Ridley Scott’s “Unsettling” Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller Remains One of Prime Video’s Best Original Series

Ridley Scott might be known for directing such big screen hits as Alien and Gladiator, but he’s also a successful producer. Through his company, Scott Free Productions, he’s been behind some pretty incredible films, as well as small screen favorites like The Good Wife, Dope Thief, Alien: Earth, and a 2015 dystopian sci-fi thriller that to this day remains one of Prime Video’s best original shows.

Titled The Man in the High Castle, Scott served as an executive producer on the series, which is loosely based on author Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel of the same name. Premiering its pilot episode on Jan. 15, 2015, The Man in the High Castle asks the chilling question: What if the Axis powers had won WWII? This alternate history approach gives us diabolical insight into what the United States might look like had that been the case, while showcasing themes of authoritarianism, identity, and resistance. Sound familiar? It should, because in today’s political climate, the series is perhaps more relevant than ever.

Starring the likes of Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintan, DJ Qualls, Joel de la Fuente, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and Rufus Sewell, The Man in the High Castle concluded its successful run on Nov. 15, 2019, after four seasons. Along the way, it was nominated for – and won – several awards, including Creative Arts Emmys for Outstanding Cinematography and Outstanding Main Title Design. The official synopsis for the series reads:

“Loosely based Philip K. Dick’s novel of the same name, The Man in the High Castle takes a look at what the world might look like had the outcome of World War II turned out differently. In this dystopian scenario, the Axis powers won the war, leading to the United States being divided into three parts, an area controlled by the Japanese, a Nazi-controlled section, and a buffer zone between the two. Despite the oppression, a new hope emerges when films turn up that seem to show a different world. A woman believes the films contain the key to freedom and is determined to find their mysterious guardian.”

‘The Man in the High Castle’ Was Prestige TV

Daisuke Tsuji and Bernhard Forcher in The Man in the High Castle

Prime Video

Debuting during a time when Netflix had already found success with original programming like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, The Man in the High Castle was a gamble for Prime Video. It was their first big one-hour scripted drama, and to say that it cost a pretty penny would be an understatement. The first two seasons alone set them back $179 million, which these days might not seem like a lot when you consider the high cost of something like The Rings of Power, but in 2015 that was a lot of money for something experimental.

The gamble paid off, though, as The Man in the High Castle quickly became a hit for Prime Video, placing it in the category of prestige TV that you just had to watch. Critics and fans thought so, too, as the series holds a respectable 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a Popcornmeter score of 79%. Called everything from “ambitious and brainy” to “ghostly and unsettling,” critic Bill Brioux wrote in his review:

“For those of you who may be thinking that the whole second (or third) Golden Age of TV thing ended with the finales of Breaking Bad and Mad Men, brace yourselves for The Man in the High Castle.”

While it might be terrifying to watch for some, if you’ve yet to see this amazing series, now is definitely the time to check out The Man in the High Castle on Prime Video.