Elizabeth needs to believe she represents the USSR.
Yes, I think that's what her entire self justification is build on, and if you take that away, introduce doubt, she will break down. BTW I agree with Elizabeth's conviction she'll die a death-for-the-cause, the show is bound to give her instead survival and having to live with witnessing the destruction of all she believed in, of all her certainties, too. And even retrospectively her life's justification. She always told herself that giving her life (in a metaphorical as well as a literal sense) for her country, commiting any number of crimes was worth it because in the long term, she'd be one of the people ensuring that the Soviet Union and Communism not only survives but wins its historic struggle. And very soon, instead if will feel that it will all have been for nothing, that not only any future purpose is gone but any past purpose and justification never existed.
re: courier couple - yes, that would give those scenes a point. Especially since Elizabeth (in disguise) was the whom Stan actually physically struggled with before, and he might recognize her - not as Elizabeth but as the female half of the couple he was pursuing some years back - if he comes across her going after the couple, which would motivate him to go back into the evidence he collected way back when, only this time it might finally lead him to the Jennnings. Alternatively, of course, this could happen if he ever comes across a Philip and Oleg sighting.
Re: My review
Yes, I think that's what her entire self justification is build on, and if you take that away, introduce doubt, she will break down. BTW I agree with Elizabeth's conviction she'll die a death-for-the-cause, the show is bound to give her instead survival and having to live with witnessing the destruction of all she believed in, of all her certainties, too. And even retrospectively her life's justification. She always told herself that giving her life (in a metaphorical as well as a literal sense) for her country, commiting any number of crimes was worth it because in the long term, she'd be one of the people ensuring that the Soviet Union and Communism not only survives but wins its historic struggle. And very soon, instead if will feel that it will all have been for nothing, that not only any future purpose is gone but any past purpose and justification never existed.
re: courier couple - yes, that would give those scenes a point. Especially since Elizabeth (in disguise) was the whom Stan actually physically struggled with before, and he might recognize her - not as Elizabeth but as the female half of the couple he was pursuing some years back - if he comes across her going after the couple, which would motivate him to go back into the evidence he collected way back when, only this time it might finally lead him to the Jennnings. Alternatively, of course, this could happen if he ever comes across a Philip and Oleg sighting.