This week's links

[jae]

This week's TV Guide features a piece with a lot of juicy season two spoilers in it (including at least a few bits not mentioned previously).

A look at the press kit for season two that a bunch of very lucky television journalists have received over the last week (no spoilers).

We now have a full episode description for episode 204 (second season, fourth episode).

For those of you in North America: Keri Russell is going to be on Late Night with David Letterman on Thursday, February 20th. Set your PVRs!

And for those of you in New York or who can get there easily, there is a free and open-to-the-public panel interview tomorrow morning at Bryant Park with showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields and actor Noah Emmerich (Stan). I hope someone can make it and do a writeup for us!

This hour-long panel from the Academy of Television Arts And Sciences with Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg, Noah Emmerich, Matthew Rhys (Philip), Annet Mahendru (Nina), and Margo Martindale (Claudia) is actually from last spring, but I didn't link it then, and it's been making the rounds again.

I've been trying to get people to come here and link to their own fanworks rather than linking to them myself in my linkspams, but this very clever picspam by belovedcreation that reimagines images from Austenland and Death Comes to Pemberley as a The Americans AU was too good to pass up. :)

There was a great review of the season one DVD/Blu-Ray set from Australia this week. And based on one of the little featurettes on the set, TV.com did a little piece on "Clark" and Martha's "marriage".

And finally, for the fanwriters and fanartists out there, there's a multifandom fanfiction and art fest going on, and also a multifandom fanfiction fest celebrating friendship. Go forth and request/create The Americans fanworks!

Comments

[katiac]

"There's a deep change in their marriage," explains show creator Joe Weisberg of the couple, who have posed as Virginia suburbanites since they landed stateside in their early twenties. "Elizabeth finally loves Philip as much as he does her."

I want to draw little hearts all around this statement. And then stare hopefully at my TV until next week finally comes!

But "real feelings have crept in between Elizabeth and Philip," Rhys admits, "so for the first time, they do have to negotiate jealousy."

This is completely great! I kind of liked the tiny glimpse of jealous, possessive Elizabeth from the first season because it forced her to examine how strongly she really does feel. This could be quite interesting!

Just when Philip and Elizabeth think they have a quiet road ahead, an old friend returns to complicate things. Not only do they have to intercept a target who could prove valuable to the Soviet Union, but they also have to take on an important rogue mission without the support of the Centre. Divisions inside the Rezidentura deepen between Oleg and Arkady and there’s an upheaval at the FBI as the chickens come home to roost for Agent Gaad. Meanwhile, Martha’s frustrations threaten to blow Philip’s cover.

Like, every sentence in this sounds awesome. I just kept reading and nodding more and more. Super stuff! Is it February 26th yet?

[georgley]

I know! So much good info here. It's like everyone involved with the show knows exactly what to say to make me even more excited for season 2!

[katiac]

It's making me crazy that it's a whole week away, even though considering how long we've waited, that's like... nothing!

But every single thing they've released so far has just made me want to cheer. And it seems like all over social media, people are catching up with season one. I'm really hopeful we will see a growth in viewers and they will be in a safe place to get renewed for season three.

[georgley]

I know! I'm so jealous of the people who got screeners. Clearly I should have become a TV critic. Also was glad to see that Alan Sepinwall who only liked last season say that the season 2 episodes are so good he now feels "evangelical" about the show! He seems to have a reasonably large readership so hopefully will atttract new viewers.

[katiac]

I know! All these people who are gushing over the early peeks are only making me that much more excited.

And then there was that moment of excitement in the shower this morning when I realized "Comrades" likely referred to (at least in one sense) the other Directorate S family in the premiere. (Which I'm sure everyone else figured out like a week ago, as I hang my head.) But it still made me excited to think about!

And curious as to how "Cardinal" fits in... did it look like in the "first look" scene at the dinner table that Paige was lacing her fingers like she was about to say a prayer?

[georgley]

I totally thought it looked like she was about to pray!

[katiac]

If it does turn out that's what it is, I just can't wait to see Philip and Elizabeth's reaction.

[sistermagpie]

Oh yeah, I'm thinking Comrades is definitely that other couple. Who I hope wind up casting a long shadow over the series even if they get horribly killed straight away.

The idea of jealousy creeping in is going to be kind of funny. I think Philip's already dealt with it for a while so he's just learned to know he's going to be jealous and not say anything much, but Elizabeth's dealing with him having another demanding wife now. And she's still wearing her necklace!

