I watched about three-fourths of the first season. I just found that I didn't care about these characters. The only one I found even mildly interesting is the antique dealer who speaks fluent Japanese and wants to ingratiate himself in that society -- who discovers that he still has to enter through the tradesman's entrance. But the young people who flee to the mountains, and the would-be assassin, and the Nazi spy in the resistance? They all just felt like cardboard cutouts.
Fair enough. I know what you’re talking about.
Joe Blake, the Nazi spy, is a complicated character. Is he a Nazi or resistance? I still don’t know and I’m almost through the second season. If he’s cardboard it makes it tougher to tell.
The Marshal is melodramatic and over the top. Didn’t like him at all. He could have been done much better. I’m glad he appears to be gone.
I do like Childen the store owner. My nephew says he’s a side character early on but something happens that plunges him right into the middle of everything.
I think the biggest problem is Juliana and Frank. Juliana is supposed to “feel” for everybody which kinda makes her a sucker for Joe. She could be a little more nuanced and less cardboard. But Frank kinda gets a pass since his sister and her family were killed by Kido. He’s allowed to be angry and single minded.
I think Kido is awesome in his snobbery towards anything western—a really despicable character. He and Tagomi (Japanese trade minister) are appropriately stiff. Tagomi especially has a human side revealed in season 2 that really puts cracks in his veneer and lets you peek inside just a bit.
I will say the season 1 finale is spectacular!