Good question. I think they must've known Gregory's name (since they led Stan straight to him), but I don't remember if anyone said it on screen.
I see it as an unwillingness to let her guard down for Elizabeth. Like she'd probably enjoy variations on her Russian nickname. I believe on the tape we hear her mother call her either "Nadya" or "Nadenka" or something similar (can't tell, don't speak Russian) and also later in the tape, the more formal "Nadezhda." (Would LOVE to know what her mom usually calls her.) But allowing nicknames for her American cover is one step closer to accepting it as "her" and that feels very dangerous to Elizabeth, completely the opposite of what she wants to do.
Philip is the opposite. He uses "Phil" at multiple points--with Stan, even introducing himself to Irina. It doesn't seem to bug him because he's not bothered by the idea of himself as Philip instead of Mischa. It's a great little indication of their characters and I love how the show sneaks in little tidbits like that.
I do find some of the names picked . . . peculiar. Like "Paige" wasn't really a popular baby name yet, so they couldn't say they picked it because of that.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-08-04 02:08 pm (UTC)I see it as an unwillingness to let her guard down for Elizabeth. Like she'd probably enjoy variations on her Russian nickname. I believe on the tape we hear her mother call her either "Nadya" or "Nadenka" or something similar (can't tell, don't speak Russian) and also later in the tape, the more formal "Nadezhda." (Would LOVE to know what her mom usually calls her.) But allowing nicknames for her American cover is one step closer to accepting it as "her" and that feels very dangerous to Elizabeth, completely the opposite of what she wants to do.
Philip is the opposite. He uses "Phil" at multiple points--with Stan, even introducing himself to Irina. It doesn't seem to bug him because he's not bothered by the idea of himself as Philip instead of Mischa. It's a great little indication of their characters and I love how the show sneaks in little tidbits like that.
I do find some of the names picked . . . peculiar. Like "Paige" wasn't really a popular baby name yet, so they couldn't say they picked it because of that.