Episode discussion post: "Echo"

[jae]

Aired:
21 May 2014 in the U.S. and Canada
25 May 2014 in Israel
7 June 2014 in the UK

This is a discussion post for episode 213 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 thirteen.)

Original promo trailer

"The Americans Season 2 Episode 13 Promo - Echo [HD] The Americans 2x13 Promo" (Watch on YouTube)

Episode recaps

From Grantland
From Time
From the Washington Post
From Rolling Stone
From the AV Club
From Hitfix
From IGN
From the Huffington Post: Karen Fratti, Maureen Ryan
From Vulture
From Variety
From the Tampa Bay Times
From Sound on Sight
From Collider
From Paste Magazine
From Gawker
From the Cloture Club
From tv.com
From tvrage.com
From Headline Planet
From spoilertv.com (in French)
From TV Ate My Wardrobe
From GAMbIT Magazine
From showratings.tv
From Comments Enabled
From Boob Tube Dude
From Unreality Primetime (UK)

Comments

Re: Would Paige work for the KGB?

[sistermagpie]

Reading this comment again I realized that the phrase "after a lot of work" really jumped out as its own issue. Because if they were working on her to convince her, I think Elizabeth would see that as making Paige understand things, while Philip would see it as not letting Paige be what she wanted to be. Like he'd see it as an act of control/aggression/hostility, like he'd want to accept her first choice while Elizabeth would see her not understanding the truth at first. It's a whole other issue of seeing Paige as an asset to be worked--which brings in they themselves as assets that were worked. Scary thread to pull even if they both believe in the cause.

Re: Would Paige work for the KGB?

[jae]

I know, there's just so much juicy territory to be explored there! And all that without even actually telling Paige anything.

-J