#jonah heidelbaum

[inanausomewhere]

logan lerman as jonah heidelbaum in hunters (season 2, episode 8)

[mndvx]

I don't know a Meyer. HUNTERS – Van Glooten's Day 1972 Butter Sculptor of the Year (S02E01) ››› Logan Lerman as Jonah Heidelbaum

[pevinsie]

logan lerman as jonah heidelbaum hunters s2 ep1

[smallscreensource]

Hunters (2020-2023). Duck. Quail. Goose. Crow.

[writingdumpster]

the truth

pairing: Jonah Heidelbaum x reader

warnings: slight spoilers for season 2

summary: You go to visit Jonah when he's working late with his professor, but he isn't there. He has to tell you who he really is.

word count: 1.5k

Jonah walked into your apartment to see you seated on the couch watching television. It was well past midnight, and he had told you not to wait up for him. You were mad at him. He tried to ease into the conversation, not really knowing where it was going. 

“Did you wait for me, baby?” Jonah asked as he came to sit beside you. You kept your eyes trained on the television, arms crossed tightly across your chest. 

“Where were you tonight?” You asked, ignoring his question. 

“School, with my advisor. I was helping him grade papers,” Jonah tried. You turned towards him, your lips pressed tightly together and eyes narrowed. 

“Really? Because I went by your advisor’s office with the dinner I made you so I could visit you—Your dinner’s in the trash now, so I hope you’re hungry. It was your favorite,” you started. Jonah’s heart fell. He started trying to explain.

“Baby—” You kept going.

“And then I found out that not only were you not there, but you haven’t been working with him for the last two months.” 

“I’m sorry—” You didn’t stop.  

“But you have still been gone for the last two months. Every. Single. Night.” Your voice was firm and low. “So, where were you?” Jonah knew he was in trouble. There wasn’t a way out of this one. 

“I can explain everything,” Jonah told you at once. 

“What’s her name?” You asked fiercely. 

“Her name?” He asked, confused. 

“Whoever you’ve been sneaking off to every night. What’s her name?” Jonah shook his head. 

“There’s no other girl. There’s no one, baby. There’s only you,” he told you.

“Oh, please!” You shouted, now rising off the couch. “You expect me to believe you’ve been lying to me about why you’re out so late for two months and you’re not cheating on me?”

“I’m not cheating on you, honey. I would never do that to you. I love you more–” 

“You love me?!” You spit angrily. “Then why have you been lying to me? I can’t believe you proposed to me, you complete asshole!” Jonah felt like his body was being dragged into the floor. He couldn’t believe you thought he didn’t love you. He loved you more than anything. He loved you like it was the only thing he needed to survive. Jonah rose off the couch. He tried to reach out to you but you stepped away. He’d never felt worse in his life when you moved away from him. You’d never done that before. You had only ever moved closer. 

“I’m going to explain everything,” Jonah said. “I promise.” He paused. “But please tell me that you know I love you,” he begged. “Please. I need to know that you know I love you.” Your lips tightened. You thought for a moment. You couldn’t lie to him. He could obviously lie to you, but you couldn’t lie to him. 

“I want to hear the truth,” you said. Jonah nodded solemnly. He deserved that. He didn’t deserve your trust. He didn’t deserve anything from you. Jonah took a deep breath. 

“Two years ago I woke up in the middle of the night and there was a Nazi in my house. He killed my Safta,” he started. He continued to tell you the story of how he became a Hunter. He told you about the Wolf and his grandfather. He answered every question you asked him. He told you that he was a killer. He told you every horrible thing he had done, because the horrible things he did were things that needed to be done. He even told you about the mistake he made in Spain. When his story finished he was terrified. He felt sure that this was the end. You were seated on the couch, with him standing in front of you. He watched you in anxious silence as you processed his story. Finally, you spoke.

“I want to help you,” you told Jonah. His eyes widened in shock. 

