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 sexual relationship

[sistermagpie]

Why wouldn't she have asked for more details if they had a healthy sex life? To me it seemed like she was just curious and a little jealous of how Clark and Martha's sex life would have developed differently than hers and Philip's, but him not being the same kind of lover didn't to me mean that he was resenting Elizabeth for not being the same. Clark doesn't particularly like sex with Martha but I think he does like it with Elizabeth--not because of the sex as the person.

It's like in an early season of MM where a character tells her therapist, regarding her sex life, that sometimes he'll do something that she feels like is what someone else likes.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sexual relationship

[jae]

That was my read too. She was jealous, and in her, that jealousy led to the curiosity rather than prevented it. And that wouldn't happen in a woman who isn't really all that interested in having sex with Philip.

-J

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sexual relationship

[sistermagpie]

Honestly, in a way it was probably like finding a great bottle of red wine in the fridge when you previously only bought white. Maybe it's good--and now you have an option you didn't know you had before.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sexual relationship

[katiac]

Right, this. Like their mutually-wanted sexual relationship is still so new. They started off in a very fragile state, and went through rough patches as they gradually grew closer, and with the timing in the show, they've been okay for literally weeks at a time before things blew up over the various lies of their past. And then there was the separation, and Elizabeth has been home for what, a few weeks at most in season two? Probably less than that. This is really their first opportunity where they've been through hell, finally fully committed to each other, and are in a stable place. It's kind of a natural moment for more comfort and openness with exploration to start happening.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sexual relationship

[andy73]

That was my read too. She was jealous, and in her, that jealousy led to the curiosity rather than prevented it. And that wouldn't happen in a woman who isn't really all that interested in having sex with Philip

That was my read too.
I think you are right