jae: (theamericansgecko)
Jae ([personal profile] jae) wrote in [community profile] theamericans2015-02-04 07:45 pm
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Episode discussion post: "Baggage"

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



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
saraqael: (Default)

Re: Identity via roles

[personal profile] saraqael 2015-02-12 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
I suspect that you're correct that Stan doesn't know why he wanted to be with Sandra. That's so tragic, though. When he was with Nina, I always questioned if he truly loved her or if he just loved the weird situation she was in (spying on her own team for him).

You're correct about Elizabeth: she wants to be the perfect, unflinching soldier but she also is strangely vulnerable and needs to have her choices validated. I don't think she can comprehend how Philip could chose family over duty. The concept is alien to her. I agree: It's got to be painful for her to cling to the idea that the State trumps all other aspects of her life, including her own emotions and needs. When she talks about her feelings, it is Elizabeth the Spy talking, not simply Elizabeth. Her own emotions and needs frighten her.