“No. Absolutely not,” he replied at once. 

“Why not?” You asked. 

“Because it’s dangerous,” he said. 

“That’s why I want to be there with you,” you told him. 

“No. I want you safe from all this. I want you protected.” 

“Jonah, if it’s dangerous, then I want to be with you,” you said. “I want you protected too.” 

“Baby, no. I can’t let you get hurt. It’s too dangerous,” Jonah told you.

“Then I want you to stop,” you said firmly. Jonah fell silent. 

“I can’t,” he told you. “It’s too important.” 

“More important than me?” You asked. Jonah shook his head quickly. 

“No, of course not. Nothing is more important than you,” he said. He reached out and took your hands in his. This time you let him.  

“Okay, well I’m offering you a choice,” you told him. “You can let me help you,” you said. “…Or you can stop,” you finished. 

“Baby…” Jonah started to protest. 

“You lied to me, Jonah. About so much. Since the day we met,” you said. “And I know you love me. I know you weren’t doing this to hurt me. But you lied,” you told him. 

“I know, and I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so, so sorry. I won’t stop being sorry for the rest of my life,” he said. He reached for your face and cupped your cheek in his hand. “I just can’t let anything happen to you.” 

“And I can’t let anything happen to you,” you said. “I can’t let you go out there alone.”

“It won’t be safe for you, baby,” Jonah told you. “I’ve been doing this for two years now,” he said. 

“Then you’ll train me,” you told him. Jonah sighed. 

“Y/N…” He continued to protest. 

“You can get your friends to help you again,” you said. “But you aren’t going out to hunt Nazis alone.”  

“They don’t want to talk to me,” he said, dismissing the idea. You squeezed his hand. 

“I still love you, Jonah,” you told him. “And I still want to be with you.”

“I love you too, baby–” He tried to begin protesting again, but you kept talking. 

“But I can’t stay with you if I’m terrified that you won’t come home every night,” you said. “I need to know that you aren’t alone if you’re out there.” Jonah closed his mouth and nodded. 

“You’re right,” he agreed. “I can’t ask that of you.” He thought. He didn’t want you to get hurt. That was his thought above all else. But he also knew he had a responsibility to his Safta and his grandfather and the six million Jewish people who hadn’t been offered justice. 

“You don’t have to decide now, but I don’t want you going out again if someone isn’t with you,” you told him. 

“Are you sure you want to help me? You really want to be a part of this? It’s not easy. You’re going to see things that nobody should see,” he told you. 

“Baby, I’m proud that this is what you’ve been doing. I think it’s wonderful,” you told him. Jonah’s heart soared when you called him ‘baby.’ He had been worried that he’d never hear that word from you again. “I’m mad that you lied to me. I’m not mad that you hunt Nazis,” you told him.

“It’s just…You know how many nightmares I have,” he said. “I don’t want to put that on you.”

“You didn’t stop because of the nightmares and I understand why,” you told him. “I’ll do this with you, honey,” you assured him. He nodded hesitantly. 

“Okay,” he agreed. “Okay,” he repeated. “I’ll train you. We can hunt together.” You gave him a small smile. You leaned up and kissed him. His hands went to your waist and he pulled you close. Your arms fell over his shoulders. When you pulled away your foreheads stayed pushed together. 

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry, baby.” He pressed a quick peck to your lips. “I’m never going to lie to you again.” You chuckled. 

“And all it took was threatening to leave,” you joked. Jonah smiled. You found a way to laugh no matter how bad you were feeling. It was one of the things he loved most about you. 

“I’ll do anything to keep you, sweetheart. You’re the most important thing in my life. You know that, right?” He asked. You nodded. 

“I know,” you said. “I understand, honey,” you said. “I really am proud of you for all of this. Everything you’ve done…I think it’s amazing.” Jonah gave you a small smile.

“You’re amazing,” he told you. You shook your head with a smile. 

