Episode discussion post: "Cardinal"

[jae]

Aired:
5 March 2014 in the U.S. and Canada
9 March 2014 in Israel
22 March 2014 in the UK

This is a discussion post for episode 202 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 if you're reading this later and have already seen subsequent episodes, but please take care to keep comments spoiler-free of anything that comes after season two, episode two.)

Original promo trailers

"Next On: Cardinal" (Watch on YouTube)

"The Americans: Exclusive Scene from Episode 2" (Watch on YouTube)

Episode recaps

From Vulture
From Hitfix
From The AV Club
From The Huffington Post
From IGN
From Think Progress
From SpoilerTV
From Zap2it
From Television Without Pity
From TV Ate My Wardrobe
From Filmthrasher
From showratings.tv
From Newsmanone
From Screenrant
From the LA Times
From Geekbinge
From tvrage.com
From Unreality TV (UK)

Comments

Re: On rewatch

[sistermagpie]

I assume it's something to do with that guy's native language, that where he comes from that's a standard form of respect for his boss and familiarity because the place isn't so formal? Or maybe it's not mirroring anything in another language but just sounds like a good mix to that guy and Philip doesn't correct him.

"Mr. Philip"

[jae]

In my workplace, it's common to speak informally, but we have a lot of people who work/study with us who are from countries where showing respect through titles is paramount. So I often get a [my title] [my real first name] combination too. I've always taken it to mean "I respect your desire to be called by your first name, but I caaaaaan't just leave the title off!"

For what it's worth, I don't correct them either. :)

-J

Re: "Mr. Philip"

[sistermagpie]

Yes, that's basically the idea I thought. That the Mister is just a way of denoting that he's the boss, because to him calling him just Philip is weird. What's it called? Positioning?

And Philip actually probably totally gets it and remembers having to get over the impulse himself, so he's not going to be uncomfortable with hit.

Re: "Mr. Philip"

[treonb]

I like that. We actually have something similar by us, now that I think about it, though it comes from a different direction.

But I also like the fact that they're building up the character of this guy at work.