Honestly, walking into David Simon’s adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel felt like stepping into a cold sweat. It’s 1940, but not the one we know from the history books. Charles Lindbergh—yes, the aviator—is the President, and things are getting very dark for Jewish families in New Jersey. To make a story like this work, you need more than just a good script; you need a cast that can carry the weight of a country falling apart at the seams.
The The Plot Against America cast didn't just play roles; they inhabited a nightmare. You’ve got heavy hitters like Winona Ryder and John Turturro leading the charge, but it’s the way the Levin family anchors the horror that makes the show stick with you long after the credits roll.
The Levin Family: A House Divided
At the center of everything is Herman Levin, played by Morgan Spector. You might know him from The Gilded Age, but here, he’s a man possessed by a specific kind of righteous, terrifyingly impotent anger. He's an insurance agent who sees the writing on the wall while everyone else is trying to ignore it. Spector plays Herman with this vibrating energy—he’s the guy who won't stop yelling at the radio because he knows the world is breaking.
Then there’s Zoe Kazan as Elizabeth “Bess” Levin. If Herman is the fire, Bess is the bedrock. Kazan is incredible here. She’s playing a mother who is slowly being consumed by a "perpetual fear"—a phrase Roth uses to open his book. She’s the one packing the bags for Canada while her husband is still arguing about principles. Kazan actually filmed this shortly after becoming a mother herself, and you can feel that raw, protective instinct in every scene where she’s looking at her kids.
Speaking of the kids, Azhy Robertson (the kid from Marriage Story) plays young Philip. He’s our eyes and ears. Through him, we see the transition from a normal childhood to one where your neighbors start looking at you differently. His older brother Sandy, played by Caleb Malis, is the tragic figure of the youth. He gets seduced by the "Just Folks" program, which is basically a state-sponsored effort to "assimilate" Jewish kids by sending them to work on farms in the South. Watching Sandy turn against his "ghetto" parents is one of the hardest parts of the show to swallow.
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Winona Ryder and the Complexity of Evelyn Finkel
Winona Ryder plays Evelyn, Bess’s sister, and man, is it a complicated performance. Evelyn is someone who just wants to be adjacent to power. She’s tired of being the unmarried sister taking care of a sick mother. When she meets Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf, she sees a way out.
Ryder plays Evelyn with this sort of brittle desperation. She truly believes she’s helping her community by collaborating with the Lindbergh administration. It’s a classic "if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em" mentality that goes horribly wrong. By the time she realizes she’s a pawn in a fascist game, it’s far too late.
John Turturro as the Man Who Sold the World
John Turturro is Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf. He’s charismatic, eloquent, and absolutely convinced that he can "tame" Lindbergh’s anti-Semitism. Turturro is a master of nuance. He doesn't play the Rabbi as a cartoon villain. Instead, he’s a man of high intellect who suffers from the ultimate delusion: that he’s the smartest person in the room.
The chemistry—or lack thereof—between the Rabbi and the Levins is where the show’s best drama happens. To Herman, the Rabbi is a traitor. To the Rabbi, Herman is a small-minded man who doesn't understand the "new America."
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Why This Cast Worked So Well
What makes the The Plot Against America cast stand out is that they didn't play "history." They played a family.
- Anthony Boyle as Alvin Levin is a revelation. He’s the hot-headed nephew who goes to Canada to fight Nazis for real. He loses a leg and comes back a broken man, only to be hounded by the FBI as a "communist." Boyle brings a physical intensity to the role that makes you feel every bit of his resentment.
- David Krumholtz plays Monty Levin, Herman’s successful brother. He’s the voice of "it can't happen here" until it actually does. Krumholtz is usually a comedic presence, but here he’s grounded and somewhat cynical.
- Ben Cole takes on the unenviable task of playing Charles Lindbergh. He doesn't have many lines—Lindbergh is more of a presence than a person—but his silence is deafening.
The Subtle Shifts from the Book
The show made some interesting choices with the characters that weren't in Philip Roth's original novel. For instance, in the book, Evelyn is the younger sister. David Simon swapped them, making Winona Ryder the older sister. This change adds a layer of sibling rivalry that wasn't as sharp in the text.
Also, the show gives us much more time with Alvin and Evelyn outside of the house. In the book, we only see them through the eyes of young Philip. By expanding their roles, the series shows us the political machinery that turns ordinary people into collaborators or outlaws.
What You Can Learn from The Plot Against America
If you’re a fan of historical dramas or just want to see a masterclass in acting, there are a few things you should do:
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1. Watch the Newsreel Scenes Closely
The show uses actual historical footage mixed with the actors. It’s a chilling reminder of how easily "fake news" (or the 1940s equivalent) can be manufactured.
2. Compare the Performances to the Source Material
Roth’s book is a masterpiece of internal monologue. Watching how Zoe Kazan and Morgan Spector translate those internal thoughts into physical acting is a great study for any aspiring writer or actor.
3. Look at the Small Characters
Jacob Laval, who plays Seldon Wishnow, the awkward kid downstairs, has one of the most heartbreaking arcs in the series. His performance in the final episodes is a gut-punch that reminds you who really suffers when a society turns on itself.
The show isn't exactly "fun" to watch, but it's essential. The cast manages to take a "what if" scenario and make it feel like "what is." That's a rare feat in television.
To get the most out of the experience, try watching the HBO companion podcast after each episode. It features David Simon discussing why he cast certain actors and how they approached these complex, often unlikable characters. It adds a whole new layer of appreciation for the work they put in to make this alternate history feel so hauntingly real.