“Okay, sweet talker,” you said. “Now come to bed with me. I had to wait up all night because I thought my fiancé was cheating on me,” you said. Jonah smiled. You rose off the couch and followed him into your bedroom. It was only a few minutes till you were both wrapped up in each other’s arms. 

“Thank you for understanding, baby,” Jonah whispered. 

“Shh,” you said. “I’m sleepy, codebreaker,” you added with a smirk. You giggled when Jonah groaned. 

“I never should’ve told you that,” he said. “I was so embarrassing when I first started.” 

“You said you would always tell me the truth,” you said. Jonah smiled. 

“Fine,” he agreed. “But I’m never telling you what happened at Booty’s 14th birthday party.”

[goldgilzean]

"You know, the first time I met the kid, I thought he was just like her. He reminded me so much of Ruth."

"And now?"

"Now I don't see her at all. All I see is you."

[midnightswithdearkatytspb]

MidnightsWithDearKatyTSPB's Recommendation List: February '23 Part 2

Welcome to February's recommendation list, part two. If you haven't already, you can find part one here. The last list had 32 fanfiction recs in it this one might come in a little under as I have my cousin coming to visit me the last few days of the month. If you are interested in having your writing challenges featured here, or your stories, or even just your blog, please feel free to tag me, in your works, message me, or use the hashtag MidnightWithDearKatyTSPB. I hope your valentines day was a good one and those partaking in Lent, you got this! Happy March everyone!

WE REACHED THE LIMIT ON THIS LIST! FROM NOW ON, I'LL TRY & NOT TO MAKE IT SO LONG. SORRY!

🌹 February '23 Pt 1

March '23 🍀

Masterlist

Billy The Kid: The Playlist (Billy O'Grady) - "So what is wrong with another sin?" - "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by Scorpions

King Billy O'Grady (Moodboard)

Playlist for Uhtred the Berserker - "You'll be a man, boy!" - "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid

Uhtred the Berserker (Moodboard)

Thomas Micheal Shelby - "There was no doubt that Tommy Shelby had a soul and a heart that beat."

Luca Changretta (Moodboard)

Thomas Shelby "I Need My Girl" (Mood Board)

A Daughter's Return (Moodboard)

Tommy Shelby Pinterest Ask Game (Moodboard)

Lavender Haze >> Tommy Shelby x Estella Holland (Moodboard)

ONE-SHOTS:

*36 Minutes by @acewritesfics >> Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: Reader gets stood up, but is it really so bad? | Ace delivered again in her Valentine's Day Fic Special. Cranking out some of the best works, I've ever read.

*As The World Caves In by @areyenotfondofmelobster >> Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: What would you do when your world comes caving in? | I did indeed cry at this beautifully written masterpiece.

Bound By Blood by @noforkingclue >> Dark!Vampire!Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: You never expected that working for the Shelbys would be easy. However, you never expected you would gain the interest of Tommy, let alone what would happen next. | This was so freaking good seriously. I never knew I needed Vampire!Tommy till I read this. I need more Vampire!Tommy.

*A Christmas Journey by @notyour-valentine >> Tommy Shelby & Secretary - Summary: A Journey back from London in the Christmas Season with his secretary doesn't go as planned. | If I’m being honest, I’m not one for Christmas, but this could get me in the mood for Christmas. I love how this takes you into the mind of Tommy and how his secretary influences his view. So well written.

Daddy's Girl by @gypsy-girl-08 >> Tommy Shelby x Wife!Reader - Summary: Tommy's world revolves around his two girls, his wife, and his daughter. | This was cute and a nice change of pace to read. I would like to see more Dad!Tommy and Uncle!Finn as well.

*For A Good Cause by @peacexatxlast >> Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: Tommy is in a mood and snaps at Frances. His wife does not approve... | So hot and so well-written!

