david simon's "the plot against america" on hbo

[Rougarou 594]

1 hour ago, Js1 said:

I've read the book.  They have A LOT to fit into one episode. 

Maybe it's a 90 minute episode?

How did you enjoy the book? It seemed a departure from his earlier books, but Roth's work has always seemed preoccupied with the Jewish condition. Roth really was from Newark and Summit Dr and I find this show to be more based off semi-autobiography-meets-alternative-history than based off literary fiction. I've read Portnoy's Complaint and American Pastoral and based off what I've seen the first 5 episodes, I cannot imagine this book being anything like his acclaimed fiction (and probably why I'd never heard of this as his workmanship and never heard it discussed in any literary salons or classrooms). It would make sense this book came late in his life, as well (being written with the emotion of a semi-autobiography, again).

 

[Js1 85507]

I liked it because I love alt history. 

[Js1 85507]

That felt very rushed and disjointed. 

[tx 3 putt 77314]

they crammed a lot into that episode

well fuck, they left it hanging. what a shitty way to end it 

Edited April 21, 2020 by tx 3 putt

[Player 4575]

Well we won’t be seeing Seldon around anymore.

Nailed it!

[Phone ringing]

Bess: Hello?

Seldon: (weeping) FIG NEWDONS!!!

Bess: click

[Js1 85507]

8 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

they crammed a lot into that episode

well fuck, they left it hanging. what a shitty way to end it 

They spent too much time on the beginning SLOWLY introducing the world and rushed it at the end. 

[F250 28813]

That last episode could have been stretched out to several episodes. Some of the scenes felt like they were crammed in without any background like Alvin's story. That should have been an entire episode's storyline not a few minutes scattered here and there. The same with Pres. Lindbergh and his wife. I didn't understand the motivation of Mrs. Lindbergh at the end. It felt like they skipped a lot of background with her.

Overall I liked the series but it was a pretty crappy production.

[Rougarou 594]

I mean, you spit in the man's face. Leg or no leg, you are going through the coffee table. Inexcusable.

[Rougarou 594]

Also, who knew that Shepsie, the movie theatre guy and husband to Nina the co-producer, also sang the opening song?

“The Road Is Open Again” used on The Plot Against America is not just a new recording; it’s sung by actor Michael Kostroff, who plays movie theater operator Shepsie Tirchwell on the show.

[TheStoicPaisano 9923]

20 minutes ago, Rougarou said:

Also, who knew that Shepsie, the movie theatre guy and husband to Nina the co-producer, also sang the opening song?

“The Road Is Open Again” used on The Plot Against America is not just a new recording; it’s sung by actor Michael Kostroff, who plays movie theater operator Shepsie Tirchwell on the show.

We need a Maury Levy/Eddie Cantor duet.

I believe Kostroff and Nina K. Noble are siblings.

[tx 3 putt 77314]

Last episode needed to be two parts 

[RPM 26339]

That was the finale? Has disappoint.

[Js1 85507]

3 hours ago, F250 said:

That last episode could have been stretched out to several episodes. Some of the scenes felt like they were crammed in without any background like Alvin's story. That should have been an entire episode's storyline not a few minutes scattered here and there. The same with Pres. Lindbergh and his wife. I didn't understand the motivation of Mrs. Lindbergh at the end. It felt like they skipped a lot of background with her.

Overall I liked the series but it was a pretty crappy production.

Her motivation was that VP Wheeler had her locked up so he could consolidate power.  I think, in the end, Lindy was a pawn of Ford/Wheeler, the real anti-semites. I don’t think Lindy was anti-semitic enough for them.  Anne sure seemed to not be ok with the rhetoric or actions, but she was too pussy to say it herself. IRL she urged Lindy not to make the America First speech for fear of being branded an anti-Semite  

I think it’s obvious Wheeler and Ford were working with Germany.  In the book, Germany said Lindy’s disappearance was a Jewish conspiracy and immediately those 2 went fucking Nazi, arresting prominent Jews. 

[Js1 85507]

I’m not convinced the British-Canadian plot worked. The Nazis Could have done it to get Wheeler/Ford into power. 

[F250 28813]

3 hours ago, Js1 said:

I’m not convinced the British-Canadian plot worked. The Nazis Could have done it to get Wheeler/Ford into power. 

This was something else that confused me because it felt like Alvin was a pawn in a Nazi plot but then the show never really explained if it was the Brits who carried out the plan.

[tx 3 putt 77314]

7 hours ago, Rougarou said:

I mean, you spit in the man's face. Leg or no leg, you are going through the coffee table. Inexcusable.

 

i missed something, was the nephew rolling in dough from helping track / bring down the plane ?

[SubliminalHorn 6811]

1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

i missed something, was the nephew rolling in dough from helping track / bring down the plane ?

No his girl’s dad owned restaurants and shit. He took over the restaurant I think. So I guess he was making pretty decent money. 

[Steamboat1874 4081]

Almost seems like the series tried to make you buy the book.

[RPM 26339]

9 hours ago, SubliminalHorn said:

No his girl’s dad owned restaurants and shit.

Pinball King of Jersey.

[thrillhammer 684]

1 hour ago, Steamboat1874 said:

Almost seems like the series tried to make you buy the book.

i will not buy or read the book but it does make me interested in it.  i had no idea this story existed until the series.  very creative to come up with this alternate reality.

