Creator Frank Spotnitz on why ‘you’ve got the option to’t help but like’ John Smith.
Read on for his thoughts on episode 2, Sunrise.
Joes (Luke Kleintank) loyalties are tested when he watches the film himself.
Credit: Liane Hentscher/Amazon
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Franks story frames this episode.
Why was it important to focus so much on poor Frank in this hour?
FRANK SPOTNITZ:Frank was a guy who in episode 1 was just trying to get along.
Its an inhuman dilemma to put a character in.
The Nazis were still going to consider me a Jew.
Its an idea that resonates today as well, right?
And thats a particular kind of horror that I thought was interesting and moving.
In this platform, Amazon, theres no restriction on what I can show.
If I wanted to, I could show the gory, you know, whatever I want.
I still believe its more powerful in your head than it is on screen.
Lets talk about that shootout with John Smith.
The whole ambush reminded me of (43-year-old spoiler ahead!)
Tell me about putting this dramatic, action-filled sequence together.
Thats absolutely right, it is a bit like the ambitious Sonny at the toll bridge.
But… theyre Nazis!
Thats what really makes you think.
Its flipping things on its head.
Hes a great soldier, hes a great father, hes a wonderful husband.
He just happens to have an evil ideology.
Joe is someone whos clearly thinking about the conflicting ideologies in his world.
We see him absorbed by the film.
So whats changed for him?
It pushed him that far, so you know that much.
I always knew he was going to die… Youll learn a little bit more about what he was up to in episodes 3 and 4.
The Man in the High Castleis available for streaming on Amazon.
