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.)

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Comments

Re: not really

[sistermagpie]

Also think of it from Stan's pov. He has in his head that they're Illegals. When he talks to Tim he can speak about Paige but when it comes to her parents there's just sort of ... nothing.

That's exactly what Stan would be looking for. He's starting to realize how superficial their lives are. Stan himself is private, but since he's met them he's had a boss he was somewht close to, a secret mistress, a couple of girlfriends, co-workers he complained about, an ex-wife, a son, his ex-wife's new guy. All of Philip and Elizabeth's history is hidden. You try to go deeper and there's nothing there. It just goes vague. They're not...in the church. They have no family to speak of.

Henry knows their habits, but can't explain them. He has noticed enough for questions, but just isn't insisting on knowing the answers.

Re: not really

[jae]

It really is true that there are bound to be HUGE numbers of things that don't quite add up about the Jenningses now that he's got the truth as an idea in his head that he can turn over and over again as he ponders it. I'm sure we'll hear what some of those things are in the final episode.

-J