*Mama Bear by @acewritesfics >> Tommy Shelby x Wife!Reader - Summary: Inspector Campbell thinks he can get to Tommy through his daughter. Mrs. Shelby finds out and is having none of that. | So good. It's a good reminder to never mess with a mother who loves her child and her family.

Punishment by @mxpseudonym >> Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: Tommy’s wicked games leave you breaking the rules, but punishment for you means punishment for him too. Who can hold out the longest? | This is perfectly Spicy!

Red Lipstick by @cupidsheqrts >> John Shelby x Reader - Summary: You feel flattered when Charlie Shelby asks to marry you while your husband feels like he could strangle his nephew. | This was so adorable to read. I loved everyone's reaction as you read along.

*The Recovery by @cillmequick >> Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: Tommy ruins his own specially planned Valentine’s evening and has to work hard to get back in his wife’s good books. | This is so good! I think I may have blushed while reading it was so good.

Tommy Pressing His Forehead to Yours by @zablife >> dark!Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: Ambushed by the Italians, the Shelby family, especially Tommy does everything he can to figure out who did it. | You know it’s good writing when the writer can get your heart to drop to the bottom of your stomach. Lee does what she does best, writing.

MINI-SERIES:

SERIES:

Betrayal by @cillmequick >> Tommy Shelby x Reader x Luca Changretta - Summary: Tommy and Y/N have been together, in secret, for some time, after growing up together on the streets of Small Heath. Tommy was poised to have everything he ever wanted until a colossal error of judgment comes back to haunt him and he finds himself on the wrong side of the woman he loves. | If you haven't read it yet, please do yourself a favor, grab a drink, and get ready to be blown away.

DRABBLES:

Day 14 by @acewritesfics >> Tommy Shelby x Reader - Summary: This is a request I made where Tommy gets the marriage license for their marriage. | I'm so happy with how it turned out. It felt like I was getting a Valentine's Day gift.

MINI-SERIES:

Try a Little Tenderness by @ramp-it-up >> Mob Boss!Steve Rogers x Reader - Summary: Steve can't win you with presents. He's got to try a little tenderness. | I came here for the pairing and stayed for the plot. It’s so hot, the plot, that is. Please enjoy this as much as I did.

ONE-SHOTS:

His Most Prized Possession by @bucky-barnes-diaries >> Dark!Mob!Bucky x Wife!Reader - Summary: You’re the wife of the most feared man in all of New York City, James Buchanan Barnes, the mob boss of the biggest mafia in town. Your his—his girl, his beauty, his love, his property, his most prized possession. He will torture and kill anyone who dares to make any advances on his woman, and he won’t hesitate to show them who you belong to in the most sinful way possible before their end. | Just the kind of hot you need on a cold winter's morning. It is 🥵 🥵 🥵 y’all! Remember to read the warnings ⚠️!

Shake It Like A Polaroid Picture by @world-of-aus >> Pornstar!Bucky x Pornstar!Reader - Summary: Bucky loves to take pictures to remember you. | So very spicy, and I loved the writing and teasing!

The Video by @becca-e-barnes >> Pornstar!dbf!Bucky Barnes x Reader - Summary: You find out what your father’s best friend does for work. | Don't ask me why but Pornstar!Bucky and Steve are some of my favorites to read and this one does not disappoint me. You get a good dose of feels, along with a good dose of spiciness in this.

Unattainable by @heavysoldat >> dbf!Bucky Barnes x Reader - Summary: The reader has a horrible, no, good day, in which Bucky comes to save the evening. | If you want something hot to read on a lonely night, this is it for you.

What Goes Around by @navybrat817 >> BFD/DBF!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader - Summary: Bucky is your friend's dad and your dad's friend and nothing more. Until he isn't. | This is hot, it’s got the shameless smut, and it’s got the possessive Bucky. What more could you really ask for?

