What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (2024)

(Spoilers ahead for the ending of “The Man in the High Castle” season 4, which is also the ending of the entire series. You have been warned.)

“The Man in the High Castle” is not the most straightforward book, and naturally the TV show that Amazon has turned that book into is likewise not straightforward. On the one hand you’ve got the standard narrative in the form of the alternate history in which the Axis powers won World War II, and on the other the whole thing about parallel universes, which has always served a more metaphorical function. And the ending of this series, the final scene of season 4, can be a bit confusing for folks because it’s more in that metaphorical territory.

So as we arrive at that final scene, things are looking up in the, ah, Prime Earth of this story. The Japanese have abandoned North America, and the Black Communist Rebellion is setting up a new, presumably much better government. The east coast has autonomy from Germany, and is now being run by a guy who clearly wants the Nazis gone. John Smith (Rufus Sewell), perpetrator of so many crimes against humanity, is finally dead and gone. These are all good things.

Also Read: Here's Everything New Coming to Amazon Prime Video in November

But after all that happened, there was still one last scene for “The Man in the High Castle.” The final scene takes us to the portal the Nazis built so they could travel to alternate universes. Something weird has been going on there all season, with the portal turning itself on a couple times and giving Juliana (Alexa Davalos) weird feelings that something is about to happen with it.

So in this scene, the American resistance has taken the facility where the portal is located from the Nazis, and we’ve got Juliana, Hawthorne (Stephen Root), Wyatt (Jason O’Mara) and a bunch of others hanging out in the portal room as it fires itself up. And once the portal stabilizes, out walks a whole bunch of people. These folks just stroll right through the room, not really acknowledging the people who were already present. And Hawthorne, the Man in the High Castle himself, walks through the crown andinto the portal.

It was a very moving moment for me to watch, even though I honestly do not understand what it means. Juliani says these people are coming from “everywhere” but that’s obviously very vague. Was this some kind of metaphor, with the souls of those killed in the past two decades of atrocities around the world returning? Or was it really, literally happening?

Also Read: 'Jojo Rabbit' Film Review: Taika Waititi Insists That Nazis Can Be Funny

“The Man in the High Castle” doesn’t really provide anything in the way of setup for this turn of events, either way. It never established firm details about the travelers who had been bringing those alternate universe films to this version of Earth, and those films came from many more Earths than just the one the Nazis had been using the portal to travel to.

Was there some kind of parallel universe organization affecting events inthis world the way the Nazis had been interfering in that other world they kept visiting? And they decided that now was the time to pay it a visit? Or maybe these were refugees who had fled this reality and were now returning?

Over at Entertainment Weekly, showrunner David Scarpa said the scene was intentionally ambiguous. “Part of the intention was to invite the audience to have their own interpretation of what they’re seeing on screen.” Though he does offer a tantalizing detail. “The portal is, essentially, open and it is going to remain open. In effect, what that means is two worlds have become one. There’s a doorway from one world into the next, and now people can move freely between them.”

Since the show is over now, that might be a detail I didn’t need confirmed, because it might keep me up at night as I try to figure out what that means. But since the show is over now, we’re probably never going to get a more real or informative answer than that. But even though I don’t get it, I like the scene a lot anyway. I like the vibe of it.

It feels like victory.

Disney+: All the Original TV Shows and Movies Set for Disney's Streaming Platform (Photos)

  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (1)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (2)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (3)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (4)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (5)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (6)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (7)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (8)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (9)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (10)Disney
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (11)Getty
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (12)Getty
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (13)Getty
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (14)Getty
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (15)Getty
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (16)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (17)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (18)Lucasfilm
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (19)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (20)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (21)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (22)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (23)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (24)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (25)Lucasfilm
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (26)20th Century Fox
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (27)Disney
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (28)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (29)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (30)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (31)Disney+
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (32)Disney
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (33)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (34)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (35)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (36)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (37)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (38)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (39)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (40)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (41)
  • What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (42)

1 of 42

Direct-to-consumer offering will house programming from Marvel Studios, Pixar and Lucasfilm

Disney+, Disney's streaming competitor to challenge Netflix and Amazon, launched Tuesday and along with housing its own vast library of content, the OTT features original "Star Wars," Marvel Studios, Pixar, National Geographic and, of course, Disney productions. Here's every TV show and film in the works for the streaming platform. (Note: Year One means within the first year of Disney+'s launch.)

Disney+ will run you $6.99/month (or $12.99 in a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+).

Also Read: ‘The Mandalorian': Disney+ Goes to a Galaxy Far, Far Away in First Trailer for ‘Star Wars’ TV Show (Video)

What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean? (2024)

FAQs

What is the message of The Man in the High Castle? ›

One of the central themes of The Man in the High Castle is the interpretation of truth versus fallacy. For example, one character sells American antiques. The majority of the items in his shop are counterfeit items and he is very much aware of this.

