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: Elizabeth and Brad

[katiac]

(It's unclear to me whether her 'I'm ready' we saw in the first episode of this season, set a couple of years into their mission, was her being ready to have a cover-improving child or have sex with Philip or both.)

They're often ambiguous about things or don't spell them completely out, which is kind of nice since it leaves multiple interpretations open. In this case, I lean towards it being both the first time for sex and attempted pregnancy simply because if they'd been having sex before, I don't think there'd be any reason for it to be awkward when she takes off her blouse and is there in her bra. The scene in the pilot where he's kissing her neck and she's not particularly surprised by it seems to indicate they had a sexual relationship outside of just having Henry and Paige, and I think eventually the weirdness would've worn off and it would've just been a thing she resents but has to do as "Elizabeth Jennings." But in that scene, there seems to still be awkwardness between them.

Doubtless people will tell me if I am wrong, but I think Brad is the first man we've seen who's had sex with Elizabeth dangled in front of him, but not happened... and he doesn't mind!! Yes, he'd like to, but he doesn't push it in any way. He is completely respectful of her wishes.

I would say the first man in her life like that was Philip. He was extremely respectful of her wishes in the hotel flashback in the pilot and from the two years after that he waited until she said "I'm ready," it's clear he didn't push in any way. Brad seems like a nice guy, but their relationship lasted what, a week or two at most and she did give him a hand job. Philip was pretty awesome in the respectfulness shown, it was just that Elizabeth because of the rape was always (no matter who they'd paired her with, even if it had been Gregory) going to reject a man "forced" on her sexually by order of the Center.

Yes, there's absolutely an element of her playing him and his weaknesses, but tell me that there isn't going to be part of her that wouldn't like to have a partner like that?

But... that's exactly what she does have in Philip.

I think Philip has been hugely non-resentful considering everything that's happened. And this doesn't mean he doesn't have justifiable resentments about some things--Elizabeth brings some problems to the table in a relationship just like he does--but considering the breadth of what he's been able to accept and deal with (a lengthy affair that was both sexual and emotional, reporting on him, the separation, everything being "her way", getting past feeling rejected and like an intruder in his own house and having ALL of that bear down on him for 15 years), I think Philip has really proven his level of devotion to her. That's a LOT to deal with, and even if some of it is due to their circumstances and some of it due to the emotional damage of the rape, we've seen him accept and find a way to live with things in a way Elizabeth just hasn't done or had to do in return for him. While I appreciate Brad was a nice guy, I just can't compare him not being pushy about sex after a week or two (not everyone jumps right into bed anyway!) of dating with Philip having bent over backwards to be understanding for decades.