Episode discussion post: "The Walk In"

[jae]

Aired:
12 March 2014 in the U.S. and Canada
16 March 2014 in Israel
29 March 2014 in the UK

This is a discussion post for episode 203 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 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 two, episode three.)

Original promo trailers

"Next On: The Walk In" (Watch on YouTube)

"The Americans: Exclusive Scene from Episode 3" (Watch on YouTube)

Episode recaps

From the Washington Post
From Vulture
From Hitfix
From the AV Club
From the Huffington Post
From IGN
From Collider
From Television Without Pity
From Sound on Sight
From tv.com
From TV Ate My Wardrobe
From the Houston Chronicle
From spoilertv.com
From showratings.tv
From The Cloture Club

More to come once they're available!

Comments

The Aunt Helen thing

[jae]

But okay, I have to wonder, how, in all this time, that excuse hasn't been used before. Was it a default mortal injury kind of thing?

My read on this is that Aunt Helen wasn't set up for Philip and Elizabeth in particular, but was there in case of dire emergency for any of the illegals who might need an excuse to be away for a while, recovering. That would explain why she hadn't been brought up before as part of their cover story--they hadn't needed her before.

What I wonder is what "Aunt Helen" does for the organization during the rest of the time. Her and the woman who was actually supporting Elizabeth during her convalescence out in the woods--the one we saw at the very beginning of "Comrades." Surely they don't just sit around the rest of the time, right?

-J

Re: The Aunt Helen thing

[soupytwist]

I was wondering about that. My guess was, they must need people to do data crunching/other administrative type stuff which can't go though the Rezidentura, right? Maybe those women are the people who do that.

Re: The Aunt Helen thing

[wendelah1]

This is what I think--that there is a small network of KGB safehouses to be used in case of injury with a need for a prolonged recovery. "Aunt Helen is too sick for me to leave" is the cover identity. It doesn't have to be the same person who is "Aunt Helen" every time, although this particular person was elderly enough that she could be retired from her day job. I have other ideas, too, but I'm saving them for fanfic. Sorry.

Saving ideas for fanfic

[jae]

\o/!