Episode discussion post: "Harvest"

[jae]

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

This is a discussion post for episode 607 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 seven.)

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Comments

Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[jae]

Doesn't Stan's epiphany feel a bit like they know there are only so many episodes to go and they need to get to it eventually?

I can see why you'd say that, looking back at the episode, but it didn't feel like that to me. It actually seemed very systematic to me, and each little bit brought him closer to real, legit suspicion.

I see it like this:

1) He was already thinking about how weird it was that Elizabeth had to fly down to appease an important client--a strange thing anyway--during Thanksgiving, the first time their wayward son was home in ages. But he put those suspicions aside because, well, because things have always been weird with the Jenningses in that department.

2) Then Philip had to go too, and his suspicions were raised just a bit more. Not enough to think: "could they be Soviet illegals?" but just enough for him to be going "okay, seriously, what the hell?" So he approaches Philip and asks him, essentially, just that: What the hell? And he gets an explanation that could be accurate, but no, it doesn't quite work. Something feels off. Suspicions are raised a little bit more at this point.

3) So he gives Henry his gentle interrogation. And if you're approaching it from the perspective that Stan already has is senses all activated, Henry actually said some pretty damning things. Henry himself just thinks of this stuff he's commenting on as the background of his life--the way things have always been--but at this point Stan's brain is whirring, and he's thinking back through all the points where weird things have happened involving the Jenningses that he's just put aside.

4) He breaks into their house, finds nothing. But while he's looking around, he thinks through each one of those weird moments from all the years he's known them. And his brain snags on the time that he shot a Russian illegal and then Elizabeth was gone for a while.

At this point I think he's thinking the truth, actually spelling it out to himself in his head, but he's also thinking about just how crazy that is. He's still got some convincing to do, of his own self. But he's most of the way there.

So yeah, I bought it. And my heart was in my freaking THROAT.

-J

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[beer_good_foamy]

No, I agree that it makes sense on a logical and character level. Something about it just still seemed like I could see the writer's room behind it all. Maybe, just like Stan doesn't want to think that about his friend, I just don't want the show to end...

Philip should have just told him they were swingers. I have a feeling that would have thrown Stan off more.

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[jae]

Oh, absolutely. If Philip had confided to him about the marriage being in trouble instead of the business being in trouble at that very juncture, the whole thing would likely have been headed off.

-J

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[lovingboth]

'Well, Stan, we're so short of money, Elizabeth is working as an escort, that's why she keeps going out late at night.'

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[jae]

HA. I think Stan would have seen that one as a joke!

-J

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[quantumreality]

It probably even would've worked, sending Stan up a blind alley with Stan concluding Elizabeth must have a *very* select clientele if none of the town madams know about her.

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[lovingboth]

I'd be shocked if the KGB weren't ultimately running at least one Washington prostitution agency, just for the blackmail potential.

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[sistermagpie]

I honestly don't see how it would have. If he doesn't think the business the guy built is enough to make him look like he's walking off to his own execution (which he is) I don't see how his marriage being in trouble would do it.

Plus it doesn't explain their regular late nights or why Elizabeth and then Philip are running out on Thanksgiving.

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[saraqael]

Stan only just now linking together bothersome weird little facts about the Jennings did work for me. Of course the writers held this moment back to the end of the series out of necessity, but the way it's all coming together now for Stan feels authentic to me. It felt like those time you hear about researchers who 'dream' the solution to their problem, or who seem to have an 'A-HA!' moment out of the blue after stumbling around a problem for a long time. All of the clues were percolating around in their head but their conscience mind kept pushing them away or not linking the clues together. Stan's observed little things wrong with the Jennings for years but ignored them because of his friendship with Philip. But the Harvest cast happening with both Jennings vanishing mysteriously was enough for Stan's mind to start putting all the clues together. I don't think he's 100% on to them yet, but the fact that they've risen back on his radar enough that he was willing to set aside his friendship and break into their house to snoop around is a bad sign.

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[beer_good_foamy]

It felt like those time you hear about researchers who 'dream' the solution to their problem, or who seem to have an 'A-HA!' moment out of the blue after stumbling around a problem for a long time.

Now I have this image in my head of Stan going through the Jennings' house, finding a moldy old sandwich in the bin, and going "I've just discovered penicillin!" :)

Re: Is it realistic for Stan to be suspecting the Jennings' based on what happened here?

[saraqael]

See? This is why Elizabeth had to throw out that Russian peasant stew she made. Stan would have nosed around in their fridge and discovered the leftovers had gone moldy and declared, "Penicillin! Wait a minute!!! SOVIET Penicillin!!!" and the show would have ended.

Thinking back over times from earlier seasons when Stan just strolled in and rummaged through their fridge to get a beer and bite to eat, that's not entirely implausible. :D