The Americans [FX - Spoilers]

JP Liz V1

Starts 30th of January 2013 on FX (US)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lLDzILu5EA

Looks good and nice to see a show set in the 80s again

_Kaiser_

From Wikipedia :

The Americans is an upcoming American television series which will premiere on January 30, 2013 on the FX network. It is a 1980s Cold War drama.[1]
The premise is that a group of Soviet KGB officers have been trained to impersonate American citizens, so that each one can become a sleeper agent, with a cover which may even include an unwitting spouse and family.

Anyone heard about this? Saw an ad on a footie stream today - Looks interesting, kinda like Homeland in the 80s maybe? (but I love all that 80's Cold War stuff anyway).

Here's a trailer (not sure why it repeats twice but nevermind):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gth9kl2Q4I0

JP Liz V1

ITV has picked it up

Mr E

Threads merged.

Watching the first episode and enjoying it. There's nothing truly original or groundbreaking here but the concept has a hell of a lot of potential and the cast are very good. From the first episode it's clear that the most interesting aspect is the tension between the two leads and how they've adapted to living undercover for so many years. The day to day mundanities of their life are really well handled and its here that the show really shines.

I really hope that the show does something beyond the basic mission of the week thing as this is one of those shows that could so easily turn into a 13 hour film or even worse a watered down and generic Homeland in the 80s.

JP Liz V1

Well I liked the pilot especially the music, interesting that the FBI agent is living near them dont think it is coincidence and is it wrong to root for the spys here I do think Rhys's character Philip has deep feelings really for his wife, anyways will stick with it

JP Liz V1

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Well I liked the pilot especially the music, interesting that the FBI agent is living near them dont think it is coincidence and is it wrong to root for the spys here I do think Rhys's character Philip has deep feelings really for his wife, anyways will stick with it

I think our pretty clear that he loves her and would do anything for her and his kids. He would happily betray his country if it meant that his family could be safe and secure. The wife on the other hand seems to love him but not quite in the same manner, It's an interesting dynamic and will most likely provide the back bone to the shows overall story arch.

As for the agent moving it next door, its most likely abcoincidence and will be used to amp up the tension over the coming 12 episodes.

DeWitt

Loved it. Love Elizabeth & Phillip. Love Rhys & Russell. Solid casting, and Michael Gaston is just the cherry on top. He's always guesting on quality shows.

The Black Oil

Has potential is the key, I think. It was OK-alright. I found a little difficult to connect with or believe in the main characters. Picked up once they got the new neighbour, what came before that was pretty much dross. Thought it looked a bit cheap and dated. Not 80s dated, more TV reruns dated. Pacing was solid. Still, though, I think it's interesting to see the view from the other side, natively so to speak.

notfromhere

is this on fox uk anytime soon

_Kaiser_

Just finished watching the pilot there now. As noted above the interaction and tension between the 2 leads is great and the wife is definitely the stronger of the two.

Love the music as well (no gorillas needed)

Impressive start anyway and will keep watching - I miss the 80s!

The Black Oil

Watched it again. Funny how they went out of the way to show you certain things - daughter with her typewriter, son with the comic, and the cups of tea... Hope not too much happens in the garage. It's potentially where a lot of sneaky/bad stuff happens, if the husband is there, the wife knows, and vice versa - they could rely on it too much.

thegreengoblin

I was very impressed with this and it has so much potential. Rhys and Russell were really good and Noah Emerich as the FBI guy was fantastic. Starting off with an action sequence worked very well here and there was no let-up in tension throughout right until the very last scene. I'm a big 80s fan, and it's great to see a show set in that era which is also completely contemporary too.

Couple of quibbles though! The clips where we saw Elizabeth and Philip back in the 60s were meant to be 20 years earlier but they looked more or less as they do now. Obviously it's harder to make people look a lot younger but maybe going back 15 years might have been more realistic although that wouldn't have given them much time to settle in and have kids, etc, so I think there's just a bit of artistic licence being used here.

