Ep 3. The Illustrated Woman

In The Man in the High Castle season 1 episode 3 titled The Illustrated Woman, tension and mistrust rise to new levels. As Nazi and Japanese forces further entrench themselves on the American coasts, rebellion brews among those who long for a return to freedom.

The episode opens with Frank Frink (Rupert Evans), worried about the safety of his girlfriend Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos). The two had escaped from San Francisco in the previous episode in an attempt to deliver the film reels to the Man in the High Castle. Frank had stayed behind while Juliana continued on, but now he's concerned that something may have gone wrong. His fears are only exacerbated when he receives an ominous phone call that suggests that someone close to him is in danger.

Meanwhile, Juliana is now in Canon City, where she meets up with a mysterious woman named Lem (Ricki Noel Lander). Lem gives her a new identity and tells her that she needs to get closer to the Man in the High Castle in order to figure out who he is and what he wants with the films. Although Juliana is initially hesitant, she knows that she has no other choice if she wants to stay alive.

Back in San Francisco, Joe Blake (Luke Kleintank) is tasked with investigating the rebellious activities of Frank Frink and his associates. Joe's assignment is complicated by his growing feelings for Juliana, who he's convinced is still alive. His superiors, however, don't seem too interested in finding her - they're more focused on stamping out any form of dissent that they come across.

As tensions continue to rise, new characters are introduced, including Obergruppenführer John Smith (Rufus Sewell), a high-ranking Nazi official who is tracking down a resistance group named the Sons of Liberty. Smith is an intriguing character – tough, charismatic, and deeply conflicted by his beliefs.

Overall, The Illustrated Woman is a tense and well-crafted episode that continues to explore the show's central themes of resistance and rebellion. The episode is beautifully shot, with attention paid to every detail, from the eerie, dreamlike quality of Juliana's journey to the grim reality of life under Nazi and Japanese rule.

As the characters continue to grapple with the consequences of their choices, it becomes clear that nothing is as simple as it seems in this alternate reality. The lines between good and evil, right and wrong, become blurred, and it's difficult to tell which way is up. This makes for a gripping and highly entertaining hour of television that will leave viewers simultaneously on the edge of their seats and questioning everything they thought they knew about the world.