Why Wait by @fatecantstopme >> DBF!Bucky Barnes x Plus size!reader - Summary: You've known Bucky for years, but the dynamic between you had begun to shift since you'd graduated college. He suddenly found himself struggling to act normal around you and you decided to make it your mission to find out why. | The jokes in this were fantastic. It had me laughing. The writing in general, was just fantastic, especially when you get to the hot stuff. Highly recommend!

ONE-SHOTS:

In The Shadow by @littlefreya >> General Kirigan x Reader | Geralt x Reader - Summary: Geralt and you are captured by the Darkling and about to find out his means of punishment are quite unusual. | I would have never thought of this crossover, and I'm so glad the writer did. Please read the warnings, its dark but oh-so-good!

*Stories of Us by @writingdumpster >> Jonah Heidelbaum x Hunter!Reader - Summary: Jonah tells the reader he wants to have a family but she doesn't think she's worthy of motherhood after all she's done. | Do you hear that in the distance? That would be my heart breaking and slowly being put back together all in one one-shot. That is how well-written this is!

TEACH ME + R U SHY? by @ramp-it-up >> Lloyd Hansen x Reader - Summary: Lloyd's had his eye on the maid for the past three days, thinking he's struck the gold mine when he's found a 19-year-old virgin. | This is *chefs kiss* perfect. You will not believe the ending.

MINI-SERIES:

Lost Without You Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 by @gypsy-girl-08 >> Cillian Murphy x Reader - Summary: Your six-year relationship with Cillian, comes to an end. Can you both move on? | This made me feel everything I wanted to feel in a two-shot/mini-series. You have the heartbreak, the love, and the devotion the characters have for one another. Very beautiful.

SERIES:

Begin Again Pt. 2 by @teds-mustache-wrangler >> Ted Lasso x OFC!Penny - Summary: When Penny starts working at AFC Richmond as their new head photographer, she catches the eye of a certain mustached, happy-go-lucky, head coach of the team. But can their spark endure through the season’s pressures and the demons of their past? | You don't understand how honored I am to be able to read this before it gets posted, and also to get to see the characters develop. I didn't ever recall laughing at a story before, but this one, this one makes me laugh.

@zablife - Let's take a moment to say happy one-year anniversary to Lee here on Tumblr! She has over 100 writings she accumulated over the year she's been on here, sharing with us. Lee writes for the Peaky Blinder fandom and the fandom is so very lucky to have her.

[neopuff]

so i just rewatched Hunters (2020) on amazon over the weekend - little did i know that amazon had chopped up and reorganized the first season to make it over an hour shorter than it was originally

wish i'd realized it sooner cuz a lot of good scenes were removed, maybe not plot important but they emphasized the point of a show where the discussion is Nazis Are Still Alive and Well. but anyway. for anyone who wants to know what all was cut here's an incomplete list of everything i noticed as i skimmed through the original version of the show today:

ep 1:

jonah thinking about college letters/looking at carol across the street before ruth gets shot

travis introduction scene

nasa nazi lady choking on her food, stripping in the bathroom

jonah & friends looking at girls on the beach

meyer talking about chava and the human chessboard scene

jonah eating the soup and yelling that its not his safta's soup

some dialogue removed from meyers speech to jonah at the end

ep 2:

the whole team introduction scene??? with all the comic book-y styles

"im tired im hungry im in fucking florida" millie scene

holstedder holocaust flashbacks were completely removed?

lonny saying he'd fuck ruth if she was younger and that everyone scares him, jonah mentioning cheeks and bootyhole to him

movie opening changed to mix with team introduction scene

scene with holstedder at the piano felt very different

meyer picking up the phone

how many nazis were killed in nuremberg

maria introduction scene

biff and tobias phone call

schidler corp nazi writing July 13 on a map

ep 3:

ruth first night in the camps flashback was shortened significantly

lonny pissing his name on the ground

millie and maria scene w/ travis watching them (that acknowledges sommers)

eva talking to nazi employees, "darwin's offspring"

