Courtesy of TV.com.
Jay:?About halfway through this one, I really thought The Americans might have turned a corner. And in a way, I still think it might?ve. A lot took place in this episode, and part of me thinks my slightly more positive reaction stems mostly from the manipulative use of sad music during important scenes, instead of being a consequence of masterful storytelling.
Nevertheless, a few more things went well in this episode than I?m used to. It was also the rare TV episode in which relationships were the defining centerpiece and I wasn?t even bored. It helped that they added some mild twists, such as Stan being left at the bar and then, instead of hitting on the girl at the other end, meeting up with Nina. (By the way, that relationship is increasingly looking like it?s going in the direction I?d guessed earlier: he?s worried about her, and the FBI doesn?t give a damn.)
Phil?s backstory just got a hell of a lot more interesting as well, although I really wasn?t a fan of the actress who played his former love interest. First of all, why does she still look like she?s 16, even though she has a son that?s older than that? Secondly, I just didn?t find her a very convincing actress. Nevertheless, the execution of that part of the story was decent. It didn?t occur to me now ? and here comes the obligatory Homeland reference ? that Phil?s lie to Elizabeth at the very end (that nothing happened between him and Irina) is very reminiscent of Brody?s lies to Jess about Carrie. Anyway?
Once again, the events feel as if they?re taking place in a vacuum, though. Political events come into focus at the beginning of an episode, intensify during the middle, and are resolved by the end. It?s like Family Guy, only less funny. (That?s a bit harsh.) But I am trying to remain hopeful that the show can continue to nicely balance the relationship and career aspects of the show. Speaking of which, Elizabeth and Granny?s conversation on the park bench looked pretty ominous. If this were a higher-quality show, I?d venture to guess that it will have ripple effects in later episodes. On The Americans, I have no idea.
Sam:?I have to confess: I think the show?s getting better. I don?t know if it was the sad music or not, but I do actually think the storytelling was much better in this episode (though certainly not masterful). The last scene with Phil and Elizabeth, I thought, was especially poignant. It basically captured the fact that their lives are built on a lie.
You were definitely right about the Stan/Nina relationship. Good call. Does Amador not know that Stan is married though? Or does he just not care? Either way, I think we may eventually see Stan stick his neck out for Nina when she runs into trouble (seems inevitable). I definitely feel bad for Stan?s wife though. She?s trying so hard, but he just doesn?t seem to care and Elizabeth seemed very awkward during dinner at the Beeman?s residence.
Speaking of awkward and Elizabeth?when Elizabeth met with Granny, I could not help but think that these two are among my least favorite characters on the show. I found that scene particularly grating. As I?ve said before, I don?t think Elizabeth is a very compelling character, so her moody expressions just look silly and annoying. I didn?t think Irina was that great of an actress either, but at least she was somewhat cheery.
The pace of the show has been a bit too slow for me (last week was a welcome change, albeit only briefly). I found myself wondering when the episode would end several times through this one. But overall, the storytelling has improved. But will it be sustainable? Who knows.
The show doesn?t really leave many breadcrumbs for the next episode, but any theories on what?s going to happen next?
Jay:?I really don?t. Again, for me it all comes back to urgency. It?s in short supply on The Americans, so it?s always hard to identify which part of the story we should be most concerned about or obsessing over. Maybe that?s just a writing style, but it?s not particularly conducive to developing a rabid fan base.
I think Amador knows Stan is married but just really doesn?t care. I actually wish he had more speaking lines: he strikes me as one of the few normal people in the entire series, and is in many ways the free-wheeling, happy-go-lucky foil to Stan?s uptight persona. I agree about Stan?s wife: she really got the short end of the stick in so many ways, and she doesn?t even know how bad it is.
Speaking of that family, I didn?t like the weird outburst with her son. It felt, again, like an out-of-place, contrived moment to signify tension. And as you mentioned, things were already pretty awkward in that scene to begin with.
All of this is to say that I have very little idea where things are heading next. Any big historical events we should be looking out for? I admit that I didn?t even think about the Reagan attempted assassination until it actually came up, so maybe a similar historical surprise is on the way. (A surprise to me, that is. As a 1987 baby, virtually everything about the Cold War is at least slightly surprising for me, even if I know the basic contours of this period in an academic sense.)
Perhaps it is high time to introduce your mastermind awards idea?
Sam:?Agreed. The writing style so far has been somewhat isolated episodes at a time. Each episode has its own beginning, middle, and end. And the few storylines that do carry over do not have the sense of urgency that makes you look forward to the next episode that other shows do.
As for Amador though, absolutely, he is the most normal person on the show, in my opinion. Sandra seems pretty normal too, just stuck in a bad situation. The outburst with the Beeman?s son was weird though. I also felt like it was too contrived. The message was clear, but perhaps it was just the delivery, which speaks again to the fact that I find most of the actors and actresses pretty unconvincing in their roles (even the most limited ones).
