Forget what you learned in the history books. A thrilling and often terrifying genre of television is asking a haunting question: what if the unthinkable had happened and the Allies lost World War II? These shows plunge viewers into meticulously crafted dystopias where swastikas fly over London and everyday life is a struggle under oppressive regimes.
A Chilling Genre That Rewrites Our Past
Alternate history dramas have become a powerhouse subgenre, captivating audiences by exploring the precarious 'what if' moments that changed the world. By twisting a single pivotal event, these narratives hold up a dark mirror to our present, revealing how easily our freedoms could have been lost.
1. The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Prime)
Based on Philip K. Dick's seminal novel, this series presents one of the most fully realised and horrifying alternate realities. It depicts a world where the Axis powers won, dividing the United States into the Greater Nazi Reich and the Japanese Pacific States. A neutral buffer zone separates the two, as a resistance movement grows, armed with forbidden films that show a world where the Allies were victorious.
2. SS-GB (BBC)
This BBC production hits chillingly close to home. It imagines a 1941 where Nazi Germany successfully executed Operation Sea Lion and invaded Britain. The story follows Detective Superintendent Douglas Archer of Scotland Yard, who must navigate the grim complexities of policing a occupied London, trying to solve a murder under the watchful eye of the SS.
3. For All Mankind (Apple TV+)
While not solely focused on a Nazi victory, this series kicks off with a pivotal alternate history premise: the Soviet Union beats the Americans to the moon. This single event triggers a drastically different Cold War, fuelling a prolonged and intense space race that reshapes technology, society, and global politics in ways never seen in our timeline.
4. The Plot Against America (HBO/BBC Two)
This miniseries, based on Philip Roth's novel, explores a more insidious and political alternate path. It reimagines the 1940s US presidential election, where aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, an open isolationist and Nazi sympathiser, defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt. The show follows a working-class Jewish family as they witness the rise of antisemitism and fascism in their own country.
5. Hunters (Amazon Prime)
Set primarily in 1977 America, 'Hunters' operates in a world where numerous high-ranking Nazis escaped to the US and are plotting to create a Fourth Reich. While the exact point of divergence isn't the main focus, the show's existence implies a history where Nazi ideology wasn't fully crushed, allowing it to fester and grow in the shadows of the new world.
Why Are We So Fascinated?
These shows resonate deeply because they are more than just thrillers; they are cautionary tales. They explore themes of resistance, collaboration, and the fragility of democracy. By showing us a world where the good guys lost, they force us to appreciate the value of the freedoms we often take for granted and remind us that history is not preordained, but built on choices and chance.
So, the next time you settle in for a night of television, consider taking a journey into one of these unsettling yet utterly compelling alternate worlds. Just be prepared to feel a shiver down your spine as you see a familiar past become a terrifyingly unfamiliar present.