Know This Now: How To Find A Nazi

"no one wants to be robin" "robin's got it made" conversation. "there's nothing wrong with wanting to stay alive"

stayin alive boardwalk scene where jonah sees young ruth

bootyhole and jonah couch conversation

joe and roxy hand scene and conversation extended

some travis stalking millie scenes were removed

"homegirl is a jew"

eva talking about biff's weapon, then travis and eva phone call where he reports heinz' death. a bunch of lines were cut. including "we've got friends in the FBI"

"ruth chose the darkness" mindy @ jonah

lonny and harriet scene in the restaurant

ep 4:

travis looking at photos in jonahs bed

wolf/ruth conversation lines cut

a bit of harriet & contact man's scene cut

lines from murray and bank nazi were cut, criticism of meyer's character

"compensation from maryanne's family is prepared" money scene with tobias

lonny harassing the bank cops

millie/maria i love you scene

meyer gives jonah the ring

ep 5:

"i don't look that jewish" "you? jew." lonny and jonah scene

tilda sauer presentation and information

jonah being terrible to carol

lonny on the phone with his agent

some dialogue between biff and juanita

ep 6:

some of harriet's flashbacks were cut, small scenes

some dialogue between biff and juanita

ep 7:

some of joe's traumatic share time story was cut

the slinky on una's stairs

music box cipher with the lullaby to get the code

joe: "hi. you're little." @ roxy's daughter, lingering looks between joe and roxy

lonny on the ground bleeding

ep 8:

travis arguing back at eva

jonah apologizing to mindy

Game Show Sequence - Why Does Everyone Hate the Jews?

ep 9:

US tribunal was reshot as a serious flashback rather than an old timey TV screening, also many lines were cut. "yup, that shit really happened!"

carol finding jonah's college acceptance letters

lonny and harriet talking about lonny's dad

jonah's friends seeing him drive away with the hunters and discuss talking to the cops

biff and millie talking

travis drinking eva's blood milk

big soundtrack change while lonny's sneaking into the electrical part of the factory

lonny explaining his fake bomb

ep 10:

harriet fishing meyer out of the water

millie talking to travis in jail and he talks about orange and a bunch of other lines were cut

meyer and ruth flashbacks were shortened i think

travis' parents coming to see him in prison and then he asks for a jew lawyer

some of travis' conversation with the lawyer was cut

[shadow-draws-gta]

I FINISHED SEASON 1 OF HUNTERS IN LIKE A DAY THIS SHOW IS INSANE WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS HAPPENING 😭😭😭😭

[okurrroye]

The only correct response from Clara finding out Jonah was hunting nazis should’ve been

“WITHOUT ME?!”

[mndvx]

HUNTERS – Buenos Aires (S02E02) ››› Logan Lerman as Jonah Heidelbaum

[matan4il]

Hi ! Have you watched the 2nd season of Hunters (Amazon) ? If so, have you any thoughts about the final episode ? I’m scratching my head wondering what I think of it aha

Hi Nonnie! Thank you for the ask!

I have watched it and I am TBH still processing. We're talking about some very heavy, complex and important stuff, so I don't wanna fall into the pit of rush judgment. Much like with my thoughts on s1, IMO s2 has some stuff that's good and some that I have issues with. So I need the processing to come to some more cohesive conclusions.

If I have to give a bottom line, putting aside a more in depth, nuanced discussion, I guess I would point to the fact that my fave thing about s1 is to a great degree missing in s2, and that some of the pitfalls they managed to avoid at the end of the day in s1... they didn't in s2. I'll give you one example. In case it's not obvious: spoilers!