Courtesy of TVEquals.com.
I?m a 1987 baby as well, so I?m not entirely sure what other historical events to look forward to as well. A few ideas off the top of my head seem like they?d come much later in the series: Reagan?s ?Tear Down This Wall? speech and the actual fall of the Berlin Wall. But, a sneak peek from Professor Wikipedia suggests that the downing of Korean Air Flight 007 by Soviet fighters might be a story, the explosion of the Challenger (given all the space talk), and the Libya bombing in 1986. But, who knows, the show is less about the historical events as much as the impact on relationships, so really, they could even make a story out of something like Reagan?s reelection.
I?ve got little else to say about the episode though, so let?s dish out some midseason awards. Here are my nominees and their categories:
Best KGB Operative Disguise (by ?best,? I mean worst, silliest, downright ugly, etc.): Phil?s combover hair and huge glasses whenever he visits his FBI lady friend.
Best English Word: Nina Learns Jitters. Enough said.
Most Likely to Defect First (Phil or Elizabeth):?Based on what we?ve seen up to this point, I?d say Phil, but if I had to guess what?ll happen when it happens, I?d say Elizabeth.
Your awards?
Jay:?By the way, I can?t believe I forgot to mention, in my initial comments, the surprise that Phil has a grown child with Irina (or, at least, he might). This is actually something I?m a little excited about ? if, and only if, it doesn?t turn into one of those elements that simply gets ignored for long periods of time and is only brought back up every now and then to add some artificial tension.
In my opinion, this should be something that becomes a fairly central part of Phil?s story this season. No normal person ? and no, Phil isn?t normal, but he?s close enough to a normal person when it comes to his kids ? would be able to absorb that new information without it hugely changing things. In this case, the script is flipped somewhat: before it was Elizabeth and Gregory that had a past (and Elizabeth who told her handlers that she didn?t completely trust Phil), but now it?s Phil who has the bigger secret. This dynamic actually makes the whole ?is their marriage real or not?? question more interesting, at least for me.
You got us off to a great start with those awards. Here are a few more, off the top of my head:
Best Fight Scene: It wasn?t really a fight at all, but I enjoyed Elizabeth?s thrashing of Granny in Episode 6. Old people getting their asses kicked on TV is generally unexpected and, therefore, funny.
Most Unconvincing Ideologue: Elizabeth. Nothing about her suburban lifestyle or even Keri Russell?s unconvincing facial expressions remotely gives off the impression of someone who could be fully devoted to a political cause. And yes, I am judging a book by its cover. But also by its terrible dialogue. Which brings me to?
Most Ridiculous Lines: Stan?s boss (what was his name again?). He?s always making off-the-cuff, cinematic remarks that would never find their way into an everyday conversation. Fortunately for him, in the world of The Americans it is perfectly acceptable to say things like, ?Has she had you for breakfast, Stan?? (I?ll admit it: I actually liked that line.)
What else have we missed?
Sam:?Ah, yes. Irina and Phil?s grown child. Unless they decide to just not bring back this story, I?m thinking Phil will run into him before too long and have a ?Luke, I am your father? type moment. I mean, why not?
Brilliant awards. I want to just add that the ?Has she had you for breakfast, Stan?? line was even better for its smirky delivery. Here are a few more:
Worst Tangential Stories: This one?s a tossup between the child predator in the first episode and the alcoholic driver (who picks up Paige and Henry off the street). Actually, now that I think about this one, the disguise Phil wore to beat up the child predator was pretty bad too?
Best LOL Moment for Absurdity: The moment Elizabeth climbed out of the trunk of their elevated car in the garage and crawled almost seductively toward the FBI?s car. I think you and I both snorted loudly at that one. The look on her face might?ve quintessentially captured what we?ve been saying all along ? Keri Russell is utterly unconvincing in this show.
Any other awards you want to dish out before we wrap up our midseason recap?
Jay:?Ah, how could I forget the sexy slither from one car to another? For a second there I thought I was watching Ocean?s Eleven. Here?s the last award I can come up with:
Most Unlikely Time and Place to Get It On: In a car under a bridge right after you?ve dumped the body of a defecting Russian spy.
Since you came up with the phenomenal awards idea in the first place, I bestow upon thee the honor of delivering the final award(s).
Sam:?Why, thank you! I?m honored to deliver the final award, although I?m quickly running out of ideas. So, here goes my last one. Drumroll, please.
Best USA-Soviet Union Rivalry Moment: There were plenty of candidates for this one. For a second, I thought about giving this to Elizabeth?s line to Henry about how ?just getting into space is a remarkable accomplishment? (screw the moon). But, instead, I?m going to go with a newly-arrived Phil and Elizabeth standing in front of an A/C unit in their motel room. Something about the way they looked longingly at this machine blasting cool air just made me laugh.
With that, let?s see if the second half of this inaugural season can top any of the awards we?ve given at the midway point.
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