season and there was some other shuffling behind the scenes, the show never missed a beat and maintained its quality throughout. I believe it also did an excellent job with the source material by fully fleshing out the alternate reality of an Axis-controlled America. Philip K. Dick used the parallel world more as a setting to explore his fascination with the I Ching, and the sci-fi concepts of his story were never fully realized in the book. The series instead focused on the alternate reality, improved on the source material, and successfully expanded the story. Fans of the book may take issue with this, but I believe the television adaptation did a much better job with the concept (similarly, I believe that Blade Runner improved on Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep).
The one issue I have with the series is that I believe it was cut short by about one year. Amazon was ramping up its production on big-budget shows like Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time, and the streamer decided to wrap up The Man in the High Castle after four seasons to free up some money. The creative team knew this in advance and had the chance to wrap up the storylines, but it felt rushed, and this one should have been allowed to continue to a fifth season because it had plenty more story to tell. Still, that was not a deal breaker, and I certainly consider this a new classic of sci-fi TV and one of the greatest genre entries of all time.
Where Can You Watch It?
This series is still available for streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video, though it has never received a home video release. Hopefully, it will get the Blu-ray treatment at some point as well as wider release on other services so that more people can experience this important genre entry.
Do you consider The Man in the High Castle one of the greatest sci fi/fantasy shows of all time or did it diverge too much from the book and get too convoluted? Chime in with your thoughts below or at our discussion thread at r/SciFiTV.
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