r/TheAmericans

I really do want to get into this show but after learning that the main characters are supposed to be an actual married couple from Russia and not just a pretend couple, I just don’t like the fact that due to the intimidate nature of their jobs, they’re still actually married despite the adultery. Let me know your thoughts👍.

Hi, watched S1 in a single day, the episode 1 had he hooked honestly. I get it, felt a bit out of the blue in the middle but again, amazing end. I've read a few posts suggesting it gets better so I'm continuing.

Love Phil's character so much. Also Elizabeth's but sometimes makes me wonder if her head is alright.

I am very happy they allowed Nina to play the double agent thing. Ever since the FBI picked up on her, I wondered why the agents don't offer themselves to be a double agent..in such a situation. Glad it happened.

Also glad they show Paige as someone curious eventually... ofcourse a teenager gotta be curious.

Eli and Phil being into each other in a few of the episodes, loved that shit sm mann...

Think the ops / plans / tasks were so random sometimes. No way it holds up if you watch it with an analysing mind. I just watch it for fun and I enjoy it.

I have to preface this by saying that I love both of these characters. Oleg’s vibe (especially at the start) is this privileged boy but I think he makes good choices and William is an awesome character to watch but I think he’s too loyal to the cause. At the end of season 4, both struggle with the morality of their actions. William eventually does what is right for his country and not what is right for humanity. Oleg betrays his country but does the right thing for humanity. So I think it comes down to what responsibility do you think is greater - loyalty to one’s county or doing what’s right for humanity in general.

I'm late to the party and watching the show for the first time!

(Thank you "Widow's Bay" for introducing me to the acting talents of Matthew Rhys)

My gf has watched it before so she's been having a great time watching my reactions. We just finished season 3, and it's been a running joke with us that the subtitle for this show should be "being a spy is hard."

It's truly an awesome show; I'm eating it up! I find myself saying "fucking Paige" more than anything, especially NOW. Telling Pastor Tim! She just signed his death certificate. And I just have no clue how Martha's story is going to end. She's a liability! I don't know how much longer she's going to be alive, and I don't think Philip is going to be able to kill her if it comes to that. In general, Philip is NOT DOING WELL. He's gotta crack soon, and it looks like EST/Sandra might be a catalyst for this. And no one is paying attention to Henry! He's playing board games with Stan! I'm so rooting for Nina - I need her to have a happy ending.

All of that being said...being a spy is hard.

I thought the series was unpredictable, exciting, and compelling with great acting and character development. I will say that I guess I was expecting more from season 6. People have said the series is worth the watch just for the series finale but it felt rushed and lackluster to me. Anyone else agree? Still one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, 9 out of 10. A few other thoughts/questions:

1. The KGB/Gabriel/Claudia should’ve listened to Philip and Elizabeth’s concerns about being out of town so frequently with Stan as their neighbor instead of telling them to figure it out.
2. What is going to happen to Paige? I think Henry will be fine because he genuinely knew nothing, but Paige was involved in missions and Stan knows she was.
3. How are they accepted into Russia warmly after Elizabeth admitted to Claudia what she had done?

ETA: I guess I was confused about the last mission. So Claudia was working against the kgb? I guess I took it at face value when she indicated Elizabeth was screwed

Like maybe they meet 10 years later in some other country or something.

Idk I just think it would be cool to read 😭

I'm watching Star City and it's so awesome to find a show that scratches the Russian Spy itch as much as The Americans did! It's done really well too - worth a watch!

Also Matthew Rhys is AMAZING in Widow's Bay so add that to your list while you're at it - very entertaining.

:)

I just finished rewatching season 2 and I remembered the arc I anticipated for Henry.

Philip and Elizabeth have different relationships towards their roles as spies. While Elizabeth is the staunch believer who derives meaning and purpose from her work, Philip does what he does out of a sense of duty to his family and country.

The show constantly highlights that Elizabeth is the more dedicated of the two but that Philip is the more talented spy. His empathy, which causes him so much grief, is what makes him so adept at manipulating others. Philip's assets genuinely fall in love with him (e.g., Martha, Annelise) and he is able to see motivations beyond the material (e.g., Frank). Elizabeth's targets typically have much more base desires like sex and money.

When Henry breaks into the other family's home to use their video games, I thought that this was meant to draw a parallel between P&E and their children i.e,. while Paige has a desire to make a difference and strong conviction in her ideals, Henry's creativity and wiliness would actually make him the better spy. Early in the show, we constantly see his excellent memory for random trivia and "out-of-the-box" thinking in constrast to Paige's straightforwardness.

The lack of development for Henry and his involvement in the secret lives of his parents and later sister always disappointed me. I truly thought we would see more out of him but I guess there is only so much story that can fit into six seasons.

Spoiler warning (I guess):

Just finished the show thru season six. Very compelling, sad it's over. It was my "write songs on guitar" show, so now I don't know what to do, lol.

Anyway , was Rene KGB or what? They were very coy.

Spoilers!!!!!

What do y'all think happened to Stan's career after the Jennings left?

We last see him talking to Henry. Previous to that, he was watching the Jennings' home being torn apart by agents.

I guess because they knew he was close to them, he wasn't allowed in cleaning the house?

But because he did know them, perhaps his presence would have been useful. Maybe not actually handling anything himself, but advising.

I just think about Agent Gaad being retired due to the fact that his secretary bugged his office, married a KGB Agent, and ran, 😆. Why wouldn't they same be done to Stan?

Even though Stan was the first to finally point the finger at them, he had lived across the street and known them for six years. It makes me wonder if he quit or was asked to leave?

Then, of course, there's Renee. She's not an FBI agent, but has HR access to all personnel.

I wonder if the story had gone forward if Stan would still be an agent.

He lived a lie for years working with the white supremacists and it almost broke him, lost his marriage because of his deceit and neglect, lost his best friend, and unsure of Renee in the end.

I mean, I'd be second guessing my career if I were him!

Maybe for another post, but did Henry's tuition at least get paid?

Currently bingeing the show for the first time ever and am loving it. A genuine question as I am three seasons in—where do Elizabeth and Phil store all their disguises? Surely the little space behind their laundry can’t conceal every wig?

Separately, always wondered where they actually don the disguises. In their car? The one time Phil
got his wig ripped off it seemed painful—ton of glue and safety pins that seems hard to apply in the car but maybe easy for a super spy…?

Why on God’s green earth would Phillip have that conversation with Henry right in front of Stan? You’re telling me he couldn’t have him come home for a minute to explain. Or what about Paige? Couldn’t he have gone to her house or something?
I just feel like this was a bad, uncharacteristically sloppy mistake. I don’t see Phillip being that lazy. And the fact that they keep letting Henry hang around Stan has never sat right with me either.
Crazy can’t wait to see where this goes from here.

I’m just thrilled to see Amadore made it and is now a district attorney in Ohio…