Is The Man in the High Castle based on a true story?

There are some great period dramas out there. The Man in the High Castle came to an end after four seasons a few years back, but it remains a popular option for those looking for something different.

The series is based on the book of the same name by Philip K. Dick. It is a story set shortly just after World War II, which would suggest that there is some truth to the story. However, this is not a series based on any sort of fact.

The Man in the High Castle is alternate history

The series picks up with a “what if” story. It is alternate history rather than a period drama, giving us a look at what could have been had the Axis powers won the War.

American is split. The Nazis have taken the majority of the east and into the central parts of the U.S. while the Japanese have the west. There is a neutral zone in the middle, although that’s not fully explained in the series.

The opening credits give us a map that shows us how America is split down the middle.

Of course, we know that the Axis powers didn’t win. Germany and Japan were not successful in their attempts to take over the world, which makes it clear that this series can’t be based on truth.

There is a fantasy element to High Castle

The series is also fantasy. Or more like sci-fi, I guess. There is the ability to jump between universes.

At the beginning of the series, Alexa Davalos’s Julianna Crane gets a tape that shows our world: the one where the Allied powers won World War II. How is this possible when it didn’t happen? That is something she needs to figure out, and it takes us through a story of dimension hopping.

There are rules to the ability to jump between universes. It’s certainly worth watching and concentrating on. This series isn’t the easiest to follow, but it’s intriguing.

The Man in the High Castle is available to stream on Prime Video.