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.)

Original promo trailer

Watch on YouTube

Comments

Re: Late thoughts

[cadma2]

That's an interesting quote! I see it less that it was his dream to be a successful businessman but more that he was idealising the non-spying life. I mean, if working as an illegal is the most stressful thing in your life, running a business must look relaxing in comparison. And presumably when his effort was going into spying he was doing the minimum to keep the business running. But as soon as the business is his main focus he's trying to carry out a big expansion. I think he's possibly just not capable of slowing down even if he wants to. If he wasn't naturally an extremely driven person he'd never have become an illegal in the first place.

But this is all extrapolating a bit. I think you're right that they could be a bit more character-specific about how it's shown on screen -- it's never seemed like he cared much about the travel agency per se til this season.

Re: Late thoughts

[sistermagpie]

Yes, I think he just went into business because that's what he had. He didn't have a specific dream to be a carpenter or an artist or something. He just wanted a life that fulfilled him that wasn't spying and this isn't it.