WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Madness.
In Colman Domingo’s gripping Netflix conspiracy thriller series, The Madness, a figure known only by the alias Brother 14 serves as the enigmatic leader of a far-right extremist group called The Forge. Crafted by acclaimed playwright Stephen Belber, best recognized for The Laramie Project and Tape, this series chronicles the tumultuous life of Muncie Daniels. His troubles begin upon the shocking discovery of a corpse in a secluded cabin adjacent to his woodland rental. While the show draws significant influences from contemporary social and political issues facing America today, it is important to note that The Madness is a work of fiction.
The ensemble cast is led by Colman Domingo alongside talented actors such as John Ortiz, Deon Cole, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Tamsin Topolski. Muncie, a CNN contributor, finds himself in deep peril, believing he’s been framed for murder. To prove his innocence, he turns to his family and a handful of allies for support. As the plot unfolds, Muncie seeks vengeance against a shadowy figure named Rodney Kraintz, a significant investor in a tech company called Revitalize. This quest for retribution unveils a sinister connection involving Kraintz, Revitalize, and The Forge, an armed extremist faction spearheaded by the elusive Brother 14.
All eight episodes of The Madness are currently available for streaming exclusively on Netflix.
The Forge: A Fictional Domestic Terrorist Organization
Leadership of The Forge: Mark Simon, aka Brother 14
The Forge, portrayed in The Madness, represents a fabricated white supremacist and domestic terrorist group. At the helm is Mark Simon, also known as Brother 14, who cultivated a substantial online following through his extensive engagement in extremist forums. In the series, The Forge appears as a small band of predominantly white men, yet the narrative insinuates a far-reaching national influence wielded by Brother 14’s rhetoric. As the architect of this movement, Mark Simon meticulously orchestrated meetings and events that furthered the group’s extremist agendas.
This assembly of fringe radicals has rallied around Brother 14’s cause, unaware that their leader had drawn attention from Rodney Kraintz, leading to Simon’s untimely demise. Concerned about Mark Simon’s increasing political sway, Kraintz ordered his assassination. Without their leader’s guidance, The Forge floundered in confusion, resorting to meetings to grapple with the situation. While they seemingly extended support to Simon’s widow, Lucie, the group remained unified by their shared, abhorrent belief in white supremacy. Notably, it is the finale that features the Forge’s significant action, culminating in the murder of Rodney Kraintz by a rogue member.
The Forge’s Ideological Roots: White Supremacy and Far-Right Extremism
Puppet Master: Mark Simon and Revitalize
The Forge served as the closest cohort of white supremacists to Mark Simon and likely possessed knowledge of his true identity. In stark contrast, the remaining 5 million followers across the country recognized him solely as Brother 14. The series does not delve deeply into the specific ideological nuances of The Forge; rather, they symbolize a dedicated faction rallying around Simon’s ideology. The act of murder committed by a rogue Forge member against Rodney Kraintz was executed independently, with no orders originating from the group’s leadership.
Mark Simon, or “Brother 14”: The Enigmatic Leader of The Forge
A Cautionary Tale: Brother 14’s Vast Online Following
Muncie’s journey takes a twist when he realizes that Mark Simon, the seemingly benevolent neighbor, is in fact his adversary. Simon meets his end at the hands of Ant and Don Sloss Jr., a pair hired by Revitalize after Simon reneged on a business arrangement. The series introduces these characters early on as masked assailants who attempt to eliminate Muncie while he is in the woods. Muncie narrowly escapes but finds himself relentlessly pursued by Julia Jayne, a covert fixer and silent investor in Revitalize. By the conclusion of The Madness, The Forge is left leaderless yet seeks vengeance through Kraintz’s murder.
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