Episode discussion post: "Jennings, Elizabeth"

[jae]

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

This is a discussion post for episode 609 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 nine.)

Original promo trailer

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Comments

Re: Stan's girlfriend

[beer_good_foamy]

Yeah. I mean, I could see one ending being Stan having P&E cornered, only for Renee to step in and, ahem, "defuse" the situation - leaving P&E to go home to Russia without their children and with Stan's death as their last memory of the US.

Hey, I don't think they're going for a happy ending, might as well go all out...

Re: Stan's girlfriend

[theplatonicnonyeah]

I definitely don't see a happy ending. The question is for whom.

Re: Stan's girlfriend

[beer_good_foamy]

And whether they want to go with the classic "Aw, our heroes died, that's sad" ending, or the "Jesus Christ that's horrible, what is WRONG with you?" ending.

I'm reminded of something David Chase said when the last season of The Sopranos was about to air, about how everyone told him they knew the season would end with Tony Soprano either killed or in jail. And his reaction was basically "No way. You don't get to cheer for the bad guy for six seasons and then pat yourself on the back with a 'See, crime doesn't pay, I knew it' ending."

And they've been telegraphing Elizabeth dying so hard all season that I wouldn't be surprised if she's the only survivor on the entire eastern seaboard a week from now.

Re: Stan's girlfriend

[theplatonicnonyeah]

Yes, I'm inclined to think Philip is more likely to end up dead, along with Stan. Or that Stan will be framed as a traitor somehow.

Re: Stan's girlfriend

[lovingboth]

At least after this episode he will be able to say 'I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen..'