What were John Smith's last words in Man in the High Castle? ›

this is the one you became. John's last words to Juliana Crain before taking his own life.

Did The Man in the High Castle end? ›

What happened in the final episode of Castle? ›

What are the tapes in The Man in the High Castle? ›

These film reels were created by the man known as the Man in the High Castle, whose real name is Hawthorne Abendsen and is played by Stephen Root. Abendsen's reels show the war with an American victory and possession of them is a form of treason in both the Pacific States and the Greater Reich.

Why did Japan leave us in Man in the High Castle? ›

Japanese Withdrawal

After the Black Communist Rebellion blow up the critical infrastructure of the Pacific States, including the Crimson pipeline and several oil tankers; the Japanese Empire enters an oil shortage and were unable to supply oil to their troops handling resistance movements in Australia, China and India.

What is the significance of grasshopper in The Man in the High Castle? ›

The title of that book is a reference to a bible verse that states ''The grasshopper shall be a burden'' (Ecclesiastes 12:5). This verse is describing a world where things are turned upside down and even something very light, like a grasshopper, feels heavy.

What disease did the Son have in Man in the High Castle? ›

Unfortunately for both him and his family, he was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, a congenital disease which would slowly weaken and paralyze him.

What disease does Thomas Smith have in Man in the High Castle? ›

Thomas has a serious degenerative disease called Landouzy-Dejerine Syndrome. It's classified as a class A congenital disorder. Smith tries to deny this diagnosis, but soon realizes his son's awful fate.

Who was the guy at the end of Castle? ›

That. The recognizable character actor (Gerald McRaney) from an earlier episode this season who showed up in this episode for no discernible reason turned out to be the Big Bad. “Surprise,” he said, revealing himself to Castle.

Why was Tagomi killed off? ›

Tagomi was assassinated at the start of series 4 because Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (actor of Tagomi) was unable to continue filming for the series due to prior commitments to shooting Netflix's 'Lost in Space'.

Why did Castle disappear before his wedding? ›

So, think of Castle's disappearance like this -- he missed his wedding and went missing for two months to help stop a terror attack. Basically, Castle helped save the world, as Beckett said.

Why was the ending to Castle so abrupt? ›

Declining ratings and contract renewals one season at a time signaled a series finale was on the horizon. This coupled with new leadership heading the network and fan discontent over the reduced budget and omitting Katic resulted in ABC deciding to forego the ninth season entirely.

Who was LokSat? ›

Mason Wood is the head of the Greatest Detective Society and the true antagonist of season 8 and the hidden main antagonist of the entire Beckett Conspiracy. Referred to as the alias - Loksat, he was a CIA analyst who was partnered with Senator William Bracken and Vulcan Simmons.

What did Castle want to forget? ›

Jenkins told him that Castle, himself, wanted his memories wiped and Jenkins urged Castle to go back to living his normal life and forget about his missing time. A year later, Castle keeps having dreams about his missing time.

Is Joe a double agent in The Man in the High Castle? ›

But because of his background — which Spotnitz promises will come up again in later episodes — Joe chose to become a Nazi and is working as a double agent when he joins the Resistance.

Are there multiple universes in The Man in the High Castle? ›

Much of the third and fourth seasons explored a portal that the Nazis built so they could travel to alternate universes, with the ambitious goal of taking over the entire multiverse.

Is The Man in the High Castle a time traveler? ›

No, The Man in the High Castle does not involve time travel. It is an alternate history novel which means that it takes a pivotal moment in history and imagines what would happen if the event had gone a different way.

Did America win the war in The Man in the High Castle? ›

The Man in the High Castle (1962), by Philip K. Dick, is an alternative history novel wherein the Axis Powers won World War II.

Did the US win the war in The Man in the High Castle? ›

In the timeline of The Man in the High Castle, this war ended with the defeat of the Allied Powers, resulting in most of the world, including the United States of America, being divided between the Japanese Empire and the Nazi Reich.

Who won ww2 in Man in the High Castle? ›

In this dystopian scenario, the Axis powers won the war, leading to the United States being divided into three parts, an area controlled by the Japanese, a Nazi-controlled section, and a buffer zone between the two.

Why did the ant not help the grasshopper? ›

The correct answer is Because the ant asked the grasshopper number of times to collect and store foods but he did not listen to him and was busy singing and sleeping during summer.

What did the grasshopper learn at the end? ›

Answer. Answer: what we can learn from the aunt and the grasshopper. in this table , originally one of the asesop,s fables , the take away lesson is that "it is wise to worry about tomorrow to today".

What did the ant tell the grasshopper when he? ›

What did the ant tell the grasshopper when he asked for food? Answer: The ant told the grasshopper that he had spent his time lazily during summer without saving a single grain for the cold season.

