This article will rank the best episodes of Man in the High Castle’s 3rd season according to IMDB.
Sabra: 7.7
This episode takes its name from a Jewish community that is masquerading as a Catholic monastery. The episode starts with a tense standoff as a bounty hunter holds the community hostage and Frank Frink attempts to talk the bounty hunter into laying down his weapons.
In addition to the new community, Joe and Juliana’s romance also continues as the two try to get more information out of each other.
Now More Than Ever, We Care About You: 7.8
Now More Than Ever, We Care About You is the opening episode of season 3 and helps lay down most of the themes that this season will be grappling with. Juliana meets a new friend in the neutral zone and Joe is sent on a mission to San Francisco, all while the Japanese test their atomic bomb.
Many fans of the show were worried that, due to the fact the show had been off the air for two years, its quality might have changed. However, this episode reassured fans that they had nothing to worry about.
Imagine Manchuria: 7.8
As the second episode of the season, Imagine Manchuria continues to set up the plot for the rest of the season. This episode shows that Juliana is starting to receive strange visions of alternate worlds. In addition to this, talk of a fuel shortage also sets off the plot thread that the Nazis are embargoing oil in the Pacific.
This episode helps define the nature of the show as it will continue into its fourth series, moving the TV show further away from the novel it is loosely based on.
Excess Animus: 7.8
This episode marks the beginning of the show truly wading into the territory of science fiction. Juliana and the Abendsens spend a good portion of the episode explaining alternative realities, first to Wyatt and then to Ed, Lila, and Frank. This helps to set up the ultimate goal of the series, while also heavily leaning into its science fiction themes.
This is the episode where we also get our first look at Dr. Mengele’s trans-dimensional tunnel, which is certainly a deep dive into science fiction. Additionally, Juliana continues to receive her memories from a different reality and tries to use them to fight the Nazis.
Sensô Kôi: 8.0
Films play an important part in this episode, with Juliana watching the execution of Nazi prisoners, Smith receiving a film from a traveler, and the release of Nicole Dormer’s propaganda film. This episode is an important one in terms of the show’s characters, as Sensô Kôi helps to bring characters closer together.
Aside from the characters, this episode also furthers the season’s plot. Juliana is learning more about alternate realities from the films, as their events trigger her glimpses into different worlds.
History Ends: 8.2
History Ends was following an explosive episode and, perhaps predictably, eases back on the tension that was rife in the previous episode. That being said, this is not a bad thing. The quiet episode helps the audience connect to the characters and further some of the series’s more subtle story beats.
While this episode was certainly quieter than the prior episode, it ended with a stirring montage that combined Himmler’s speech with Frank’s Bar Mitzvah.
Kasumi (Through The Mists)
This episode helps further the tension that had been building between the Axis Powers of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Tagomi is almost assassinated by one of Himmler’s men but is able to defeat the Nazi with a swift kick to the throat. The body of the would-be assassin is then left in front of the Nazi embassy, angering Himmler.
In addition to the tension between the powers, Juliana and Wyatt continue to cross the country on their quest to stop the Nazis from taking over multiple worlds.
Baku: 8.7
Baku is the penultimate episode of the season and helps set up a promising finale. Juliana and Wyatt continue on their journey to Poconos, picking up some of Wyatt’s old war mates along the way. However, once they reach the mine the group realizes it will be more difficult than expected due to the heavy guard around the mine.
Aside from the Juliana story, this episode marks a sad goodbye to Frank. It’s not often an original cast member is killed, and the showrunners made his death shocking and emotionally resonant.
The New Colossus: 8.8
The midpoint of the series was certainly not a disappointment in terms of action. This episode quickly and shockingly concludes some of the storylines that had been set up earlier in the season. Perhaps the most shocking one involved the death of Joe, a character who we all assumed would have a larger role in the series.
While we’re used to the finale being the most intense and fast-paced episode of a TV series, Man in the High Castle flipped this expectation in its head with its midpoint climax.
Jahr Null: 9.0
Naturally, the season finale would have to be the highest-rated episode. The episode masterfully flicks between the show’s science fiction elements, such as the inter-dimensional tunnel, and its dystopian elements, such as the destruction of the Statue of Liberty.
In addition to the two themes, the episode also provides a conclusion for the season’s overarching plot. However, while Juliana and the gang do find their way into the mineshaft, the full conclusion to Juliana’s story will have to wait until season 4.