The Plot Against America (HBO) (1 Viewer)

[Adam Lenhardt]

David Simon adapts Philip Roth's novel, an alternate history where Charles Lindbergh's "America First" platform triumphs and he defeats FDR in the 1940 election, riding a wave of strong isolationist feeling in country.

President Lindbergh sides with strongmen over America's traditional allies internationally, while things take a decidedly fascist turn domestically as the politics of tribalism and racial grievance achieve ascendancy.

Trailer:

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Reminds me of the excellent PBS American Experience episode "Lindbergh" (1990) which talked about his isolationist views at that time.

 

[joshEH]

Greatly enjoyed the book when I received it as a holiday gift from my brother in late 2005, so will certainly be checking this out.

Plus, y'know...David Simon.

 

[Sam Favate]

A book I loved, a director I love. I'm in.

 

[TravisR]

Everything David Simon touches is gold so I'm definitely in.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Sounds like another uplifting, happy-go-lucky bit of froth from David Simon*.

(*A man who seemed pained when I mentioned a line of dialogue of his I loved at a book signing once. Don’t say nice things to his face!)

 

[TravisR]

Sounds like another uplifting, happy-go-lucky bit of froth from David Simon*.

He must be mellowing as he gets older because The Deuce had a bittersweet ending over the the-whole-fucking-system-is-a-toilet-that-is-doomed-to-keep-repeating-itself ending that his shows usually and correctly have.

 

[benbess]

Grim, but good show so far imho. Excellent production design. Fine cast. Quality throughout. Thought provoking too.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Grim, but good show so far imho. Excellent production design. Fine cast. Quality throughout. Thought provoking too.

I haven’t watched it. Quality aside, I think I’d find it too depressing.

 

[TravisR]

I haven’t watched it. Quality aside, I think I’d find it too depressing.

David Simon and his cohorts are always depressing. It's one of their strongest points.

 

[John Lee_275604]

I've been searching my recollections for what exactly the father Herman reminds me of. It's not so much that he's wrong about things, as he's so passionate and confrontational that he grinds even his sympathizers down and ultimately works counter to his aims.

And I think I've got it, reminds me of when Stan's dad on South Park kept getting arrested and making a scene shouting 'What? I thought this was America!!'

It's almost like they took a stock character foil for Archie Bunker and transplanted him into a realistic 1940s nearby Jersey suburb.

 

[JohnRice]

I just started watching this. Only one episode in, but I can’t believe it only has 11 posts.

 

[Josh Dial]

I just started watching this. Only one episode in, but I can’t believe it only has 11 posts.

I planned on watching it after David Simon's truly excellent series We Own This City, back in 2022, but I just plain forgot. Thanks for the reminder--going to dig in next week.

 

[JohnRice]

Two episodes in, and it’s intriguing. However, since it’s speculative fiction, and highly political, I’m not sure how successfully it can be discussed within forum rules. I think I’ll just watch it and make more general comments.

 

[TravisR]

...and highly political, I’m not sure how successfully it can be discussed within forum rules.

You hit on why I didn't talk about it here as it aired.

 

[Sam Favate]

I read the book when it came out and loved it. I’ve been meaning to watch the show but never got around to it. It’s been saved in my HBO list forever. I guess I’m reluctant to see a favorite book adapted in case I don’t like the results. I’d probably have seen it by now if there was a blu-ray release.

 

[JohnRice]

You hit on why I didn't talk about it here as it aired.

Yeah. I have two episodes to go, and it’s a difficult one to discuss.