treonb (
treonb) wrote in
theamericans2015-10-09 03:10 pm
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Question of the week #60
Elizabeth and Philip would like to see a Communist America. Stan would like Sandra back. But would it really make them happy if they succeeded? What do you think will make our characters feel happy and fulfilled?
You can expect spoilers for the entire first three seasons 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.)
You can expect spoilers for the entire first three seasons 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.)
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(Anonymous) 2015-10-09 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)Philip and Elizabeth? Yes, I think it would.
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(Anonymous) 2015-10-10 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)Now it is more about equilibrium. I think that they care about status quo. Sure they are criticizing USA government and would like to see more socialist approach but they are also criticising Moscow. Something in lines of small changes being better than tsunami one. And I think that they realize that to have communist America there would have to be full scale war.
So my take on it is that they would like to destroy the fear of communism which is common in American minds.
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I just don't see Philip convincing himself that killing is worth it if he's just fighting against the fear of Communism. He's talking about a major goal that would be worth all the struggle.
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And Stan seems like he keeps searching for external solutions to his own inner problems. Whether it's Nina or Sandra, neither's going to make him feel like the man he should be. Nor is getting a big win on his job.
So pretty much all the characters would need some kind of therapy--or something that works like therapy--to be happy. They'd need probably more self-awareness that they're all really lacking at the moment.
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The thing is, even if that did happen I think they would come to realize it was a horrible mistake because unless gifted with incomparably competent leadership, a Communist USA would fall victim to the same problems that befell Brezhnev-era USSR: 'playing it safe', allowing corruption to enter the ranks, and tolerating enormous economic inefficiencies as the price for keeping a society stable and maintaining a police state into the bargain.
It's kind of ironic that Philip masqueraded as a Swedish spy, considering the Swedes are pretty much renowned for mixing together capitalism with the decidedly socialistic aspects of the welfare state.
As for Stan, I think he wants the *idea* of Sandra back - the wife and 2.5 kids idyllic 'verse that outwardly, to him, should therefore also mean inward mental peace for him.
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Why is it ironic? Do you think Philip would prefer the Swedish model?
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If Philip would seriously consider a welfare state as an alternative, he might as well go through with his plan to defect.