Episode discussion post: "The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears"

[jae]

Aired:
4 May 2016 in the U.S. and Canada

This is a discussion post for episode 408 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 eight.)

Original promo trailer

"The Americans 4x08 Promo "The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears" (HD)" (Watch on YouTube)

Overnight reviews

From Vulture (and here)
From Vox
From Hitfix
From the AV Club
From Slant
From the LA Times
From the Wall Street Journal
From the New York Times
From USA Today
From Entertainment Weekly
From Variety
From Collider
From tv.com
From Indiewire
From TV Equals
From Hidden Remote
From the Examiner
From Mstarsnews
From Den of Geek
From The Young Folks
From the Observer
From Inverse
From Celebrity Dirty Laundry
From Showbiz Junkies
From Flavorwire
From Uproxx
From Hidden Remote
From IGN
From TV Fanatic

Comments

Irina and Philip's kid

[jae]

In a way, I think him (and her) never having laid eyes on the kid only makes the idea of him bigger in her head. If he's out there somewhere and neither of them knows who or what he is beyond a few basics, there's absolutely nothing about the situation that she can control, no matter how much effort she expends.

-J

Re: Irina and Philip's kid

[sistermagpie]

Look at how he's always used so far, after all. Irina used him before sleeping with Philip. Then Gabriel has him as a reason for Philip to sleep with Kimmie. Then Elizabeth tries to get him out but he's just too patriotic. Now, just as Gabriel wants to ease up, he's finished his tour!

Re: Irina and Philip's kid

[sugangel7.livejournal.com]

agreed on this. Because she's never seen him, I feel like Irina and Philip's son represents to her this woman and family Philip had chosen before her, and one that maybe he would have chosen again had perhaps she and Philip not had children themselves.

I don't think I realized how deep Elizabeth's insecurities over Philip being with her went until her asking him in the last episode if he would go back with Martha and then the Irina comment in this episode.

but maybe that's been amplified by the fact that Philip told her every instinct in him was telling him to run bec of the Pastor Tim situation but because she doesn't have those warnings in her head, they stay (and she can't tell if the "they" is primarily because of the kids rather than including her or if that decision to stay could easily change at any given moment once he realizes how much easier life could be without his "obligation" to her and the kids if that makes sense)