The Americans on FX

I'm all caught up now.

That episode where Martha was on the run was so intense. I thought she was going to get captured by the feds. Now that she's in Russia, I doubt we'll see much of her again, which kind of sucks. She became one of my favorite characters over the last couple of seasons. I just can't see her being a major part of the story again unless the Russians try to use her at trade bait at some point.

 

Can't see the Americans wanting her back. It's not like she was some kind of asset. She was a traitor (albeit an unknowing one for much of the time).

Americans may make a deal for one of their own valuable agents. But not for someone they would just throw in jail when she got here.

 

Also, if the Russians did trade her back, they would essentially be giving up their best two agents by giving the Americans the opportunity to question Martha. For that to trade to happen, Phillip and Elizabeth would have to already be on the outs with the Center or they would have to be trading for someone/something much more valuable. I can't think of what/who that would be.

 

Did the KGB really think they were going to get Gaad to turn on the "fired ex-FBI honcho may have an ax to grind" premise?

Phillip sure has become very soft-spoken to Paige (a far cry from his "You respect Jesus but not us!") rant from two seasons ago.

Loved Elizabeth trying to pin Paige down on her question ("Is there a way . . . what?") whereas Phillip was going to let it slide.

Silly scene with Martha's dad.

 

The next meeting between Stan and Oleg should be interesting.

 

Speaking of Oleg, I can't remember, does Martha have any knowledge that Stan is working him? I was thinking no, but was wondering if that was one way they could work her back into the story at some point.

 

Figure that's going to be the time he pulls out his "Turn Burov" card.

 

RIP Agent Gaad. Too beautiful for this world. Him yelling "Get! In! The Cars!" in season 1 was still my favorite moment in the show.

 

Maybe? Depends on how careful they were. Gaad knew, so there's at least a chance Martha knew.

 

Been said often, but this show is so great. It has you feeling sorry for the Russian spy about to ruin the life of a happily married couple.

 

So the "Previously on The Americans" included the scene of Stan telling Phillip about Gaad's trip to Thailand. Is there any way that Phillip is the source for how the Russians knew Gaad would be there? If so, that could create some interesting tension.

His death scene felt pretty rushed to me. Before I could even ask "What the hell is going on?" he was bleeding out on the patio. The build up was so small in comparison to other characters, like Nina or Gregory. Almost made me feel bad for him twice, like he didn't deserve to die AND he deserved a better death scene.

 

That seems to be the thinking by a lot of the reviewers. If so, I would like a flow chart seeing whom Phillip tells, and then whom that person tells, and so on. Somehow it gets to Arkady, and Phillip and Arkady are working on separate planes (although there also was cooperation with the Martha exfiltration).

Didn't even notice while watching that Martha's dad was Richard Kline. This being 1983, they should have had drinks at the Regal Beagle.