Episode discussion post: "Chloramphenicol"

[jae]

Aired:
6 April 2016 in the U.S. and Canada

This is a discussion post for episode 404 of The Americans, intended for viewers who are watching the show on the U.S./Canadian schedule. (Feel free to dive in to the discussion even if you're coming in late--and you should also feel free to start a new thread if it seems too daunting to read through what's already been posted first. If you're reading this at a point where you've already seen subsequent episodes, though, please take care to keep comments spoiler-free of anything that comes after season four, episode four.)

Original promo trailer

"The Americans 4x04 Promo "Chloramphenicol" (HD)" (Watch on YouTube)

Overnight reviews

From the AV Club
From Vulture
From Entertainment Weekly
From

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Aired:
6 April 2016 in the U.S. and Canada

This is a discussion post for episode 404 of The Americans, intended for viewers who are watching the show on the U.S./Canadian schedule. (Feel free to dive in to the discussion even if you're coming in late--and you should also feel free to start a new thread if it seems too daunting to read through what's already been posted first. If you're reading this at a point where you've already seen subsequent episodes, though, please take care to keep comments spoiler-free of anything that comes after season four, episode four.)

<cut text="FX&#39;s original promo trailer"><b>Original promo trailer</b>

<site-embed id="312"/></cut>

<cut text="overnight reviews"><b>Overnight reviews</b>

From the <a href="http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/death-counts-americans-234895" target="_quoteref">AV Club</a>
From <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2016/04/americans-recap-season-4-episode-4.html" target="_quoteref">Vulture</a>
From <a href="http://www.ew.com/recap/the-americans-season-4-episode-4" target="_quoteref">Entertainment Weekly</a>
From <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/4/7/11378114/the-americans-episode-4-recap-chloramphenicol-nina-dies" target"_quoteref"="target&quot;_quoteref&quot;">Vox</a>
From the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/06/arts/television/the-americans-season-4-episode-4-quarantine.html?_r=0" target="_quoteref"><i>New York Times</i></a>
From the <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/04/06/the-americans-recap-season-4-episode-4-chloramphenicol/" target="_quoteref"><i>Wall Street Journal</i></a>
From the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-the-americans-recap-20160406-story.html" target="_quoteref"><i>LA Times</i></a>
From <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/movies/americans-recap-exceptional-punishment-030000353.html" target="_quoteref">Yahoo News</a>
From <a href="http://theyoungfolks.com/review/tv-review-fxs-the-americans-4x4-chloramphenicol/76419" target="_quoteref">The Young Folks</a>
From <a href="http://www.tv.com/shows/the-americans-2013/community/post/the-americans-season-4-episode-4-chloramphenicol-review-nina-dies-145980670715/" target="_quoteref">tv.com</a>
From <a href="http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/the-americans-recap-season-4-episode-4-chloramphenicol" target="_quoteref">Slant</a>
From <a href="http://mashable.com/2016/04/07/the-americans-chloramphenicol-recap/" target="_quoteref">Mashable</a>
From the <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/the-americans-recap-and-analysis-chloramphenicol-a-big-word-bigger-episode" target="_quoteref">Examiner</a>
From <a href="http://www.tvfanatic.com/2016/04/the-americans-season-4-episode-4-review-chloramphenicol/" target="_quoteref">TV Fanatic</a>
From <a href="http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/americans-review-like-sugar-glass" target="_quoteref">TV Over Mind</a>
From <a href="http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/the-americans/254245/the-americans-chloramphenicol-review" target="_quoteref">Den of Geek</a>
From <a href="http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2016/04/11/tv-review-the-americans-4-4" target="_quoteref">Geeks of Doom</a>
From <a href="http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2016/the-americans-recap-4616-season-4-episode-4-chloramphenicol/" target="_quoteref">Celebrity Dirty Laundry</a>
From <a href="http://mstarsnews.musictimes.com/articles/111060/20160407/fx-americans-s04e04-chloramphenicol-keri-russell-matthew-rhys-jennings-premiere-recap.htm" target="_quoteref">Mstarsnews</a></cut>

Comments

William and his non-touchiness

[theplatonicnonyeah]

'If you have to touch each other' is said in a way that says William's not into sexual relationships.

Given that he has developed numerous allergic reactions to all the chemicals surrounding him, I doubt he would want to touch another human being for fear of either disgusting them (with scar tissue/eczema?) or catching something from them. He did seem very interested in the Jennings' family situation after all, so I do think he misses having someone to confide in and be close (physically) with. It was so poignant the moment they were all given the all clear, how the first thing Elizabeth and Philip do is hug each other.

Re: William and his non-touchiness

[lovingboth]

With a lovely mixed look from William as they do, too.