Episode discussion post: "The Deal"

[jae]

Aired:
26 March 2014 in the U.S. and Canada
30 March 2014 in Israel
12 April 2014 in the UK

This is a discussion post for episode 205 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 two, episode five.)

Original promo trailers

"Next On: The Deal" (Watch on YouTube)

"The Americans: Exclusive Scene from Episode 5" (Watch on YouTube)

Episode recaps

From Grantland
From The New York Times
From Time
From Vulture
From The Washington Post
From Rolling Stone
From The AV Club
From Hitfix
From the Huffington Post
From Collider
From Sound on Sight
From IGN
From Television Without Pity
From TV Ate My Wardrobe
From Geekbinge
From showratings.tv
From screenrant.com
From GAMbIT Magazine
From Crave Online
From spoilertv.com
From tv.com
From Unreality Primetime
From Newsmanone

Comments

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[sistermagpie]

Yeah, I thought that was such a great touch. Because it's not even just about how viewers might react in the same situation, it's that it's such a cliche for the parents to be all OMG THE CHILD WALKED IN and it becomes a comedy for several scenes. But in this case they're just far too used to being somewhat performative about sex to freak out, so it was all on Paige. The fact that it might keep her from checking up on them in future was I think almost an afterthought, because the bigger issue for them was realizing she was checking up at all. Before that they really didn't seem to even think that was a danger since their rules had always worked. Certainly not enough of a danger to spend however long every night lying naked and staring at each other's genitals in case Paige walked in. (Not that they were just staring when she walked in.)

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[andy73]

Certainly not enough of a danger to spend however long every night lying naked and staring at each other's genitals in case Paige walked in. (Not that they were just staring when she walked in.)

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