Take the whole issue of judging the hunters. I mentioned that since there were actual real life Holocaust survivors who turned Nazi hunters, I don't feel comfortable judging them. By extension, that means I can't judge ANY of the Nazi hunters. The kid or grandchild of survivors either. And that's what Jonah is, right? Yet, that's exactly what the viewers are invited to do with the very last shot of s2 and the show overall. We just heard his wife telling him that when she looks at him, she sees his grandmother and great aunt (both Nazi hunters) and that she loves what she sees. She doesn't know, but we do, that he's lying to her at that very minute, and that their romantic getaway doubles as a cover for him spying on another Nazi criminal. The way this plays out paints him to be similar to a junky, who wants to quit but can't, and therefore ends up lying to his loved ones and destroying his own life. Is this a fair portrayal of most Nazi hunters? No. Most of the real ones actually took up Nazi hunting (in the non-legal sense) for only a few years at the end of the war, and most abandoned it in favor of re-building their own lives or helping others to do so. Yet with the last shot lingering on Jonah's face, knowing he's probably about to destroy his own marital bliss, we're being asked to look at him as his wife does and decide whether we love what we see. And while the shot itself is stunning, I personally just do not like the invitation to judge a Jewish person/character, who has lived through the horrors of the worst genocide in human history perpetrated against their own people, when there was no real justice served at the end of the war (or even within the fictional universe of Hunters s2 IMO) and judge what they decided to do about it.

So this isn't a full answers with all of the details, but I hope this helps until I can write a complete meta post? Thank you so much for writing to me about it. I am so happy for any ask regarding any and all things Jewish. Have a great day! As always, my ask tag. xoxox

[i-whump-dat]

Baby's first AO3 Fanfic! It's still in progress but I'm pretty fucking proud of it so far - trigger warnings of explicit non-con

Hunters really changed a lot for me. It introduced me to the absolutely fantastic Logan Lerman and his gloriously whumpy performance, but it also allowed me some healthy Jewish catharsis watching nazis get blown to absolute bits. Heed the warnings and let me know what you think!

[beautyallaroundus25]

Logan💋💨💨

[aloneintheafterglow]

domestic!jonah (requested by literally no one?? :))

[charlottenorthup]

Hunters

Overview/plot of the pilot episode 

The 2020 television series, Hunters, follows a group of Nazi hunters in 1977 New York. This group of people have discovered that Nazi’s who had fled to the United States following WWII have infiltrated different parts of New York and other parts of the U.S. in hopes of establishing a Fourth Reich in which they continue the mass genocide of the Jewish population. In the opening scene of the first episode, the viewer sees Biff Simpson hosting a barbecue at his home. When one of the guests begins to panic upon recognizing him as a Nazi, he kills everyone in attendance, including his own family. When speaking to neo-Nazi, Travis Leich, he explains that he had to do this to protect their plan. Meanwhile, we are introduced to Jonah Heidelbaum, a young-adult codebreaker residing in Brooklyn. In the first episode, he witnesses his grandmother shot to death in their home by someone who criticizes her for “thinking she could escape.” Following this, he meets Meyer Offerman at her funeral, who claims to have been in Auschwitz with her. In an attempt to avenge her death, Jonah is almost killed by the former Auschwitz guard that murdered his grandmother, only to be saved at the last minute by Offerman. It is then that he discovers and is introduced to “the hunters,” a group of people with whom his grandmother had been working with prior to her death. 

While all of this is happening, Millie Morris is an FBI agent who is investigating the death of a NASA chemist, Gretel Fischer, who was gassed in her shower. She later uncovers a photo of Fischer shaking Hitler’s hand, and it is revealed that she was a Nazi chemist who was killed by one of the hunters. At the end of the episode, Travis Leich meets with a woman known to be “The Colonel.” They both salute Hitler and declare the beginning of the Fourth Reich.  

What is the koinos kosmos (common world) and mutually assumed knowledge the series shares with viewers?