Who is Joe's father man in the high castle? ›

Heusmann is the father of Joe Blake through the Lebensborn program. In Season Three, he was executed for treason by his own son.

Who dies in The Man in the High Castle? ›

Season Two

Later in the series, Hitler collapses and goes into a coma and then dies in his sleep in 1962.

Does Man in the High Castle follow the book? ›

The Amazon Prime Video series The Man in the High Castle was in a lot of ways very different from the Philip K. Dick novel it was based on, as the show expanded and diverged from the book. This meant that the ending of the series, which was released by Amazon on November 15, was very different from the end of the book.

What is Landouzy Dejerine syndrome? ›

Disease definition. A rare neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness with focal involvement of the facial, shoulder and limb muscles.

What happens to Helen Smith in The Man in the High Castle? ›

She is ultimately is killed when the Resistance attacks the train.

Is there a series 5 of The Man in the High Castle? ›

The pilot premiered in January 2015, and Amazon ordered a ten-episode season the following month which was released in November. A second season of ten episodes premiered in December 2016, and a third season was released on October 5, 2018. The fourth and final season premiered on November 15, 2019.

How was Beckett written off Castle? ›

At the end of the episode, the series villain jumped out and shot at Castle and Beckett. They managed to fight back and kill the criminal, but they were both shot as well. The music swelled as Castle and Beckett collapsed on the floor next to each other, bleeding and looking very dead from gunshot wounds.

Why did Beckett leave Castle? ›

Kate Beckett and the love interest of the show's leading man Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion), was part of the show for eight years and was reportedly ousted in a budgetary move.

Who is the mystery man in Castle? ›

Michael Smith, better known as Mr. Smith (Geoff Pierson), is a mysterious old friend of Roy Montgomery who first appeared in the season three finale "Knock Out". He is believed to have saved Montgomery's life, which convinces Montgomery that Smith is trustworthy.

What happens to Juliana in Man in the High Castle? ›

Season Four

It is later revealed that this alternate world's Juliana Crain has died in a car crash, along with her parents, which is the reason how the original Juliana managed to travel to this world.

What happens to Tagomi? ›

As the Beach Boys play on the car radio, the man who just tried to kill her in one reality carries her to safety in another. In a shocking storytelling move, Tagomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) is assassinated without a line of dialogue or even a good look at his face.

Why did Beckett leave Castle after they got married? ›

In Season 8's XX Beckett decides to take a break in her relationship with Castle to keep him safe from LokSat. In a conversation with Castle's step-mother Rita, Kate mentions that she cannot let LokSat go, and needs to do something to find peace.

What happened to Castle in the two months he was gone? ›

After stepping in (and in doing so thwarting a terrorist attack), Castle's memories were eventually “erased,” leaving him unable to account for his absence when he was found months later, adrift on a boat.

Did Castle ever find out who his father was? ›

They were wrong on both counts, as the caller was Volkov, demanding that Hunt surrenders himself if he valued Alexis' life. Following this, Castle started pestering Hunt with questions, forcing him to reveal that he was Castle's father and the real reason Alexis was kidnapped.

Who was the sniper who shot Beckett? ›

In "Always", Beckett resigns from the NYPD after nearly losing her life trying to apprehend Cole Maddox, the sniper who shot her the previous year at Captain Montgomery's funeral.

How did Castle and Beckett survive? ›

They were rescued by Castle's Los Angeles friend, Mason, in a Korean barbecue taco truck. They then kept following what they thought were leads, but LokSat was always one step ahead.

Did Castle cast get along with each other? ›

Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion, who played a married couple Richard Castle and Kate Beckett on the long-running ABC drama Castle, had major friction behind the scenes, Us Weekly exclusively revealed in April 2016.

What did the end of Castle mean? ›

The other ending, meanwhile, aimed to give closure to the fans with a scene the showrunners hoped would never see the light of day. That scene, it turns out, depicted Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett seven years in the future, still happily married with three kids in tow, as shown at the close of the series finale.

What did Castle do when he was 11 years old? ›

In "Hollander's Woods" it's explained that when he was 11 years old, Castle found a murdered girl and encountered her masked killer.

Who killed Castle? ›

The precinct saves Castle from death, and he must save Beckett from Loksat. Back home safely, Castle is shot by Caleb who had faked his death and turning on Loksat before Caleb is killed by Beckett. Wounded, she crawls to Castle. Seven years later, the two enjoy breakfast while their three children play.

What is the meaning of high castle? ›

adj. 1 being a relatively great distance from top to bottom; tall. a high building. 2 situated at or extending to a relatively great distance above the ground or above sea level. a high plateau.

Are there two realities in The Man in the High Castle? ›

In this story about alternate history, there lies another alternate history where the Allies did in fact defeat the Axis powers.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 5683

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.