[Saint Austin 745]

I bought the book and rushed to finish it before the series began. I don't see why this wasn't at least eight episodes. Like everyone else said, the ending felt so rushed.

[Biff Tannen 45709]

I liked it overall, but agree it was too short and rushed. I’m choosing to believe Roosevelt won despite the voter suppression and purging of votes. 

[SizzleChest 8284]

On 4/21/2020 at 9:59 AM, Player said:

 

Nailed it!

[Phone ringing]

Bess: Hello?

Seldon: (weeping) FIG NEWDONS!!!

Bess: click

 

This is perfect.

[NOMAAA 1696]

so the point was herman is always an asshole?

[Biff Tannen 45709]

On 4/22/2020 at 9:18 AM, Saint Austin said:

I bought the book and rushed to finish it before the series began. I don't see why this wasn't at least eight episodes. Like everyone else said, the ending felt so rushed.

Did the book resolve the ending or was it left up to the reader?

[Saint Austin 745]

3 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

Did the book resolve the ending or was it left up to the reader?

Yes, the book explains how everything ends. 

Spoiler

In the book's reality, everything happens more-less the same except one year later. FDR is re-elected in '42, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in Dec. 42, and the U.S. enters WWII with it ending in an Allied victory in 1946. There are a few other details I can look up for you if you're curious.

 

[Biff Tannen 45709]

Cool, thanks.  Surprised at that spoiler actually.  

[Red Five 40881]

This felt like during filming, the show runner was told “oh hey you know how you thought you have four more episodes to shoot? Yeah you’ve got one.”

[Red Five 40881]

CovidHorns

[Rougarou 594]

I made a turkey sandwich with miracle whip on Mrs. Baird's bread and I thought about that poignant scene in the last episode.

The dad and son, whose relationship was rocky as the son was going through puberty and dealing with his hormones, bonded and reaffirmed their Jewish heritage and identity as "family" over the disappointment of a bologna sandwich on mayo and white bread. "They are trying to kill us" the Jew said of the Goyem, as they smugly joked about their preference for more cured and cultured deli meats and breads. That was a nice, understated moment, I thought.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Rougarou

[kevwun 15852]

On 4/28/2020 at 1:33 PM, Saint Austin said:

Yes, the book explains how everything ends. 

  Hide contents

In the book's reality, everything happens more-less the same except one year later. FDR is re-elected in '42, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in Dec. 42, and the U.S. enters WWII with it ending in an Allied victory in 1946. There are a few other details I can look up for you if you're curious.

 

Did the election rigging happen in the book too? 

[henrygandorf 29194]

thread bump because (even though i started this thread), i never ended up watching the show as it aired.  instead, i kept it on the dvr until it just fell away.

now i am in a 1938-1942 rabbit hole and flew through it over the weekend.  the rabbit hole also includes "ultra", the podcast by rachel maddow - https://www.rachelmaddow.com/rachel-maddow-presents-ultra/

and the newest ken burns, "the u.s. and the holocaust" - https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/

finished ultra, it's crazy.  finished plot against america, and echoed many thoughts on here.  wanted it to keep going.  almost done with ken burns, but as you can imagine, it's heavy material.  it's fascinating how much overlap there is, how many names i previously didn't know pop up in two or all three of these.  also interesting to see similar subject matter attacked in doc, series, and podcast format.

as for ultra - if you don't like maddow (which i really don't very much), it's still a great listen, so i wouldn't worry about it.

[TexPx 2323]

thread bump because (even though i started this thread), i never ended up watching the show as it aired.  instead, i kept it on the dvr until it just fell away.
now i am in a 1938-1942 rabbit hole and flew through it over the weekend.  the rabbit hole also includes "ultra", the podcast by rachel maddow - https://www.rachelmaddow.com/rachel-maddow-presents-ultra/
and the newest ken burns, "the u.s. and the holocaust" - https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/
finished ultra, it's crazy.  finished plot against america, and echoed many thoughts on here.  wanted it to keep going.  almost done with ken burns, but as you can imagine, it's heavy material.  it's fascinating how much overlap there is, how many names i previously didn't know pop up in two or all three of these.  also interesting to see similar subject matter attacked in doc, series, and podcast format.
as for ultra - if you don't like maddow (which i really don't very much), it's still a great listen, so i wouldn't worry about it.

Reading a book now about Myer Lansky and Murder Inc. kicking German/American Bund Nazi’s asses.

[bonnieblue 542]

On 12/12/2022 at 11:49 AM, henrygandorf said:

thread bump because (even though i started this thread), i never ended up watching the show as it aired.  instead, i kept it on the dvr until it just fell away.

now i am in a 1938-1942 rabbit hole and flew through it over the weekend.  the rabbit hole also includes "ultra", the podcast by rachel maddow - https://www.rachelmaddow.com/rachel-maddow-presents-ultra/

and the newest ken burns, "the u.s. and the holocaust" - https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/

finished ultra, it's crazy.  finished plot against america, and echoed many thoughts on here.  wanted it to keep going.  almost done with ken burns, but as you can imagine, it's heavy material.  it's fascinating how much overlap there is, how many names i previously didn't know pop up in two or all three of these.  also interesting to see similar subject matter attacked in doc, series, and podcast format.

as for ultra - if you don't like maddow (which i really don't very much), it's still a great listen, so i wouldn't worry about it.

Ultra was fantastic, great recommendation. We really are just repeating history to an extent every 100 or so years