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: Georgley's initial episode thoughts

[katiac]

- Loved Elizabeth and Brad. I've loved the "truth" that Elizabeth has brought to that character. It's so interesting to see that she is actually sharing pieces of herself with him. Loved her saying that she's only just learning how to feel again because that really seems to be coming across early in the season.

I love that aspect of it too. And I really feel like in a way it was healthy for Elizabeth to do so, like she could finally verbalize some things that have been locked inside for awhile, even if it was in the context of work. I loved when she said all the stuff she did in this episode about learning to feel because I think there's so many places they can go with that. Feelings can deepen, making all the goods feel better but the bads feel more painful too. It's really the same direction I felt like she was going all last season too, slowly letting go of the parts of her past that weren't really feeling (the hard version that let no one in) and connecting with her husband and kids, and really herself, ultimately.

- This was such a great episode for Philip. Loved the little moments of him talking about life in the Soviet Union (with the Mossad agent and with Elizabeth). I can't even imagine how homesick he and Elizabeth must both have felt at times. It would be especially hard when the memories start to fade and you don't even have anyone to talk about them with (so it was nice to see him open up to Elizabeth).

Could not have loved that scene more. It was really the only one they had together like that, but much like in "Duty and Honor" it completely made the entire episode.