The Plot Against America (miniseries)

The Plot Against America (miniseries) is a six-part HBO drama miniseries created by David Simon and Ed Burns. It is an adaptation of Philip Roth's 2004 alternate history novel of the same name. The series premiered in March 2020 and explores a chilling fictional America where Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 United States presidential election, steering the nation toward fascism and antisemitism.

Premise and setting

The narrative is presented through the perspective of a working-class Jewish family, the Levins, living in Newark, New Jersey. The central alternate historical event is the victory of aviation hero and America First Committee isolationist Charles Lindbergh over incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 United States presidential election. Lindbergh’s administration pursues a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany and institutes the federal "Just Folks" and "Good Neighbor" programs, which are portrayed as insidious efforts to assimilate and divide Jewish communities. The setting meticulously recreates the domestic atmosphere of the pre-World War II United States, showing how national politics violently intrude upon the family's life in Newark.

Cast and characters

The Levin family is led by parents Bess (Zoe Kazan) and Herman (Morgan Spector), with their sons Sandy (Caleb Malis) and Philip (Azhy Robertson). Herman’s orphaned nephew, Alvin (Anthony Boyle), becomes a volatile figure who travels to Canada to join the fight against the Axis powers. Winona Ryder plays Bess’s sister, Evelyn Finkel, who becomes romantically involved with the influential Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf (John Turturro), a vocal supporter of the Lindbergh administration. Other key figures include David Krumholtz as the family’s boarder, Mickey Duff, and Michael Kostroff as the skeptical journalist Walter Winchell.

Production and development

The project was developed for HBO by David Simon and Ed Burns, following their previous collaborations on series like The Wire and The Deuce. Simon, a longtime admirer of Philip Roth's work, sought to adapt the novel as a "family story" set against a political backdrop. Principal photography took place in various locations, including New York City and New Jersey, in 2019. The production design team worked to authentically recreate the period details of Newark and Washington, D.C. in the early 1940s. The score was composed by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro.

Release and reception

The miniseries premiered on HBO on March 16, 2020, with all episodes released on the network's streaming platform, HBO Max, later that year. It received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise directed at its timely themes, tense atmosphere, and performances, especially those of Morgan Spector and Zoe Kazan. The series was nominated for several awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Limited Series and acting nominations for John Turturro. Reviewers in publications like The New York Times and The Guardian noted its potent resonance in an era of rising nationalism and political division.

Historical context and themes

While an alternate history, the series is deeply rooted in real historical currents, such as the strength of the America First Committee, the popularity of Charles Lindbergh, and the pervasive antisemitism in parts of pre-war American society. It draws direct parallels between the fictional policies of the Lindbergh administration and historical events like the Nuremberg Laws and the Holocaust. Central themes include the fragility of democracy, the insidious nature of state-sponsored bigotry, and the corrosion of societal norms. The series uses its historical fiction lens to examine timeless questions about assimilation, patriotism, and resistance, inviting comparisons to modern political movements and leaders.

Category:2020 American television miniseries Category:HBO original programming Category:Alternate history television series