The Americans [FX - Spoilers]

2.03

No way that letter could survive. Good scene, mind.

Obviously the kids were the big theme of this one. Good man, Henry - keep nerding it up. As for Paige's 'technically a hamburger', oh did I lol at that! A little bit of the paranoia that's been floating around had me thinking that her field trip would involve us seeing her being followed, but we don't need that when aunt Helen's a layer to keep things at bay. Philip can do the angry dad thing without spitting fire.

The 'Jackie' wig was a little odd, but mix it with a crow bar, I tell ya.

Stan said the 3 words. You could see the wheels turning in Nina's head.

Scalping tickets be capitalist, yo!

expectationlost wrote: »

he didn't tell her about her trip?

Didn't seem like it..?

2.04

I just really like how this show works and brings its different elements together.

The Claudia and Elizabeth relationship picked up right where it left off. Obviously the fight at the end echoed Claudia's concern. The story Elizabeth told the sailor was pretty disturbing and convincing, one review mentioned that it mirrored what we heard/saw in the pilot.

Some sort of investigation into Gaad was inevitable. I like him. Meanwhile, Oleg dials up the nepotism to get access. His talk with Nina was interesting, one for the future, maybe? Remember, in Soviet Russia, you call everyone by their full name! Wonder what Martha's next move is.

The reaction to Paige's praying at dinner made me laugh. Poor Henry just can't catch a break.

2.05

Necessarily grim and unsexy at times, but very strong episode overall. Turn the screws into pretty much every character. Some self-doubt for Paige and Elizabeth adds her own extraction (and presumably sex envy!) into the mix.

Really liked Philip's scenes with the Mossad bloke (Cliff Simon, AKA, Baal in Stargate) - two opposing philosophies, without shouting or explosions. It's usually a sign of death when a character starts going on about where they grew up, etc, so it was good that the Mossad bloke wasn't killed. Think the camera closing in on Philip when he was called a monster might be telling, who knows? Maybe not. Oleg's (student of capitalism, ya see) chat with Stan was inevitable, he had to stick his head into the field at some point. Glad to see Gaad is still around equal or junior though he now is, at least he can help with the grunt work of intelligence. n00b handler, we'll see. Solid final scene, back to domestic normality with an alarm buzzer.

'Is President Reagan personally scaling our walls wearing his cowboy hat? We are better at vodka; they are better at cigarettes.' Class

2.07

Not the best episode they've done, lacking something. The core mission remains in tact and is still mostly interesting around the edges, and with the build up and the key players.

The positives were the general geekiness and the polygraph stuff. The internet, sorry, computer handshake at the post office, hmm. I did like Philip's wig with the glasses. Even Henry got some profile here and Oleg's a gospel music nerd, who'd a thunk it?

Nina/Oleg polygraph prep in English was decent enough. They do seem to be leaving it open to interpretation as to her status. Stan's obviously got investigative creds, yet it's hard to shake the feeling he's emotionally compromised, but it did feel like there was a crumb or two there to suggest the noose isn't far from Nina.

'Squeeze your anus' - think we'll all remember that one.

2.08

Well, who hasn't done a little air guitar in the driveway on a winter morning?! And feckin' hell, is everyone playing computer games, even Oleg? :P He seems a tad overconfident, no?

Welcome to the stealth era and welcome back to Vasili. Mother Russia isn't easy - indeed. A rough week for the commies and emotionally for everyone, really. The submarine propellor thing was clear once Kate was upset. Harsh. You could see the contrast in Philip compared to his earlier discussion about life in America.

Poor Henry. I did feel rather sorry for him in the end. Credit to the actor for actually carrying the scene rather well without it being mawkish. Kitchen, forest and Stan's bureaucrat scenes were rather well done, too.

2.10

Tough enough mission this week, good to hear about Afghanistan. Also a reminder that domestic ones i.e., raising Paige*, isn't easy, either. The usual sex/death juxtaposition. Annelise's self-digust breakdown seemed inevitable. I don't envy Philip listening in, he looked well in his Swedish intelligence suit, mind. *'3 months? That's the summer - it's summer camp!' Social values, careful now!

Maximum use of the snow and good to hear Amador hasn't been forgotten. Gaad had a nice catch with the briefcase, but the pen returns. I tell ya, Larrick was pretty damn scary going through that house with the young family.

Did you spot the Crimea reference in the Nina/Oleg subtitles? Eh...

MAD - keeps the world spinning.