/r/ThePlotAgainstAmerica
Subreddit for the HBO miniseries "The Plot Against America" from David Simon
The Plot Against America imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
The Plot Against America is a miniseries based on the book of the same name, wherein it imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, become president and turn the nation towards fascism.
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/r/ThePlotAgainstAmerica
I havent read the book so i was kind of disappointed.
I am enjoying this series quite a lot, good acting and script. I think the most remarkable aspect is how this series paints a picture of this society, the little details are what give solidity to the representation (no wonder David Simon is behind!). The impending feeling of doom and tragedy is very well conveyed so far. Flee to Canada FFS! It's been on my to-watch list long enough, I regret not having watched it sooner.
However, I have an issue, that I don't know how to politely and sensitively address... That is how antisemitism is addressed. It is the main topic of the series. It's hard to explain this without being potentially offensive. But people in this America hate jews, just because. There was a long tradition of antisemitism in Europe, let's say that it involved certain prejudices and misconceptions. These "motives", let me clarify, there cannot be a motive for any racial hate or discrimination, ever, but in the minds of the haters, most haters hate because of certain reasons or motives, or maybe fears. Fear can be very strong. In nazi Gemrany there was an orchestrated years long campaign that made part of the population believe the lies slander and manipulation against jews. These things are not being addressed in the series, so the depiction of this hypothetical society fails a little there. I know this is very sensitive, and I don't know how the series could have done better...
Maybe hate is just hate, as simple and irrational as that.
I have tried to be very careful in my wording, I hope I don't come off as offensive to anyone.
How did have the liberal wing of the party react, people like Dewey, Landon etc
Do we know haw the election play out in terms of the electoral map?
I wish we got more scenes of Alvin’s other friend, Daniel, the one who got beat up and they got revenge for in the pilot. I know, it’s only 6 episodes so they couldn’t fit more stuff in, but it would’ve been interesting to know about their friendship. Especially since Daniel wasn’t much like the rest of Alvin’s gang of friends and seemed more responsible and mature of things.
I searched on here. Didn't find any mention of it. So if I am permitted to shill here, I would like to shill this - Babylon Berlin. It's a neo-noir psychological thriller series set at the tail end of the Weimar Republic. There are no sci-fi or parallel universe elements here, nor is it alt-history but it deals with the looming emergence of Nazis and the breakdown of Weimar democracy.
There are currently 3 seasons (4th is in production). It's the most expensive German TV show in history, is entirely in German (don't watch it with the terrible American English dubs) and is one of the best TV shows I've ever watched. It's absurdly underrated internationally.
While we only did get to see the Levin’s/Evelyn and Bengelsdorf for the most part, which character did you dislike to hate?
I would go with Henry Ford and Lindbergh, but giving they were real people and non-fictional, I’d think that would be cheating.
I dont know how many military buffs there are watching this pretty unrealiatic show! But with, im sure, the lend lease never being established and american companys like, ford motors being able to sell all its weapons to germany! Theres just no way russia woulda had enough guns to defend itself, and im sure england would have been overwhelmed. Winston Churchill probably woulda lost to the opposition in his own government and bowed to germany, knowing america would never enter to war! The timeline follows the war time specifics of our own but with out the lend lease it would have been drastically different!
The book is about a world, in which FDR was assassinated in 1933, and Huey Long took power in 1936, and in 1940, is having a summit with Hitler in Portsmuth New Hampshire. The book covers how fascisic the U.S. has become, and about one lone cop, and how he finds out about, and deals with events. I thought that HBO could make it as good as The Plot Against Amercia.
I always liked that song, is it a real song, or was it made up for the movie?
I remember at the end of the miniseries, when she pretty much bucks her husband, and speaks out against the rounding up of the jews, and orders people that were thrown into detention released. Was she really that heroic in real life?
It's been months and months since I've read this novel and seen the mini series, yet I still think about my little book/TV family far more frequently than I wish to. Hopped on this side of reddit to reminisce and discuss with fellow honorary members of this little world.
Obviously the last 4 years have been rough, this last one especially. What a wonderful outlet and comfort source this story has been for me.
Very much yearning these days to see more spirited and impassioned young people just like pre-war Alvin.
One innocuous question: Steinheim ( a sort of Trump-like character, although that has nothing probably to do with the question) gets an "Indian Head" nickel in his change. I assume he meant the buffalo nickel which had the bison on back and indeed a native American on the front. This was the predecessor of the Jefferson nickel which was introduced in 1938 (which was not TJ's 200th b-day). So the "indian head" nickel was extremely common around the time in which this was set (and for many years after) so I am wondering what the writers meant by having the character comment (almost as if the coin was disreputable). The indian head penny on the other hand at least by the 1960s was never in the change my dad brought home and perhaps even by 1940 it would have already started to become rare.
For me it would be 1. The Last President, about Nixon going full facist, because Watergate is never uncovered. That was a book by Micheal Kurland. 2. Amerkin Eagle, about FDR being killed in 1933, and Amercia is now a near facist state by 1940. Brendon Dubois wrote the novel. 3. The Dorset Disaster, about a fictional Chernoybl style meltdown at a United States nuclear power plant in 1980. It was based on a book, but I cannot remember the spelling of the author.
I thought the miniseries was better, because it flushed out charactors like Alvin alot more, plus, the ending just makes more sense.
I do not see him as evil, he seems to be a good, kind man, who's only crime was placing faith in the wrong people, and trying to stay out of war, because he thought it would save his people. I do not hate him at all.
Alvin in the end takes part in a heroic act, to bring down Lindburgh's plane. So why is he so bitter and cynical in his final scene in the series?
Any news on Season 2? Just got done with Episode 6
I am not American so indulge this queston.
Why are the starts in a circular pattern on the flag in the White House Dinner Party scene?
What does it mean? Or is part of the alternative history motif?
I’m stuck between Alvin and Philip, even if they might of felt poorly developed, but they were good written characters and I loved how they made Alvin better than how he was in the novel. I do like Herman and how noble of a guy he is, but I felt that he should’ve understood his wife, nephew and kids a bit better. But overall I loved his character.
Anyways, who was your favorite character by the end of the series?