The Americans is Delightful.

[The Nth Doctor]

It definitely builds up a good starting point for next season, even without the traditional cliffhanger. William's delirium fed comments about the "good looking couple with kids" will certainly stick with Stan and his obsessively suspicious mind may start to finally put two and two together.

This is what stuck out the most in the finale for me. The very notion of a spy having a family probably never occurred to Stan or anyone else in the FBI. They figured spies would all be lone wolves. But suddenly the very idea of a spy having the "American Dream" has lodged itself into Stan's head. His perspective of things are going to be a bit different from here out.

I figured out who Mischa was the moment his grandfather greeted him, immediately recalling Philip's son was called Mischa. It's only natural the show would eventually take this path. After all, the show's primary theme is family. His presence will certainly complicate things even further, especially with his protester background.

The odd thing about this episode is that, aside from the physical introduction of Mischa and with a little bit of tweaking of the ending, the episode could work very well as a series finale. Arkady and Oleg are potentially on their way out and the Jennings have just cause to get the hell out of Dodge.

Edited to add this quote from A.V. Club's review of the episode:

But the real joke’s on the American dream: The Soviet spies managed to stay together, while Steve Rogers is the one who tore a household apart. And now their daughter and his son are locked in a Cold War Romeo-and-Juliet clutch, stars-and-stripes-and-sickle-and-hammer-crossed lovers.

That's a thematic layer I hadn't even considered. Damn, I love this show so much.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

I went ahead and watched it even though I'm still at the end of season 3 (and before anyone gapes at that, I don't care about spoilers...I never have. They don't affect my ability to enjoy watching something, be it show or movie).

It was surprisingly low-key. Nothing really happened, even though the whole episode kind of steeped in a mild foreboding. Unless you count the foreshadowed character departures, this was an atypical finale in which nothing "big" took place, and it seemed like their purpose was to show how increasingly bleak the Jennings' situation is. The ultimate choice of Family vs. "the Cause" is hurtling toward them like a freight train. Even an ardent patriot for the Motherland and good soldier like Elizabeth will start to see this is a fight that will go nowhere. Phillip has been running on autopilot for awhile now.

If the bioweapon guy told Stan anything concrete about the identity of the "couple," I doubt Stan would be all giddy about Paige and Matthew making out when Phillip came to pick her up. Stan and Phillip have quite the bromance...when the veil is lifted and it inevitably sours sometime in the next 26 episodes, I'll be kinda sad. A guy like Stan doesn't have a lot of friends or a lot of opportunities to switch off and just be a normal dude.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I am waiting for Stan to have his big Hank Schrader moment when all the pieces fall into place.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Stan can't OUT them without admitting that he is a fool and a liability.

He's either going to have to kill them or start taking money.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I enjoyed this interview about the finale, the General Hospital part was great in that.. they actually made sure to use footage that aired the same day as the show was set?! wow.

http://www.avclub.com/article/how-americans-showrunners-brought-their-fourth-sea-237747

 

[Amaris]

I just watched 4 whole seasons inside of a week, it was that damned good. I had been wanting to see it for years, but FX never had the first season available to watch. Finally, I got a month of Amazon Prime, and saw The Americans as an available streaming series. It is easily one of the best dramas on television, and I can't wait for the next season.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Welcome to the shadowy world of Americans fandom, @Coloratura !

We all know what a wonderfully written and acted show this is, but prepare to be met with blank looks and lack of recognition from the public-at-large if you ever dare to mention this series to someone outside of this thread.

Evidently, this show (and its high-quality) is a closely guarded secret from most of those with pop culture awareness or anyone with Emmy-voting privileges.

It's a terrible and frustrating knowledge to hold, but take comfort; the small collection of souls here in this thread share your enjoyment and appreciation of this program, hidden though it may be. It's the best show no one seems to be watching.

[On a serious note: I'm always happy to see someone new discovering this show. It deserves a much larger audience than it ever gets.]

 

[1001001]

I just watched 4 whole seasons inside of a week, it was that damned good. I had been wanting to see it for years, but FX never had the first season available to watch. Finally, I got a month of Amazon Prime, and saw The Americans as an available streaming series. It is easily one of the best dramas on television, and I can't wait for the next season.

That's awesome. Such a great show.

Except for Nina.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

And Martha.

Welcome to the shadowy world of Americans fandom, @Coloratura !

We all know what a wonderfully written and acted show this is, but prepare to be met with blank looks and lack of recognition from the public-at-large if you ever dare to mention this series to someone outside of this thread.

Evidently, this show (and its high-quality) is a closely guarded secret from most of those with pop culture awareness or anyone with Emmy-voting privileges.

It's a terrible and frustrating knowledge to hold, but take comfort; the small collection of souls here in this thread share your enjoyment and appreciation of this program, hidden though it may be. It's the best show no one seems to be watching.

[On a serious note: I'm always happy to see someone new discovering this show. It deserves a much larger audience than it ever gets.]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is frustrated by this notion. Every time I have the same conversation: I bring up The Americans, friend or friends have never heard of it (or if I'm lucky, they've heard of it but that's it), I explain what the show is about and what makes it so good, friend or friends are properly wowed that they've never heard of it. I like to think I've converted one or two people into fans or at least have given it a shot.

