Episode discussion post: "Rififi"

[jae]

Aired:
2 May 2018 in the U.S. and Canada

This is a discussion post for episode 606 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 six.)

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Re: Philip and Elizabeth

[andy73]

Elizabeth might accept Philip's help, because she really has no choice, but she really doesn't want to. She didn't call for help, even when she realized that things are extremely bad. In fact, she didn't call Philip at all. No "get the kids out before it's too late" this time.

Sorry, but i don’ think so. She would not tell him the real situation
I think Elizabeth want Philip help, but she remember their agreement and she know how it’s hard for him join in action again…

Re: Philip and Elizabeth

[sistermagpie]

But otoh she did try to get him involved in the Kimmie plot and was furious (or at least it came across that way) when he refused. I think it's complicated but her actions do still make sense to me.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth

[andy73]

But otoh she did try to get him involved in the Kimmie plot and was furious (or at least it came across that way) when he refused. I think it's complicated but her actions do still make sense to me

I got your point and now I’m more confused! 😄
I mean, Philip goes to Chicago because he loves her and he was always been ready to give all away for her, but, otoh, he knows that if she is going to fall apart, he is too: 10 minutes later and he will have the FBI on the door…
Elizabeth is a question mark: ok, as I said I see your point: Elizabeth might accept Philip's help, because she really has no choice, but she really doesn't want to. She didn't call for help, even when she realized that things are extremely bad. In fact, she didn't call Philip at all. No "get the kids out before it's too late" this time
Elizabeth shoud know what Philip knows too. So, why she didn’t call him to get the kids out? Doesn’t she care anymore? Mmm, I don’t think! Look, Philip called Elizabeth, not her!

Really I don’t know!

On the other hands I’m a romantic. I think she realizes she needs more support but on top she needs her husband..
I’m thinking to the entire scene into the Chicago bedroom. Lot of things are there.

When Philip walked into the room, right before Elizabeth sincerely tells him that he didn’t have to come, there’s a shot where she looks at him with almost tearful and downright disbelieving affection.
After that, Elizabeth asked Philip if he was going to stay , such in S1 callback?, with a kind of shyness and hesitation that’s so rare for her, and we got to see the relief in her entire body language (let me say, Keri was amazing) when he put the bag on the bed. That one small action signaled that Philip wasn’t there as tactical support; She knows he was there as her husband. And that’s what she wanted.

We must remember that the last time they saw each other they had a big fight. Elizabeth doesn’t know how Philip feels his self.
That’s why she tells him she didn’t think he would come.
Ar least I think Elizabeth is a little bit upset

Re: Philip and Elizabeth

[sistermagpie]

Yeah, I feel for her throughout the scene. I can't say exactly what she's thinking, but it does make sense.

I mean, she encourages him to do the Kimmie thing, but she's probably telling herself that it's no big deal. Like she tells him that if he does this one thing he'll be free of her and really out of the spy game. She probably feels guilty about it, but can tell herself it's only a small request.

Then he refuses and she gets mad--and also jealous, since he slept with Kimmie. So she's giving him all the frustration and anger she feels. In the moment she really is mad and it feels good. She's probably back in the place of telling herself she's the superior, stronger one. Philip is, after all, the only person she can ever really be mad at, especially now. With everybody else she has to tailor her emotions or cover them up.

So she's probably still mad when she starts out for Chicago. But then she's alone and really taking in what's happening. She's always told herself she's ready to die--wants to die heroically. But here she is all alone and she really does want someone to love her. She's thinking about happier times and wishing she had Henry back etc., so she calls him to talk to him once more before she dies. She's probably telling herself at first that she's not going to call Philip because she's mad at him. Maybe she's first thinking he'll just be sorry when she's dead. Then she thinks...maybe he won't be sorry when she's dead. Whenever she's on death's door she tends to think everybody will be better off without her. She's insulted him and pushed him away and now she's alone.

So when he calls she really doesn't want him to think she's ordering him to come. She's still got her pride and he just basically accused her of being sort of a monster trying to trick him into doing terrible things.

But then he just shows up for her anyway, just like he did in S1 after she threw him out of the house. He's the same guy, he hasn't changed. And maybe when she says she didn't think he'd come she doesn't just mean she thought she wasn't worth it to him, but maybe she's wondering if she's not...?

Re: Philip and Elizabeth

[andy73]

Did I already say how wonderful it is to talk with you? Yes? Well, I do it again.

She probably feels guilty about it, but can tell herself it's only a small request.
Yes, she definitely can!

Then he refuses and she gets mad--and also jealous,
She is furios! Look how she walk to Page’s room! Jealous? Oh yes! She knows very well Philip never wanted to sleep with Kimmie. She said it to hurt him!
Look at her expression sitting in bed: she seemed distressed, maybe even a little sorry for what she told him. But more likely because she had to think about a B-plan.

Philip is, after all, the only person she can ever really be mad at, especially now.
I think she misses terribly sharing the weight of work with him. Now she is very lonely!

She's always told herself she's ready to die--wants to die heroically. But here she is all alone and she really does want someone to love her
Here you break my heart!

Whenever she's on death's door she tends to think everybody will be better off without her.
It’s a good call back to S1 e S4.

So when he calls she really doesn't want him to think she's ordering him to come I’m with you, She's still got her pride I have no doubt about this!

But then he just shows up for her anyway, just like he did in S1 after she threw him out of the house. He's the same guy, he hasn't changed
And here’s the her look I talked about!

And maybe when she says she didn't think he'd come she doesn't just mean she thought she wasn't worth it to him Ok….
but maybe she's wondering if she's not...? What??
I'm very sorry and I'm also ashamed, but here I don't get you

Re: Philip and Elizabeth

[sistermagpie]

Here you break my heart!

It's Elizabeth's fault! :-)

It’s a good call back to S1 e S4.

And S4 ep 4!

I'm very sorry and I'm also ashamed, but here I don't get you

Sorry, I meant that she's not just thinking, "I didn't think you'd come because you don't think I'm worth it." She's also thinking, "I didn't think you'd come because I'm really not worth it." Like she's down on herself as well as him. Maybe it was even a little easier for her to imagine him letting her down and feeling bad about it when she died--now she has to think about how much he does care about her? It's a complicated moment for sure!