The koinos kosmos (common world) depicted in the series is largely seen through the depiction of the Nazi regime through flashbacks to concentration camps and the brutal destruction and murder that was carried out during the war. These scenes are based on real events and adhere to the historical accuracy of the camps and the Third Reich in Germany. The Nazi’s that we see in the first episode continue to spread their values, making disparaging references and comments to the common person. One example of this is when Travis Leich explains to a Black girl doing laundry that she needs to separate the colors from the whites with a smirk after he sees her gaze linger on the swastika tattoo on his back. This alludes to the Nazi’s idea of cleansing in order to maintain their view of a “perfect race,” which they called the Aryan race. Similarly, the frequent anti-semitic ideology displayed post war in the series is also not a part of the alternative history, as these ideas continued to be very prevalent and remain that way today. A frequent issue in the show is the inability to involve the police, as Offerman affirms multiple times that they would not care enough about the escaped Nazi’s to help the group.

How does the series depict cultural hybridity through the altered history’s role in reflecting and reshaping cultural assumptions? 

The main way that the series depicts cultural hybridity through the altered history’s role is by giving the Jewish population a voice and large scale representation. There are many historical movies, books, and television shows based on the Holocaust, such as The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, but there are very few that alter history to allow them to form a group such as the hunters. This gives them the ability to fight back in a post war society, in an attempt to fully rid the world of the Nazis that still infiltrate it. The show creates a plotline in which there are two sides in their own war, as the hunters seek out the escaped Nazis. Once the Nazis learn that people are onto them, they begin to do the same. In the first episode, Meyor Offerman gives Jonah and the rest of the group a speech that sheds light on their stance and ultimate goal. This monologue is empowering and truly solidifies the group as the heroes of the story.     

How does the series depict the power of understanding world-creation?

The series depicts the power of understanding world-creation primarily through the character of Jonah and themes of “found family.” Initially, we see his life filled with emptiness, as he sells drugs for money in an attempt to feed himself and his grandmother before her death. Following her death, he uncovers a box in her drawer, which has letters and pieces of the life she led after being kept in concentration camps. Through flashbacks, the viewer is able to see her bond with Offerman form and the foundation of the group that she created post-war. This brings Jonah to his sort of destiny in a way, allowing him to continue the work that she was doing to rid the United States of the escaped Nazis, which in itself is the alternate history that the series establishes.  

In what ways do formulations of the past, present, and future engage with prospective realities of what might have been and what might be in the series’ alerted history? 

The series uses flashbacks to formulate a historically accurate image of the past, aside from Jonah’s grandmother’s storyline with fellow prisoners and guards of Auschwitz. The flashbacks range from when Nazis first invaded, tearing individuals from their homes, in which Ruth Heidelbaum affirms that “they wanted to kill us for just being ourselves,” in a narration over the flashback. Throughout the first season, there are many of these brutal flashbacks of each group member’s life during the war, including the intense trauma and loss. The Nazis maintain their brutality and show of no mercy, treating the Jewish population, as well as all minorities, as anything other than human.

The present day world in the series is 1977 New York, in which WWII itself has ended, and many have taken a very relaxed, pro-American stance. Many individuals throughout the series are shocked to learn that there are thousands of Nazis living under aliases in the U.S., and many (mostly members of the government) have grown comfortable with this fact, describing it as almost inevitable. I feel that the show as a whole serves as a reminder that hatred, as well as discriminative and stereotypical ideology is upheld by those that believe in it. This evil is found everywhere in the series, even when character’s least expect it. I think this alludes to our modern day society and that often, those that we look up to and those that hold positions of power, are corrupt and power driven.  

How do multiple realities or contemplations of multiple realities merge with questions of authenticity?

It is very much necessary to note that the show was criticized, including for one scene at Auschwitz in particular, in which the series showed a murderous, human game of chess take place. Chess is a recurring motif in the show, and this scene was completely fiction and established for the sake of the plot. However, its creation did not land, and it put the show under fire by the Auschwitz museum itself and many other viewers that found it unnecessary and extremely uncomfortable and offensive. This is one example of the ways that the multiple realities depicted in the show, those that are meant to be altered and those that are meant to be historically accurate were not able to mix properly, questioning authenticity.  

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