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.)

Original promo trailer

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Comments

[beer_good_foamy]

Song of the episode: Talking Heads, "Slippery People". A song, arguably, about being unsure whether to trust aurthorities you've always depended on.

What about the time?
You were rollin' over
Fall on your face
You must be having fun

Walk lightly!
Think of a time.
You'd best believe
This thing is real

Put away that gun
And this part is simple
Try to recognize
What is in your mind

God help us!
Help us lose our minds
These slippery people
Help us understand

What's the matter with him? (He's alright!)
I see his face (The lord won't mind!)
Don't know no games (He's alright!)
Love from the bottom to the top

Turn like a wheel (He's alright!)
See for yourself (The lord won't mind!)
We're gonna move (Right now!)
Turn like a wheel inside a wheel

I remember when
Sittin' in the tub
Pulled out the plug
The water was runnin' out

Cool down
Stop acting crazy
They're gonna leave
And we'll be on our own

Seven times five
They were living creatures
Watch 'em come to life
Right before your eyes

Backsliding!
How do you do?
These slippery people
Gonna see you through...

[shapinglight]

They've used two stellar Talking Heads songs so far this season. Last week's Listening Wind is such an evocative song and fit the context so well.

Talking Heads

[lovingboth]

Perhaps the series will end with a montage of Philip and, especially, Elizabeth killing people to the soundtrack of Pyscho Killer.

Or, even better, of Paige killing people.

Re: Talking Heads

[beer_good_foamy]

Or a lone Elizabeth watching McDonald's set up shop at the Moskva River, to the tune of "Take Me To The River"...

Slippery People

[jae]

This song would have never occurred to me to use (I think because I haven't thought about it in decades), but it was just SO PERFECT, wasn't it?

-J