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

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[quantumreality]

True; too bad they don't have a Harold Finch who can bribe a jack of all trades underground dentist :P

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[theplatonicnonyeah]

LOL!
You would think that someone being treated for a serious gun wound would not be flying under the radar, unless it was done in secret with someone who is already affiliated with the KGB. So I'm going to file this tooth thing as a deliberate mistake from the writers, because it is needed as a dramatic device. After all, the creators have said that nothing on the show is coincidence and there are clues everywhere. (Which is why it's such fun watching episode several times to spot all the details...)

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[treonb]

I'm starting to wonder, do P&E go to regular doctors? How will Elizabeth explain her gunshot wound on her next physical?

And even if she avoids going to a dentist now for a month or two, what will she say next time she needs a tooth pulled or something? "Oh, I had my face smashed in, but just didn't get around to going to a dentist?"

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[theplatonicnonyeah]

Bahaha! We're spinning a whole story around their medical issues now.

Do people go to regular physicals in the US? In Sweden we generally only go when we're unwell, unless it's something work pays for. (Remember, we don't have that whole insurance system the US has, but sometimes work can pay for regular check-ups as part of your benefits.)

But really, the more I think about it the more probable it seems that this tooth issue is going to play a part in the series and somehow get Stan on their trail. At least if they keep bringing it up during the following episodes.

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[treonb]

Oh, I'm sure it's there as part of the plot.

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[quantumreality]

Yeah, in Canada check-ups or physicals may not always be covered since they may not be "medically necessary" procedures, so I know some people don't go to get them done. It depends on the province.

I imagine P&E, if they do use doctors, use walk-in clinics or the emerg wing as "John/Jane Does", like that case in the pilot with Philip and the man he was working with.

The EMTALA wasn't law at the time, so Directorate S agents probably had a list of hospitals which would not turn away patients for lack of funds for treatment.

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[sistermagpie]

Given where they are physically right now they might be fine having regular check ups. The main identifying scar is Elizabeth's gunshot wound and that, the last time we saw it, was tiny. They do a lot of little first aid stuff at home, but it would probably look normal if they had regular check ups--they probably have insurance and provide their employees with it (I hope!). They might switch doctors periodically to keep anybody from being too intimately connected to them, but for instance, Elizabeth probably had a doctor when she was pregnant and regular check ups.

Re: Elizabeth's tooth issue

[theplatonicnonyeah]

Well, we most certainly got an answer to this question in the third episode! o_0