Manhattan: Series Recap and Reaction

This is a great little gem of a show.
It takes place in the middle of nowhere New Mexico from 1943 to 1945 and features a bunch of scientists who are working on a gadget, the atomic bomb. They believe that this weapon will end all wars. Boy, were they wrong.
Dr. Frank Winter (John Benjamin Hickey, great) is the main character, leading a band of misfits who are building an alternative gadget to the one led by Dr. Reed Akley (the also great David Harbour). Things are thrown for a loop when the young and brilliant Dr. Charles Isaacs (Ashley Zukerman) arrives on the hill. as the secret operation is called. Charlie and Frank both have a few secrets and are probably more alike than they want to admit. They are each brilliant, but misguided. When one of Frank's men, Sid Liao (Eddie Shin, one of the token minorities) is accused of spying, when he is really only selling secrets to companies to pay for his daughter's medical treatments, Frank helps him escape, only to have him be accidentally shot down, without having the opportunity to clear his name. And that is only one of the complicated plot lines.
First, the characters: Frank Winter (John Benjamin Hickey)-a scientist who is more than willing to sacrifice his own career for others, but he expects a nose to the grindstone and absolute loyalty in return. Liza Winter (Olivia Williams)-his wife, who is a botanist and in season two, finally puts her doctorate to good use, trying to figure out the effects that the radium will have on the environment and the people. Callie Winter (Alexia Fast)-sort of an unnecessary character, as her plot lines feel out of place. She dates the young soldier, Cole Dunleavy (Jefferson White) who shot Liao, but this doesn't anger her father like she thought it would. Charlie Isaacs (Ashley Zukerman)-he is a young and extremely intelligent scientist but he plagarized a paragraph from his one important college paper which won an award. He struggles with loyalty and switches sides from time to time. Abby Isaacs (Rachel Brosnahan)-his wife. She is smarter than she looks. Still, she struggles with her sexuality and is so devastated by her miscarriage, off screen, in season two urges her to go back to her forgotten religious roots. Helen Prins (Katja Herbers)-the only female scientist. She is one Frank's team, but she struggles with being the only woman. She tries to get ahead, but is also of strong opinion. Paul Crosley (Harry Lloyd)-a British scientist who pretends to spy for the British in season two. He has issues with Frank and tries to leave the hill several times. He also has a secret from his past which secretly drives him to be his best. Jim Meeks (Christopher Denham)-doesn't have much screen time in season one. In fact, he disappears for a few episodes without explanation. But he is so shaken by Sid's death, that he becomes a spy just so the bomb will never be used. Too bad his quest fails and becomes more complicated than he could ever have imagined. Louis 'Fritz' Fedowitz (Michael Chernus)-probably the only good character, who throughout two seasons, doesn't betray anyone or really commit any crimes. He is also the most sympathetic character. My heart aches for him. Glen Babbit (Daniel Stern)-is an important scientist who is also secretly homosexual. He advises the younger ones, but is also upset at all the disloyalty among the ranks. Emmett Darrow (William Petersen)-only appears in season two. He is the new commander on the hill and is ruthless in his quest to build the bomb before the Germans. He is also religious or at least pretends to be.
There are plenty of plot lines, and twists and turns throughout, plus some great guest appearances, including turns by Peter Stomare, Neve Campbell, Brad Garrett, Daniel London (a nasty Robert Oppenheimer), Mamie Gummer (another Soviet spy) and Justin Kirk (probably the best of all of them).
The show is absolutely brilliant, and an atmosphere of suppression and realism. You truly do feel like you are being transported back to 1943, with everyone smoking and drinking including the pregnant women, like it was no big deal. People work the switchboard, technology is crude and yet it is shocking at what they have, like the giant walkie talkies in the finale.
The finale is actually pretty good, considering they weren't sure what would happen to the show. The bomb actually works, despite Frank's attempt at sabotage, and Jim's attempts to destroy the project. But Jim has plenty of blood on his hands, even though that is precisely what he wanted to avoid. Even Fritz's wife, Jeannie (Lauren Myers) who figured out the truth about him. Mamie Gummer kills her and makes it look like an accident. Fritz is devastated. He commits suicide in the finale. Reed Akley killed himself toward the end of season one, devastated that his plan won't work. So, yes, there are plenty of murders and two suicides, but no births. So that doesn't even out.
Still, there are very few flaws in the show. I have already mentioned them. Callie shouldn't really be a main character, though I hated that she was written out in season two. She should have been a recurring supporting character. And then in season one, Jim isn't in several episodes, not even in the background, which makes no sense whatsoever. It is just odd. But the characters are real, with personalities and even odd quirks and each actor is great, perfect in their roles. This show is a must watch, you won't be disappointed. Grade: A-