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

[soupytwist]

They really went for the heavy punches in this episode! The sound they made breaking Annelise's limbs to fit her body in a suitcase was...memorable. And the first shot of Nina showing her literally on the loo! (I only just thought of this but yeah, her life really has gone down the toilet, hah.) And Oleg nearly shooting Stan, and Stan on the phone! Damn.

I really like that we got more specific detail on why Elizabeth specifically thinks recruiting Paige may be a good idea, but it does mean that it's more and more obvious how little we're getting on Philip. They're building up to something big there, I think. (Hope. But I trust these showrunners quite a lot: whatever they're doing here has purpose, I'm sure.)

I thought it was cool to see how far some things have come in the Jennings household: Paige talking to Elizabeth about her dad's weirdness, and the way the conversations between Philip and Elizabeth about her mum went, were SO different than they would have been only a short time ago. And they were discussing SERIOUS SHIT at the travel agency office! OMG, even if those "October receipts" were a billion times neater than any real pile of receipts I've ever seen in my life.

(I got the feeling Philip's "you could see her" as being a desperation thing: like, if you are willing to spend ten hours wearing oxygen gear in a freezing cold shipping crate, then yeah, you can do lots of things.)

I was really glad Sandra didn't get back with Stan. I took her "why" moment as being "why NOW": it might have made a difference, had he said those things a year ago or two years ago, but by now it's much too late. And he said he understood that, but with Stan I find it hard to gauge what he's saying because it seems right or he knows he should, and what he's saying because he truly understands and feels that way. So while I completely believe he really does want to talk to Sandra above anyone...well, he doesn't exactly have anyone else, does he? And he says he knows he can't turn to her any more, but there he is, very clearly turning to her. I mean, those are very HUMAN things to do, and I really feel for him (his phonecall made me choke up, Jesus, that was heartwrending) but I don't get the feeling that Stan is anything like as in control and aware as he wants to think.

Which...is pretty true of most of us really, so.

The defector lady is quite clearly going to die soon, and that makes me sad. I liked the making fun of Reagan moment, though, that rang very true. And is it weird that I kind of love vengeance!Oleg? I think he's doing that with some sort of ok from Arkady (maybe not "yeah let's plan it" and more "I will look the other way if you do what needs to be done"?) but it still makes me happy that Nina has him on her side.

Also: NINA NINA NINA NINA. I love her and I love that she is so brave and smart in a really tough situation. I don't want her Dutch cellmate to be a plant at all but it makes much sense that Nina'd operate on the assumption that she IS. And Oleg's dad. Eep.

Sandra and Stan

[jae]

If Sandra and Stan had gotten back together right there, it would have been just too easy. (So easy it would have taken all the poignancy out of the moment, even.) I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's where things are heading eventually, though, just for narrative reasons.

-J

Re: Sandra and Stan

[sistermagpie]

LOL! I'm just imagining Arthur's reaction if that had happened!

Re: Sandra and Stan

[soupytwist]

HAH, oh, yeah, I wouldn't in a billion years expect them to have Stan and Sandra just back together as a functional couple immediately! I did wonder if some sort of ill advised post-breakup sex or something might be on the cards though, and I'm glad it wasn't. I think they might well end up back together too, but if they do I expect it to take a lot longer and require a lot more stuff to happen!