The Plot Against America

My dad read Philip Roth's novel "The Plot Against America", depicting a hypothetical version of US history in which aviator - and Jew-hating demagogue - Charles Lindbergh gets elected president, causing the situation to become increasingly hostile for the country's Jewish population.

To my knowledge, Roth didn't intend the novel as any sort of analogy. When the HBO miniseries got announced, a lot of people saw it as an allusion to the current state of affairs. The point is that the moment a leader starts exalting a country's dominant population over the "other", you have fascism.

The miniseries doesn't pound this point in our faces. It's merely a warning about what could happen (is happening?) to the US. Be aware.

This is an adaptation of a Philip Roth novel. Philip Roth was a great American novelist, possibly the last great American novelist. He died two years ago at 85. One of his themes is optimism turning to pessimism and then back to a more mature optimism. This is not a flashy story: you are not going to find "The Handmaid's Tale" here, nor any depictions of the Third Reich in the U.S.A. You are going to find a story about how U.S. isolationism could have changed the course of history from 1940 on, with devastating results. You are also going to find the quality of production that was once synonymous with HBO. Having read the book, I can say that the story is going to go in some fairly grim directions. But you shouldn't watch this expecting flash: instead, watch it for a vibrant story, brilliant characterizations, and great themes...such as what it means to be American. It doesn't hurt that some very good actors who have rarely been fully utilized have some excellent material to work with. I think Morgan Spector, Winona Ryder, and especially Zoe Kazan - she is the foundation of the story - are all outstanding.

Great writing. Very well acted. As for the review about the pledge, the words "under God" were not added until 1954, so it is historically accurrate.

A lot of Reviewers seem to be complaining about the pace of Series. I have not read the book, I don't know how the series sends but I think the slow pace is precisely the point. If the end is something akin to the "Nazis take over America" by definition it isn't something that would happen quickly. Say what you will about the USA in 1940, while there was antisemitism, hostility to Jews had never reached levels present in Europe or, specifically, Germany prior to the Nazi takeover there. It follows that the build up wouldn't be the same. The changes have to be ordinary enough that most folks wouldn't notice them.

This show started out painfully slow and I almost gave up on it in the first three episodes. I'm glad I've stuck with it because now it is getting to the more interesting story.

Firstly, let me comment on other reviewers that somehow see this as taking shots at Trump. I personally do not see that at all. Oh, and to those reviewers that think Germany would have won the war without the U.S., think again. Russia pushed back hard against Germany and eventually would have succeeded although it would have taken more time, the end for Germany was inevitable.

Some things that most people forget about this show is that times were different. Looking at this show with PC coloured glasses is wrong. Attitudes towards people of different races and religions were not only tolerated but encouraged with jokes and skits in radio shows and movies. During that time in U.S. history was a very delicate time and this shows how close America came to not only tolerating the Nazis but actually embracing some of their ideology. Heaven help us if a scenario like this had actually taken place.

I do not know how well this show follows the book but I honestly appreciate the actors who I believe are doing a great job, ESPECIALLY the kids. I understand completely how back in those times they would react the way they did. All in all, this show is excellent and I strongly suggest viewing it.