I think Sepinwall was one of those people who thought there was too much back and forth between P&E last season which made me want to smack him for not getting it, so I'm glad he's wised up!

[jae]

There really has been NOTHING negative from ANY of the critics at ALL yet. I mean, the critics have always been very good to this show, don't get me wrong, but it's unprecedented that they're all of a mind, and it bodes just so, so well. I can't wait to read the long, long episode reviews that they must all be writing right now, mmmm.

I too think Elizabeth is going to have the tougher time with her jealousy, since Philip's always managed to put it into context somehow--feel it and then let it go--but Elizabeth's never really felt it. I love the idea of how she will be dealing with the way she's feeling as a person being in conflict with what she thinks is the right thing to do for the motherland, and I look forward with seeing how they work with that.

-J

[katiac]

Hair and wardrobe must perform miracles in order to get those crazy wigs to stay on the actors' heads, especially in the sex scenes. But, Russell teased that while Elizabeth and Philip become closer, her character gets intrigued by her husband's disguises. "She's like, 'What do you mean that you do that with this person? What does that person like? Why don't you do that with me? It's this weird blurry thing that happens.'"

It's clear that in the beginning of Season 2, Elizabeth and Philip are trying to find their footing. After Elizabeth's injury, she's just not all there yet. "I think she's faltering and I think in the first half of the second season, she's definitely not on her game," Russell said. As Elizabeth and Philip try to mend their marriage and make it real for the first time, their comfort levels seem to change. "There's the other thing of really being in love with someone and then having to constantly use your sexuality for someone else," Russell said. "I don't think she's so comfortable in that anymore."

I saw this in one of the interviews today and am so excited about it--it's a subject I kind of always wished they would touch on in depth. It's like, Philip has lived with his jealousy and had to deal with the sex aspect of things for a lot longer, but it's great that it's bringing so many of those issues up for Elizabeth now too, since she's finally in love, and especially that since they're both now there, it could start actually coming to the table in conversation, not just in dark looks and icy responses.

So excited!

[sistermagpie]

OMG, this is adorable. There's something so sweet about Elizabeth even thinking of these things because it's kind of obvious--she has a husband who's basically a professional orgasm-machine but she has, I assume, always been very guarded when they have sex. So it's not like he'd feel like he had a license to experiment. I would even think she's be very guarded against letting him have too much influence over her that way. So now to have her be like...so, is that fun? That sounds fun. Would you try that with me?

And Philip must be like, omg, all my dreams have come true. 20 years of experience and it's all for you. It's always been you! Let's find out everything you like!

I think this would also not even be what it would have been like with Gregory. Surely they'd have been more free, but not quite in the same way.

Philip's chameleon-like qualities are such a running joke on the show I kind of love the idea of Elizabeth getting intrigued by them. Because for him it's like obvious that Elizabeth is sexy in all her disguises, but his have such character I kind of want to see her having some fun with them. I'd love to see him picking her up as whatever character he was being.

[georgley]

I just want to draw little hearts all around this comment!

[sistermagpie]

I want to draw hearts around Philip! It's like...however kinky Elizabeth needs him to go, you know he'll do it. Does she need to seduce Clark? He'll put on the turtleneck and sweater vest and stay in character.

[georgley]

Somebody clearly needs to write this fic!

[katiac]

Exactly! Like I see their sexual relationship in season one as always having been very... maybe hesitant is the wrong word, because clearly it's not always that... but it's a very weighted topic and that never really seems to leave the room. Elizabeth has some bad things attached to sex. Philip has some bad things attached to sex. They have some bad things attached to sex with each other (Elizabeth feeling forced, Philip feeling unloved) and so I always imagined that while it slowly began to open up a little as things progressed, there was always a hesitance and carefulness attached to it. Certainly not the idea of hey let's have some fun, play around, and see what we like in bed, but more of, we're finally connecting, this is very meaningful to us... kind of the same tone there seemed to be in episode four. It would be a pretty serious thing at first, hesitant and uncertain at times after so long in a different way of approaching it with each other, I would think, and then it would take some time for that tension to entirely evaporate.

I think this would also not even be what it would have been like with Gregory. Surely they'd have been more free, but not quite in the same way.

Yeah, I agree. Like I think Gregory was very meaningful to her, but Elizabeth at the point they were together was really not allowing herself to get intimate with anyone. That seems to be something that's new to her very recently, the painfulness of it for her suggesting she's never been forced to dig to that level before. And I don't think from how we saw Philip and Irina together that it seems likely he ever got anywhere near that with her either. This sort of relationship is really new to both of them.

