philip roth the plot against america hbo

The second stage of the Rabbi’s youth-centered “Just Folks” program, Homestead relocates Jewish families to small cities in “real America” in order to remove them from their “isolated” communities - a forced assimilation that mimics the European ghettos in reverse.ĭirector Thomas Schlamme has some artful tricks up his sleeve in this episode, that combined with a livelier script leads to the series’ best episode yet. The episode begins in 1942, with The Levins receiving word that they will be re-located to Kentucky as part of Rabbi Bengelsdorf’s (John Turturro) newly-formed “Homestead ’42” program. And while creators David Simon and Ed Burns may be following Philip Roth’s lead, a slightly less faithful adherence to the novel would have benefitted the series, especially in regard to its women characters.

Sam Levinson and The Weeknd Address ‘The Idol’ Reshoots: ‘Quitting’ Was ‘Never an Option’Ĭreatively, the Levins are meant to be a typical 1940s American family, but that’s no reason to sideline Bess’ character. It’s a shame that it came so late in the game, and the show suffered for it, as she brings some much-needed fire to this late chapter. This is the first episode that gives Kazan enough screen time to really strut her stuff.

The penultimate episode of the otherwise sleepy series finally has some pep to it, thanks to Kazan being given more to do than cook dinner and fold laundry (though she still manages to sneak in a few loads). Not that she hasn’t tried to before, but by episode’s end she’s made her demands so clearly they’ll be impossible for Herman to ignore. That’s thanks to his wife Bess ( Zoe Kazan) finally speaking her mind. By the fifth episode of “ The Plot Against America,” however, Herman’s stubbornness and indecision is finally threatening to unravel the very fabric of the thing he purports to care about most: his family. Herman Levin (Morgan Spector) may not be the picture of paternal devotion - who could be with a son threatening to join the Hitler youth? - but he’s come pretty close to everyman perfection so far. Everyone has to pay the piper eventually, even upstanding American fathers just trying to do right by their families.

Philip roth the plot against america hbo