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

[jae]

I think the key difference is actually "most parents aren't sex workers who feel much more blasé about being observed having sex than most people would," though. They weren't embarrassed about it, but they weren't glad about it either (which they would have been if it had been intentional).

-J

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[treonb]

I'm trying to think what threw me off here. I think it's the fact that they're discussing the chances of Paige spying on them again. That is, how it affects them. I'd have expected them to discuss how it would affect Paige.

I'm not saying they planned it - I realize that they didn't. But if they had planned it, I could see them reacting this way.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[jae]

I actually don't think it even particularly occurred to them that it would affect Paige--and if it did, they probably thought: "well, she brought that on herself, didn't she?" and shrugged it off.

But if Paige is snooping, then it's not just about "how it affects them"--the whole family could be affected. Very dramatically affected. She's a real danger to them right now, and that was the first indication they had of that.

-J

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[katiac]

I dunno. I think they have so much sex for work they're not really shocked by much any more. Paige saw her dad's butt and clearly figured out what was happening with mouths even if she didn't see it. But I wouldn't expect them to treat it like she was going to have her life upended over it. She got an eyeful of more than she needed to know at that age about the mechanics of sexual positioning, but all she really saw was her parents who are committed to each other having sex with each other. It's not like she walked in on them having a threesome with someone else or something that would've been really upsetting.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[treonb]

Paige saw her dad's butt and clearly figured out what was happening with mouths even if she didn't see it.

At her age, in the mid-80s, I'm not sure I would have understood what I was seeing.

Which might explain more why they didn't feel the need to explain anything.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[katiac]

Me neither, lol. But then the bacon scene seemed to suggest she at least knew enough to be squicked out by watching her mom slowly insert something into her mouth.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[treonb]

Heh, yeah. But after all, the show is meant for adults, who would understand what's going on. And kids today aren't as naive.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[treonb]

I take that back.. if Paige really had no idea what she was seeing, then her parents should be very concerned about what's 'going on in that little head of hers'.

Re: Philip and Elizabeth's sex life

[andy73]

At her age, in the mid-80s, I'm not sure I would have understood what I was seeing.

Me too!!!

And i definitely think that was not a setup for Page!!.
I mean, they were together after i don’t how long, after all they’ve been through….

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.)

I love you!!!