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

Episode timeline

[georgley]

A few of the recaps I've read have mentioned that the episode took place over one long night. I thought it was two? There were scenes in the middle that were in daylight (Elizabeth and Brad, Kate visiting Philip the second time). Although at the end Elizabeth said "I spent the evening with your wife" and made it sound like it was earlier that night.

What did everyone else think?

Re: Episode timeline

[soupytwist]

Maybe it went from [for example] midnight Tuesday through to early morning Thursday? That was kind of how I saw it, but it was confusing!

Re: Episode timeline

[treonb]

I think those daylight scenes you mention just don't fit. Everything else happens in the dark, besides Philip coming back home in the morning. I prefer ignoring them, and seeing this as one long-night ep.

Re: Episode timeline

[sistermagpie]

That's how I read it. Maybe it's a flashback to earlier in the day that's explaining how Elizabeth has the files now. But it seems like the whole thing is just one night. Even Yossi says they spent the night together.

Re: Episode timeline

[georgley]

Yeah, it's pretty confusing. Maybe Yossi was referring to them spending all of the previous night together and it wasn't 't that late when they made the exchange the next night. I need to rewatch.

Re: Episode timeline

[sistermagpie]

Having just watched it again it's definitely 2 whole days that go by.

Re: Episode timeline

[treonb]

You're right. I rewatched those parts and it's more than a scene.

It's morning in the Russian embassy (and it might also be in the bathroom scene), and the day continues until we jump to the tailing Oleg scene.

Re: Episode timeline

[jae]

I was going on the assumption that it was one night (I mean, even superspies need sleep sometimes!), but you're right, then the daylight scenes don't fit.

Huh--it's bizarre that I didn't notice that. I'll be sure to pay attention to it next time around. :)

-J

Re: Episode timeline

[georgley]

I look forward to your interpretation!

Re: Episode timeline

[katiac]

That confused me too! Also the part about leaving Moscow... I'm assuming that was together during training? Maybe the last time they saw it? They didn't arrive in the US until August, so maybe to another area of the USSR for final training? A secondary country while they switched identities again?

Leaving Moscow

[jae]

I took that to be referring to when the two of them left Moscow (i.e. where a lot of their training would have taken place) for the last time together. The destination could be any of the above things you mention, but I think it definitely referred to the point where they were leaving permanently, together.

-J

Re: Episode timeline

[jae]

I'm afraid my interpretation is still muddled--even after three viewings, I find the timeline completely confusing. :) But I'm happy to go along with sistermagpie's version upon second viewing!

-J

Re: Episode timeline

[katiac]

I'm curious if they messed around with what was originally planned in editing and it's a situation like "The Oath" where scenes were intended to go in a different order.