Philip K. Dick

The TV show is based on a classic book

Viewers simply cannot afford to overlook a remarkable TV series currently available for streaming, with audiences praising one “heartbreaking” film whilst others champion a movie that “enthralled” viewers, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The programme might have slipped past some viewers’ attention, but it delivers an exceptional viewing experience.

One glowing IMDb review stated: “An immaculate, terrifying alternate history that is accurate down to the buttons. I love period pieces, and this scary projection of a post WW2 hegemony ruled by the Japanese and German empires certainly fits the bill.”

Another viewer gushed: “I’m a TV show lover, but never! ever! has a series made me want to write a review.”

They continued: “The story line is incredible. The acting is great. The emotions that it brought out of me was real and raw. It made me appreciate and think differently about the word/idea/concept that we all throw around ‘FREEDOM [sic].'”

READ MORE: ‘Compelling’ costume drama hailed as ‘evocative’ of Charles Dickens is unmissable

A third reviewer entitled their assessment: “An amazing adaptation of the novel!”.

They elaborated: “The pilot episode was exceptional. It held my attention and made me believe in such an alternate history.

“I have read the book, and although it is different, it is an incredible adaptation. If the book was turned into a show without any edits, it would be far too complicated and very hard to enjoy (although the book is incredible).

“The acting, story, and visuals are spot on and only intensified what I had imagined when I read the book.”

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Another viewer gave a glowing 10/10 review, exclaiming: “A must watch, absolutely amazing!” and added: “If you like Hunger Games, GoT, Legends, Vikings or any of these shows, you will like this. I highly recommend watching this, to everyone. Watch it! [sic].”

The Man in the High Castle first aired in 2015 and was Amazon Prime Video’s inaugural original series, spanning four seasons.

The series is an adaptation of renowned science fiction author Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel bearing the same title.

The plot envisages an alternate history where Adolf Hitler and the Nazis emerged victorious from WW2, with the action set 15 years post-conflict.

The storyline follows various characters living under the rule of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany in a divided USA.

The TV adaptation stays true to this premise and centres around Juliana Crain (portrayed by Alexa Davalos), who starts to rebel against the regime after viewing a subversive newsreel titled The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, which portrays a world where the USA and the Allies triumphed in the war.

The Man in the High Castle was Prime Video’s first major original series. The streaming platform kick-started its original programming by producing a series of pilots and inviting its users to vote on which one they wanted to see developed into a full series, with the science fiction alternate history emerging as the winner.

The Man in the High Castle boasts a star-studded cast including Davalos, Rufus Sewell from ITV’s Victoria and The Holidays, Luke Kleintank known for FBI and Bones, DJ Qualls of Z Nation fame, Joel de la Fuente from Hemlock Grove, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, renowned for Pearl Harbor and Netflix’s Lost in Space.

The Man in the High Castle is streaming on Prime Video now

Amazon Prime Video is home to a number of hit series and movies, as well as some hidden gems, but one show which is set to leave the streaming service is Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams

Sci-fi fans on Amazon Prime Video have less than a month left to devour the star-studded anthology series Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams.

The show, which first aired on Channel 4 in 2017 before making its way to the streaming giant, draws inspiration from ten of the author’s short stories.

Its debut episode took cues from his tale The Hood Maker, plunging viewers into an alternate 1970s London rife with mind-reading citizens, societal unrest, and escalating distrust that culminates in riots.

Other episodes dive into themes like interstellar travel and the lives of synthetic beings endowed with human-like intelligence and emotions.

The cast list reads like a who’s who of television royalty, featuring Richard Madden of Game of Thrones fame, Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston, Steve Buscemi, Anna Paquin, Terrence Howard, and Holliday Grainger.

Cranston not only graced the screen but also put on the producer’s hat for the series, working alongside writers such as Jack Thorne, Tony Grisoni, and Dee Rees.

Upon its release, the series was met with critical acclaim, drawing parallels to the cult favourite Black Mirror and earning a solid 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.

One person praised: “Just recently discovered this series. Too bad each episode was a standalone. Several of these episodes would have made a good complete series on their own.”

Another said: “This show is absolutely phenomenal! Every episode makes you think and scares you that it could be our future. They’re so well filmed, scripted and acted. I want more!!!!!

“So sad to see it was only one season. Bring us more! Shocked not all 5 star reviews!

“Each episode is a different short story. They feel like mini movies that are so detailed and intense that when they are over you want more. They really put your “what if” mind to use.”

“Every episode I’ve seen of this show is just incredible. It makes you think. Sometimes about humanity and sometimes about sci-fi tropes and conventions and how we should be breaking those more often. Electric Dreams is immersive and beautifully made,” a third said.

Back in 2017, executive producer Ronald D. Moore expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying: “Philip K. Dick’s stories have inspired a lot of us, especially those of us who have loved science fiction since childhood. From Blade Runner, Minority Report, and Man On The High Castle, there’s so much material.”

Moore added: “So when the opportunity came to work on it, I did jump at it because I knew this is a rare opportunity to do something with one of the master’s works.

“I wasn’t familiar with the short stories at all, but I instantly realised we could definitely do a series like this and the more we talked about the nature of the project – that each show would be individualised as an anthology but have a diversity of viewpoint and give artists an opportunity to bring their own vision – the more exciting the project got.”

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video