Episode discussion post: "Baggage"

[jae]

Aired:
4 February 2015 in the U.S. and Canada

This is a discussion post for episode 302 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 two.)

Original promo trailer

"The Americans 3x02 Promo "Baggage" / This Season on The Americans" (Watch on YouTube)

Episode recaps

From Hitfix
From The AV Club
From The Atlantic
From the LA Times
From Slant Magazine
From IGN
From TV.com
From Sound on Sight
From Geeks of Doom
From TVEquals
From examiner.com
From TV Ate My Wardrobe
From the International Business Times
From Uproxx
From MovieNewsGuide
From MStarz
From Starpulse
From Romance at Random
From SpoilerTV

Comments

[alley_skywalker]

Continuing the theme of the Russian/Afghan war as a current day events parallel:/foreshadowing Sinaida (spelling?) the defector talking about Soviet leadership and invading a foreign country, telling its people what to do, plus Yousaf bringing up with the CIA group that their money goes to the hardcore religious fundamentalists.

Do you mean Ukraine? (Sorry if I'm projecting. The world kinda revolves around Ukraine for Russian families atm lol.)

[selenak]

No, I meant the US invading Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Taliban having their origin in those hardcore fundamentalist groups Yousaf mentions. But the current Ukraine situation certainly has resonance as well!

CIA policy

[lovingboth]

Yep, one of the problems with going for 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' as your policy is that some of them will be your enemies too.