Episode discussion post: "Tchaikovsky"

[jae]

Aired:
4 April 2018 in the U.S. and Canada

This is a discussion post for episode 602 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 six, episode two.)

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Comments

Re: My review

[sistermagpie]

Now it could be that Elizabeth simply does not want to worry Philip - Paige slipping up with a name sounds more harmless than "security guard confiscated fake ID with Paige's photo on it, hit on her, then I killed him", an action which Philip more likely than not would have undertaken as well (see: past record).

Seems like Elizabeth's fencing herself in with lies on all levels here. She probably doesn't want to worry Philip, but there's also the issue of Elizabeth never wanting to admit she's wrong or that she needs help. Plus she's so invested in Paige doing this with her and it all working out the way she plans.

She seems pretty afraid of anybody offering a more life-affirming view these days. She doesn't even want to think about art except to dismiss it as a waste. She can't talk to Philip because even without him knowing the details he can see things are going bad.

Philip at first blames losing his client of 15 years on Stavros, but as both Stavros and Henry point out, Philp is the one who had formed the relationship, and just handing the man over to Stavros already is a step to enstrangement.

And not just Elizabeth here, but the USSR. He's passed off his part in protecting it to others and some of those are people like the ones Elizabeth's working with. I think we're going to see that Philip and Elizabeth really do have very different views on the country where Philip can't just assume things are getting done by someone. There's a reason Arkady sent Oleg to him personally.

Incidentally, how old is Paige by now?

She should be...almost 19 I guess? I thought 20 but no, it would 19 in a month or so. Just starting her sophomore year of college.

It also seems significant that all the adults still treat Paige like the child that needs to be nurtured and managed and taken care of. Elizabeth lies to her and answers her questions, praises her, worries a bit about her behind her back, suggests Claudia could "finish with her" if Elizabeth died because Paige has "taken to her" so much.

Henry, by contrast, is transitioning into a more adult relationship with his father that echoes his relationship with Stan the way Paige's relationship with adults echoes that she had with Pastor Tim. It's not that they're completely equal, but Henry's able to give Philip advice, even mildly critical advice, and Philip respects it.

is one of the few times we've seen Claudia share something personally important to her and would indicate she's made Elizabeth and Paige a replacement family, but of course as with anything, it could be manipulation as well.

And more reason for people like Claudia to want things to stay exactly the way they are, with the Cold War going on forever.