Episode discussion post: "Urban Transport Planning"

[jae]

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

This is a discussion post for episode 603 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 three.)

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Comments

[quantumreality]

I really liked that "I don't WANT to be like them" part. It resonates in a way that's clear in hindsight, 30 years later. Both Philip and Elizabeth are right - yes, the Soviet Union did need to change, but not by combining all the worst traits of Russian corruption and unregulated capitalism, which is what happened after the USSR fell apart and Yeltsin took the helm. If it had been anyone but him, Russia might have saved itself a lot of pain and agony and Putin never would've gotten a foothold.

[shapinglight]

I really liked that "I don't WANT to be like them" part.

That was a great speech. Of course, Elizabeth has always been more hard line but working alone for the last three years seems to have made her worse, which is ironic given that she herself told Philip to quit because she could see he couldn't take any more.