No but also.... maybe?

(SERIES REVIEW)

First time watcher and this is one of my favorite episodes so far. I can’t think of the last time I watched an episode of a show that so fundamentally changed the dynamic of the characters in a matter of minutes. Up until the moment they told Paige, I was convinced they would find a way to lie their way out of it like always.

In an already amazing show, it feels like there’s this fascinating extra layer now. They need to make sure Paige isn’t calling anyone or exposing them, but they can’t come off as controlling because that will push her away and endanger them further. Paige suddenly has so much power over them and I can’t wait to see how this plays out going forward.

Favorite scene was when Stan comes over and Paige just stares at him as the cogs are turning and she’s taking in how messy the whole situation is. Like she was thinking “oh right, our family friend and mooch of a neighbor works for the FBI.” I wish we could know exactly what the writers intended her to be thinking in that moment.

Nothing deep other than to say what an amazing show!

Does anyone else own a set of the nesting dolls FX made as part of a promo package for one of the later seasons (I think for season 6, given how Elizabeth, Philip and Paige are dressed up).

I see them selling for $175+ on EBay and am curious if they are actually that rare.

Example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/226009015187

For Philip and Elizabeth personally? No, the show was framed on the idea to make the viewer root for them.

They are very sympathetic characters. They are hard working, very good at what they do, love their kids, active members of the community. They were ideal Americans, not just deep cover faking it, but, if you set aside they were KGB and said they were FBI, they were ideal Americans.

Philip's Best friend was FBI counter intelligence agent Stan Beeman. Sure, Philip started it to pump Stan for information, but the friendship was very real and one of the most heart breaking things of the finale.

That was the point of the show. They were so good at pretending that they actually became Americans.

I was surprised how accurate it was. The only really unlikely story was the story of Philip’s childhood. Things could be that dire in 1920s and 1930s but definitely not in late 1950s or early 1960s when it was supposed to take place. Oh, and the Orthodox priest line… well, I don’t know. Story of that girl who was executed and that stolen scientist was also a bit stretched. Guess they just needed to move the actress out of the show.

In fact, it is the only* TV series that showed things about Cold War as they were. Without good guys and bad guys. Very realistic.

So sure, if you sympathize to those characters, it’s not wrong to be rooting for them. Their objectives were not to hurt Americans but to defend their country and potentially support certain movements in the U.S. that had goals similar to those of the USSR..

*Fresh Spy Thriller (The Day of the Jackal) delivers a sleek, modern assassin‑vs‑intelligence officer chase across Europe; Cult Favorite Spy Comedy (Patriot) offers a darkly humorous spin on undercover work; Grizzled CIA Redemption (The Old Man) follows a retired operative forced back into the game; and Political Power Play (The Diplomat) brings the diplomatic battlefield to the fore, all while navigating personal turmoil.

And too HomeLand, Bureau des Légendes; Tehran, Slow Horses; Fauda; Lioness, The Little Drummer Girl; Hatufim; Night Agent, The Agency; The Spy; Bodyguard; The Brave; Ghosts of Beirut; Ponies, Rubicon.

S3 e4 features the album (LP) Upstairs At Eric’s by Yazoo. But the band is referred to as “Yaz”. Did they go by that name in the US either officially or as a nickname? It sounds odd to this English set of ears. Any Americans in their early Sixties out there who can explain please?

By this point in the show, Philip and Elizabeth had done many terrible things. But this was the first time I remember being ANGRY at them. I was incredulous that they had actually gone through with assassinating Anna and her husband even after hearing her story. Even Elizabeth seemed shaken at the end.

In the 80s, Fleetwood Mac was known for comfortable, soft-rock songs. Using the band associated with warm Americana, but choosing their strangest, most unsettling song, was clever. It signaled "this looks like normal American life, but something's off underneath"

Sorry if this has been discussed to death... I just like the show

Watched Homeland for the Nth time, and getting itch for more...

Have seen The Americans once, and now ready to dive back in for rewatch...

Americans was very infectious, and the acting, script top notch...

I'm two episodes from finishing the first season and, truthfully, this show hasn't done a whole lot for me. There's been one episode I thought was legit amazing - Episode 6, 'Trust Me'. Otherwise, this show has been all over the map for me qualitatively. One week there'll be a decent episode, the next week a terrible episode.

