Question of the week #2

[jae]

Last week, in response to the question about what we'd like to see happen in season two, umbo said something that seemed to resonate with a lot of us: overall what I want is to be surprised by what happens instead of thinking, "oh, of course that's what they did." So in that vein: What happened during season one that surprised you most? You can expect spoilers for the entire first season in the comments.

(There's no expiration date on these questions, so if you're reading this post months later and feel like jumping in, please do.)

Comments

[jae]

Honestly, the thing that surprised me the most overall was just how sophisticated a show it turned out to be, storytelling-wise. Toward the beginning of the season, I remember thinking that it was going to be a sort of spy procedural with a story-of-the-week, cast against the backdrop of an overarching story about a marriage (sort of like the Good Wife transported to the 80s and moved to the world of espionage). I would have actually liked that show just fine, to be honest--the premise appeals to me that much--but the show it ended up being is so much better than that, and sometimes I want to give the showrunners big fat smooches for that. *g*

But in terms of plot points, the thing that surprised me the most--the thing that I remember making me jump out of my seat and yell "oh my god" while sitting under a hairdryer at the hairdresser's--was when Nina confessed to Arkady that she'd become a double agent. The show surprised me again and again in smaller ways, but that--I so did not see that coming.

-J

[soupytwist]

Definitely agree with you about just how smart a show it is! I was not expecting to like it as much as I do at ALL.

Otherwise, the bit that made me scream in shock the most was Philip having a bag shoved over his head by the KGB. I went WHAT very loudly. *g*

[jae]

Ah, yes. I think that probably would have surprised me just as much if it hadn't been for the fact that I'd been spoiled for the kidnapping by the trailers (stupid trailers!).

-J

[treonb]

That surprised me too. Despite the fact that I saw the promos and knew it was coming, I didn't expect it just then :-)