 

[marillion]

BIG bump... The new season has started! I have mine recorded to watch tonight... I'm excited, but I haven't read or seen much about it so far...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

The cold opening was a nice little twist. Now Elizabeth and Philip have a secret family, this time together. I'm not exactly clear on what their objective is, but that's par for the course for The Americans. That's one of the things I love about the show: Taking it's time in revealing things and trusting the audience to go along with it.

Speaking of trusting the audience, I loved how for most of the final sequence, no words were exchanged. Just a long span of time of watching these characters in action as they dig up William's body. A lesser show would have the characters engage in meaningless small talk to make the sequence go by faster or cut down the time to a much shorter period. Instead, The Americans shows the quiet hard work and small tension of the operation leading up to the accident that caused Hans to fall and break skin next to William's corpse. The moment that happened, I knew he was going to die and be buried alongside William. And of course Elizabeth had a gun on her while digging.

The rest of the episode is a lot of table setting, but all of it was still interesting. No mention of Martha sadly. Allison Wright wasn't in the credits, but maybe she'll return as a guest? Does anyone know if we'll see her this season?

As always, it's great to see Margo Martindale return, even for a brief scene with Frank Langella. I love those together, thick as thieves.

 

[Greg Cox]

Enjoyed last night's ep. A bit of a slow burn, setting the stage for the season to come, but things are in motion. One observation: there were no references to Father Tim and his wife. Can't imagine that plotline is over yet.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I think you mean Pastor Tim?

How did they know where he was buried?

I assume that's quite a cover up they have to do to show no disturbance.

A slow opening but I'm so happy it's another season, easily my favourite non-genre show and possibly my time favourite show ever.

Not sure where the Oleg stuff is going, is it going to be fascinating watching him take down corrupt agriculture officials? And how is this connected to the family Philip and Elizabeth are enmeshing themselves with who also worked for the agriculture dept. before they left Russia?

 

[Greg Cox]

I think you mean Pastor Tim?

What? You missed the metaphorical presence of Father Time weighing down on them all?

Yes, you're right: I meant Pastor Tim. Just spotted that typo myself and fixed it.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

I think it will be incredibly interesting once Philip's son tracks him down. All during the series, they've touched on the disconnect between Philip and Elizabeth with regard to "being Americans and enjoying it" vs. "Good Soviets who remembered how tough life was and what they're fighting for." Last week we had that agriculture guy straight-up tell them that life in the USSR is total shit. Last season, that scientist guy told them it was shit. Elizabeth, as the good soldier, will always be defensive about it but I'm sure that Philip knows. Once his son gets there, he'll tell them straight up, yet again, how crappy life is there. And their identity crisis will deepen. Philip's been running on autopilot for a few seasons now. When will he break and want to defect again like he did in the first episode?

Elizabeth will hold out a little longer as the ideologue, but I think it'll be Paige that finally pushes her to the brink. Between Pastor Tim, The Center wanting to recruit Paige and Henry, Paige's relationship with Stan's son, then Philip's son entering the picture....it will be fascinating to see how they cope. And with Gabriel looking on, knowing they turned down an opportunity to go back.

I'm so glad this got a 2-season renewal. The story has breathing room to unspool on its own till what will likely be a bitter end. Glasnost coming or not, I can't see a happy ending.

This show better win an Emmy before it's done.

 

[Greg Cox]

And Martha.


I'm glad I'm not the only one who is frustrated by this notion. Every time I have the same conversation: I bring up The Americans, friend or friends have never heard of it (or if I'm lucky, they've heard of it but that's it), I explain what the show is about and what makes it so good, friend or friends are properly wowed that they've never heard of it. I like to think I've converted one or two people into fans or at least have given it a shot.

I know the feeling. When I chance upon somebody who actually watches the show, I tend to latch onto them with excitement. "Wait! You watch THE AMERICANS? We must talk!"

 

[marillion]

HA! I'm the same way!

I really hope, when Misha inevitably tracks down Phillip, they don't go the cheap/easy route of him wandering into the neighborhood and running into Stan or his kid first... This show is better than that, but I can see the ease of the plot convenience rearing its ugly head at the end of the season (if it takes that long for him to get there)...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I know the feeling. When I chance upon somebody who actually watches the show, I tend to latch onto them with excitement. "Wait! You watch THE AMERICANS? We must talk!"

Sadly, I haven't had that experience yet.

I really hope, when Misha inevitably tracks down Phillip, they don't go the cheap/easy route of him wandering into the neighborhood and running into Stan or his kid first... This show is better than that, but I can see the ease of the plot convenience rearing its ugly head at the end of the season (if it takes that long for him to get there)...

Yeah, I really hope the show doesn't do something like that but I think we can trust the show to not to do that and to do something more along the lines of what sttngfan1701d suggested.

 

[marillion]

I hope you're right..

But at the same time, and this borders on fan service, I'd really like to know how Martha is doing... I know her story is over, but maybe Oleg will need her for something over there in the course of his investigations...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yeah, I'm hoping we haven't seen the last of Martha. Allison Wright isn't in the credits anymore but that doesn't mean she can't still have a significant guest role. Susan Misner (Sandra) went from guest, to cast, to guest again.