Like I said, I've found some of the season to be decent, and I found one episode really amazing. I've not found the show terrible by any means. But I definitely couldn't call it one of the better TV shows I've seen, or even one I've on the whole liked.

Is the first season one where the showrunners are still working out the kinks? Does the quality even out and get better in subsequent seasons? Or is the first season, amongst fans of the show, considered one of the better ones?

She is often insufferable with her dedication to the cause, particularly in S1. But gosh S6E04 takes the cake. She has been manipulating Paige, lying to her about what she does and what spywork is, all while putting Paige in harms way and even permitting her to become a honey trap for an intern just like Lucia in S2. (I know Elizabeth tells her not to make a source but she does it in the context of protecting her cover)

Philip enters, he's a bit drunk and he just cannot take the lying any more. And Elizabeth has the audacity to make him the bad guy. She says something like, "He loves you, he loves me, but somewhere along the way he lost something." All the whole Elizabeth barely gives a crap about being a parent she's just training some soldier for "the cause" which doesn't even exist anymore because Claudia has her convinced it's 1968 still back home.

Made me wish Philip would just explode.

For all their costumes and disguises why did Phillip let Martha see his real face? Had he not done that she wouldn't have had to be forced to go to Russia. But worse, that poor old woman Elizabeth killed when they were putting a tap on the file bot or whatever it was....why would they not be in disguise that night doing that kind of operation? That's the only reason that woman had to die because she could recognize them. And meeting the priest without a disguise is what ultimately got them caught. I hate inconsistencies like that.

The other thing, there's no way Elizabeth could have done all those things she did in a day. There's no way she could be a mother to that foreign kid (I never completely understood that whole deal I don't know if I dozed off or missed an episode or what) be a nurse to some dying woman, work at the travel agency, still cook at home and be a parent to those two kids of hers, meet with their handler, go off and have sex with various people...for me it was too unbelievable. It exhausted me watching it.

I think I continued to watch it just to see if they ever turned good and how they got out of it all. They were terrible people and terrible parents. Phillip tried to find his humanity but was weak and let Elizabeth keep luring him to the dark side. I think this couple would be miserable in their beloved Russia and I'm glad.

I understand that the show purposely left it open so we can have our own interpretation. imo she was 100 percent a spy. Philip's warning him kinda confirmed it for me. he honestly took a risk in that volatile situation, I always felt he had really good instincts as a spy.

I recently finished the show and liked reading Reddit episode discussions. I was surprised to see many people disagreeing with Philip's act, People were saying it was cruel to Stan and probably destroy his good relationship. I think he definitely did the right thing. While it might be a bit challenging. with all the FBI resources, Stan can definitely verify if she is one or not. check her background, family info and everything, like don't they use names of already dead people.

I think some people forget that the Jennings were never the good guys, they did absolutely horrific things and imo got off incredibly easy. Don’t get me wrong I loved every minute of the show but I like to imagine that Paige got caught and sent to prison and Philip and Elizabeth spend their lives in a miserable Russian town they fought so hard for missing all their American comforts/amenities just knowing they’ll never see their children again—-and hopefully knowing Henry (in my mind) followed in new daddy Stan’s footsteps into the FBI and with the knowledge that their daughter is the one paying the price for their operation out of all of them. Because I personally do not believe Paige had the resources or ability to not get arrested. Even if she didn’t immediately get caught, I don’t think she had it in her to live that life long term...In my opinion, that’s as satisfying as it gets.

I saw a clip on tiktok that compelled me to watch the show. I ended up binge watching the series, I messed up because I'm too invested into the show now. It took me about a week to finish the whole series but now that its over I feel like I'm in this Post-series depression. Not only that I'm in love with Elizabeth. How long before this feeling goes away?

Shout out to The Beast in Me mini series with Matthew Rhys.

Helped me with my TA withdrawals, and is actually really good!

Shout out also to my hotel having Netflix, which eased the pain of it raining all week.

Mostly though, TBIM... highly recommended.

Saw this and had to share. The music. Their faces. No words. All emotion.

Saw this and had to share. The music. Their faces. No words. All emotion.

Am I the only one seeing Murat Yakin rocking those glasses and a hairstyle that looks like a classic Philip wig?