Episode discussion post: "EST Men"
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theamericansAired:
28 January 2015 in the U.S. and Canada
This is a discussion post for episode 301 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 three, episode one.)
Original promo trailer
Episode recaps (including some early-season generalities)
From Grantland
From Vox 1 and 2
From Vulture
From Hitfix
From the Washington Post
From TIME
From the New York Times
From Slate
From Hollywood Reporter
From Slant
From Salon
From the Washington Post
From the New Republic
From Yahoo 1 and 2
From the AV Club
From the Atlantic
From the Boston Globe
From Entertainment Weekly
From TV Guide
From Spoiler TV
From theworkprint.com
From IndieWire 1 and 2
From Slant
From Variety
From thedailynews.com
From Geeks of Doom
From Starpulse
From TV Equals
From Screenrant
From We Got This Covered
28 January 2015 in the U.S. and Canada
This is a discussion post for episode 301 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 three, episode one.)
Original promo trailer
Episode recaps (including some early-season generalities)
From Grantland
From Vox 1 and 2
From Vulture
From Hitfix
From the Washington Post
From TIME
From the New York Times
From Slate
From Hollywood Reporter
From Slant
From Salon
From the Washington Post
From the New Republic
From Yahoo 1 and 2
From the AV Club
From the Atlantic
From the Boston Globe
From Entertainment Weekly
From TV Guide
From Spoiler TV
From theworkprint.com
From IndieWire 1 and 2
From Slant
From Variety
From thedailynews.com
From Geeks of Doom
From Starpulse
From TV Equals
From Screenrant
From We Got This Covered
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 01:00 pm (UTC)Gabriel being the old/new handler was the one thing I got accidentally spoiled for last month, but other than that, I managed to remain unspoiled, and a great experience that was, too. Speaking of Gabriel, hello, Frank Langella! Obviously a father figure to P & E, and the hugging, not the distant type of father figure, too, and it makes sense that the Centre would bring him back now. But they wouldn't if they weren't sure his loyalties were to the Cause above P & E. Speaking of loyalties, the great thing about these characters with lies as their profession is that you can't tell whether Elizabeth means what she tells Gabriel (getting Paige ideologically ready) or what she tells Philip (just saying that to get the Centre of our back) or whether both aren't true (Elizabeth wouldn't want anyone else interferring with her daughter, but the idea that Paige will eventually be ready to hear the truth about her and accept it, even join, is still incredibly seductive to her).
Stan and Philip at EST were priceless. BTW, I'm with them - it sounds like absolute rubbish. Though I'm also with Sandra in that Stan keeping lying to her to avoid confrontation is absolutely systematic of why their marriage broke apart (and she can still read him like a book).
Elizabeth's tape from her mother: I was surprised at first that we didn't get any subtitles. Then I thought, maybe it's because the Centre is putting some extra pressure on Elizabeth (who is ideologically more reliable generally) re: Paige and that's what the mother says, some sort of blackmail. But I suppose it was simply to build up the later revelation scene with Philip, i.e. that her mother is sick. Oh, and the fact Gabriel has a tape for Elizabeth and none for Phiilp confirms my theory Philip has no living relations in Russia, methinks.
I don't get why Elizabeth didn't get rid of her wig and glasses look as soon as she was out of sight of that bar? Seems to be solely for a Doylist reason (so that Gaad doesn't get to see her real look later).
CIA sexism making a female CIA agent, Charlotte, nearly become a mole: no sympathy for the CIA here. It's probably pretty realistic. Once again we see Elizabeth being a good spy: she picks up on Charlotte having changed her mind and thinks of wiping her glass for prints before leaving immediately.
Stan teaching Martha how to shoot: that Chekovian gun is so going to get used this season, I tell you. Along with the Chekovian glasses: they might give Stan the idea of having some do another sketch of their female Illegal, without them. But I'm not clear on how the show would justify him figuring out P & E's identities this season if they want to continue.
Also: speaking of set up, I wonder whether Stan will make a deal - Nina versus deserter the FBI is supposed to protect now?
Arkady and Oleg: Nina not reporting two of her meetings with Stan is a bit of a retcon, but I don't think it necessarily means Nina was in love with Stan, just that she was keeping some information to herself to trade, just in case. (The way she never told Stan about the Weinberger clock even before coming clean with Arkady.) Anyway, Oleg continuing to want helping her regardless of her emotions for whomever is very sympathetic. But Arkady is right, Oleg really can't blurt out his true thoughts in their type of society. The new character, Tatiana, looks a bit like Agent Scully, I thought.
And speaking of people who shouldn't reveal the truth, poor Annalise. For someone who started out as pretty one dimensional, she certainly became affecting. The show keeps Philip on the grey side of morally ambiguous by letting him not figure out what is likely happening until the lamp falls (and then reacting at once), but also, professional that he is, using the situation immediately to get leverage on Yousef.
Past as comment on the present: the Afghanistan execution video, obviously. Methinks our writers have a "these were the demons we conjured up ourselves" message going on.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 01:12 pm (UTC)Stan doesn't have to live to tell what he's found out. The show could survive without him...
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 06:20 pm (UTC)Stan's life expectancy
Date: 2015-01-29 06:39 pm (UTC)If Stan is going to be killed, it will be Martha's gun that shoots him, quite possibly with her holding it at the time and being given a choice of saving Clark or Stan. She (thinks she) knows what Stan thinks of her, and if he tried to harm her husband...
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 02:44 pm (UTC)Actually, didn't they complain about "where Gabriel was" way back in Season 1? ISTR Claudia showing up was a bit of a surprise to P&E.
Past as comment on the present: the Afghanistan execution video, obviously. Methinks our writers have a "these were the demons we conjured up ourselves" message going on.
I thought so too. The subject has been mooted ever since September 11, 2001 when it was realized especially early on by some folks that OBL was part of the same CIA/ISI backed mujahedeen groups that once fought the Soviets and later, Najibullah's government.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 06:19 pm (UTC)re: Afghanistan, I had the impression they were going for this in the s2 opening scene with Philip and the Afghans, too, but here the massage really was blatant, given they chose an execution video.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 03:35 pm (UTC)My vote is that she was telling Gabriel the truth but that she's lying to herself about just how enthusiastic she is about this for personal reasons. I think she knows she's lying to Philip but thinks of herself as just softening the blow to him because his position is impossible. So, like, as usual she's hiding behind the Centre's orders just a little bit.
Of course, that's almost impossible to avoid with this situation!
Nina not reporting two of her meetings with Stan
Date: 2015-01-29 07:53 pm (UTC)I don't think it's a retcon because it doesn't CHANGE the information that we had about her last season, just adds to it. I think it was in there for narrative reasons--they had to have a believable explanation for pragmatic Arkady to be less sympathetic to Nina now than he had been, without making him less sympathetic a character in the process.
-J
Trading Nina for the deserter
Date: 2015-01-29 10:41 pm (UTC)That is a fascinating option. I really hope Stan doesn't do it, because it would make him even more pathetic than he was through S2, but I'd love to read about it :-)