[jae]

Sadly, it is not February 26th yet. :( But we are in the single digits in our countdown, which is something!

-J

[katiac]

I can't believe a week from tomorrow we will all be bouncing off the walls counting down the hours/minutes! It's almost here!

[jae]

Yes, a week from tomorrow is the night that none of us will be sleeping due to sheer excitement. :D

-J

[jae]

A week from TONIGHT we will be getting ready to watch (after not having been able to sleep the night before due to sheer excitement)!

-J

[katiac]

Ha! I kept thinking that all day! I would look at the clock and think, "OMG, one week and 8 hours..."

[sistermagpie]

Ooh, I really want to see the feature on Systema!

[jae]

Yeah, that would actually be super-useful to me right about now.

Um...for writing purposes, I mean! ;)

-J

[katiac]

What is the feature on Systema?

[sistermagpie]

In the review it suggested there was a martial arts feature on the DVD.

[jae]

Sadly, it's not really that; they just discuss it briefly (unless the reviewer's DVD had something mine didn't).

-J

[sistermagpie]

There do seem to be some videos etc. online, at least. But then, you could probably get a lot out of just watching how they do it on the show and use that. The stuff they do is pretty clear in terms of what they're doing. I remember on an anon meme someone randomly mentioned that they thought the fighting on the show was some of the best on any show, because it was the most like real fighting.

[katiac]

Like the DVD they sent the press people? Or the season one DVD (I haven't watched all the features yet)?

[sistermagpie]

Looks like neither. It just gets mentioned in passing. :-(

[alisonx]

It really makes me unbelievably proud that The Americans is universally praised by critics. If this show continues this social media trajectory, S2 could have a good chance of Golden Globes and Emmy nominations!!!!! Peer recognition and the cast/writers at award shows!! How great that would be. Can't believe it's only a week to go! All the spoiler snippets sound beyond amazing.

[jae]

I know, I feel the same! The critics really have been so good to our show, it's so gratifying.

-J

[georgley]

Love that Austenland/ Death Comes to Pemberley mash up. I haven't seen Austenland but quite enjoyed Death Comes to Pemberley. It was strange though given Matthew Rhys kept calling his wife Elizabeth... But with a British accent.

[jae]

I actually have this bizarre reaction once a character has gotten under my skin where I find it kind of creepy to see that character's actor playing someone else. :) It's kind of annoying and inconvenient, but I can't seem to be able to help it! So I won't be seeing either one (half the trailer for Austenland was traumatic enough!).

-J

[georgley]

There's an interesting article (full of spoilers) from HuffPo today here. So much good stuff about Elizabeth!

[jae]

Oh, wow, that is so juicy! Added to the list for next time, thanks (which at this rate will be sometime on the weekend). I bet it was from that interview this morning (I wonder how that went?).

Can't wait!

-J

[georgley]

Also some shots from filming today of 213! Terrible disguises. Also I can't believe they are already filming the last episode!

here

[katiac]

Wow, those really are bad!

[georgley]

Elizabeth's eyeshadow is horrifying! As is Philip's ponytail!

[katiac]

Just the whole thing is so 80's!! And like not the good part of the 80's!!! I will say it's totally authentic!

[jae]

Wow, you are just hopping today with the links! Thanks so much.

It really is hard to imagine that they've already got the last episode nearly finished, isn't it? I guess because last year they were still filming until quite late in the season, in part because the season started earlier and in part because Hurricane Sandy made things difficult for a while.

I love to read all the stuff about how confident they are about the season. Between that and the critical response, I almost feel like it's a whole season of guaranteed awesome. :)

-J

[katiac]

Loved all these spoilers! Especially that all the stuff about sexuality is going to come up in a more tangible way. That's such an interesting piece in the business/personal conflict of what they have to do.

[georgley]

Can you imagine how awkward it would be if Elizabeth started questioning Philip about Clark and Martha's sex? That would be a very interesting conversation. So excited to read about all the different ways they are planning to explore the marriage!

[katiac]

I know, right? I also love that so many responses by Keri, Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields, etc, all make note that Elizabeth is in love with Philip and that it's equal now. I think that was one of the hardest things to watch in season one and made me feel so sympathetic towards him at times--that he was so devoted to her and she gave so little back. I'm really looking forward to the idea that she might finally treat him differently.