Question of the week #9

[treonb]

In the pilot, Philip proposes that he and Elizabeth defect to the United States with their family. Nina, too, toys with the idea of defecting to escape persecution for her crimes. We never see inside their heads, though, so it's hard to know what exactly they're thinking over the course of the season.

This week's question: What do you think is going on with that--how do you think the Russian characters' (those two or any others') thoughts on defection change over time?

You can expect spoilers for the entire first season in the comments.

(There's no expiration date on these questions, so if you're reading this post months later and feel like jumping in, please do.)

Comments

[treonb]

As for Nina, I think she was absolutely willing to do it, but for her it was a cost-benefit analysis

You think for Philip it wasn't a cost-benefit analysis? He's not in the same situation as Nina, who was actively pressured by the Americans, but I think he did consider defecting for simple pragmatic reasons. And in the pilot he had the perfect opportunity too.

[jae]

I didn't mean to imply that! I definitely think Philip is a pragmatist (and deep down, probably always has been), so for him it certainly would have been that too.

-J

[quantumreality]

Honestly? I think Philip had three or six million good reasons to defect. With that kind of money you can live the kind of life even only Americans can dream of.

[treonb]

There are more important things, like family.

[jae]

That was clearly part of it, but not all of it.

-J