theamericans | Episode discussion post: "Rififi"

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theamericans

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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From:

selenak

The one where Henry has more than two minutes screen time, even, dare I say, an important part in an episode, and it's Turkey Slaughter Day again.

I'm not entirely kidding, it's been eons since Henry got more than background stuff or a few minutes, let alone interaction with his mother as opposed to Stan Beeman or his father. And in a way, it's worth the wait in that the Henry screentime is connected to Elizabeth finally having a breakthrough of sorts, or at least the beginning of one. Though right at the start when hearing about the burning of Kimmie-as-an-asset by Philip's eventual refusal, she hits as low as we've ever had Elizabeth do verbally in this show, including the bad state of affairs between her and Philip in season 11.

Incidentally, I can't help but notice that for a kid who's home only for the holidays and only talks regularly to one of his parents, Henry is far more clear-sighted than Paige the supposed spy-in-training (who has only excellent in cluelessness this season). It doesn't take him long to (correctly) deduce Elizabeth is deeply unhappy (even if he doesn't know why), or that Philip does need some outside help in the floundering business, whatever he says. Clearly, the KGB is betting on the wrong Jennings offspring.

Elizabeth, for the first time, trying to draw without being prompted by her patient - an activity which the show has coded to opening yourself up to your emotions all seasons - consequently is followed up by her calling her son and trying to talk to him. That Henry immediately concludes this means something is wrong also says something about Elizabeth's increasingly tunneled focus on work and her daughter in recent years. But as importantly: it had to be Henry, because emotions between Philip and Elizabeth have always been mixed up their work from the get go, for better and worse, and Paige has been tied into all things spy ever since she found out the truth. Henry symbolizes emotions outside the cause.

I'm still not entirely sure this whole "the travel agency is doing badly" storyline is worth it beyond making a point about the shadow side of everyday capitalism, but there we are: Stavros gets fired. Alas. Now I'm suspecting this might be so we don't have to wonder what becomes of the travel agency employees once we get into the endgame? Which apparantly we're now in, with an illegal discovered in Chicago, Stan on the case, Elizabeth being directed there and Philip ending the episode with deciding to join her.

The irony that Stan's US patriotic Thanksgiving speech is one of the things that spur Philip to get more active into spying on Elizabeth - for Russia, not the US -, isn't lost on me. I also love that there are two layers in Philip deciding to join Elizabeth in Chicago at the end. He does it because she's in danger and he loves her for better or worse, yes - but I think it's also because his effectiveness in spying for Arkady & Oleg on Team Reactionaries who are pulling Elizabeth's stringers is limited as long as he's staying outside of operations. And he does want to help the mother country into a better future, which, ironically, is why I suspect Elizabeth in the end might see this as less of a betrayal than a point blank refusal to spy, full stop.

Lastly: is the Sam Nunez intern Elizabeth is trying to hook the same one Paige wanted to win as an asset, or is it someone else? *is bad at youthful faces, apparantly*

From:

saraqael

I was hoping you knew if the intern Elizabeth is after is the same one Paige slept with. I couldn’t tell. I’m going to have to go back and watch the scenes with Paige again to check.

From:

sistermagpie

Paige's guy was Brian. This is a different guy. Totally different type, especially.

From:

saraqael

Thank goodness it’s a different guy. The image of Elizabeth and Paige both sleeping with the same intern was too much for my mind to bear.

From: (Anonymous)

Sam Nunn's intern was a different guy I think.

It would be HELLA AWKWARD if Paige and Elizabeth were working the same guy. :O

- QR who isn't logged in rn

From:

jae

It would be just like this show to do something THAT AWKWARD, though.

-J

From:

lovingboth

It is what I was hoping for :)

From:

sistermagpie

Lastly: is the Sam Nunez intern Elizabeth is trying to hook the same one Paige wanted to win as an asset, or is it someone else? *is bad at youthful faces, apparantly*

I think that kid's name was Brian and this one was Jackson. I noticed that too. Also Paige's guy was hunkier. She would probably never have gone for sensitive French movie loving guy (who might be gay for all we know).

And he does want to help the mother country into a better future, which, ironically, is why I suspect Elizabeth in the end might see this as less of a betrayal than a point blank refusal to spy, full stop.

I tend to see it that way too. She'd be relieved that he cared.