Also, when they drove off in the middle of the night to bury the body did they just think it was okay to leave the kids at home? They even had time for a shag! Similarly with the opening scene, are the kids being looked after while mom and dad head out into the night on KGB business involving honey-traps and running around the streets chasing their prey? Does this sort of stuff happen regularly or were both incidents one-offs? What do the kids make of the fact that they have no grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins? Maybe they have that stuff taken care of, we just haven't seen it yet.

But it's very promising, and it was good to have an extended pilot episode because it certainly didn't feel rushed.

The Black Oil

I thought the makeup team did a pretty good job - with Philip anyway. The amount of sex (and the rape) was a little silly, cheap.

The Black Oil

The Black Oil wrote: »

I thought the makeup team did a pretty good job - with Philip anyway. The amount of sex (and the rape) was a little silly, cheap.

I had no issue with the rape, it was relatively well handled and nowhere near as exploitive as what you'd find in an average episode of CSI or Criminal Minds.

The Black Oil

The Black Oil wrote: »

I thought the makeup team did a pretty good job - with Philip anyway. The amount of sex (and the rape) was a little silly, cheap.

I had no issue with the rape, it was relatively well handled and nowhere near as exploitive as what you'd find in an average episode of CSI or Criminal Minds.

JohnK

thegreengoblin wrote: »

Also, when they drove off in the middle of the night to bury the body did they just think it was okay to leave the kids at home? They even had time for a shag! Similarly with the opening scene, are the kids being looked after while mom and dad head out into the night on KGB business involving honey-traps and running around the streets chasing their prey? Does this sort of stuff happen regularly or were both incidents one-offs? What do the kids make of the fact that they have no grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins? Maybe they have that stuff taken care of, we just haven't seen it yet.

The daughter was probably watching her brother rather than them needing a babysitter. I think they said the daughter is 13 during that scene in the shop so it wouldn't be stretch for her to be considered old enough for the job - certainly in the context of the 80's when young teens were regularly doing a lot of babysitting. As for the rest, all they'd have to say is the parents were both only children and their own parents are dead.

JP Liz V1

notfromhere wrote: »

is this on fox uk anytime soon

Spy drama The Americans is to become the first US acquisition to play on
ITV’s flagship channel since Pushing Daisies, after the broadcaster bought the
spy drama from Twentieth Century Fox Television

Expect it later in the year on ITV

Jax Teller

Love the line by the wife " The moon isn't everything , getting into space is a remarkable achievement "

Headshot

Just watched the 1st episode there. Very impressive I thought

I think ill be adding this to the must see shows each week

Richard Dower

The second episode bombed in the ratings, consensus suggest a lot tuned in to check out the show, hated it and didn't tune in the following week.....

_Kaiser_

Second episode definitely wasn't as strong I thought. Still watchable but it missed the tension of last week.

Has this been picked up for a full season or would I be better off filing it for a few weeks and seeing how it pans out?

Headshot

ya the 2nd episode was such a let down

It would put me off watching the rest (it was that bad)

The Black Oil

Good second episode. I like the opening credits.

The FBI guy's pretty cool, he'll continue to test them, but I think they need to be careful on that aspect so that it's not repetitive. They're making it seem like both sides are moving closer to their objectives, but it's millimetres, really. Don't think Elizabeth will go soft despite this episode. The decade makes it fun...no overly fancy digital gadgets. Just tapes and a well-placed device.

_Kaiser_

The Black Oil wrote: »

The decade makes it fun...no overly fancy digital gadgets. Just tapes and a well-placed device.

Actually I noticed one slip? He has a set of in-ear bud headphones on when he's listening in the car. I don't think they were around back then?

thegreengoblin

Really enjoyed that episode. I think it's settling down quickly, which should give each episode room to breathe.

I hope it picks up the viewers again, it deserves a chance to at least get to the end of the series!

squonk

I found the second episode quite good myself. Certainly nothing arose that would make me just give up on the show straight off. Episode 1 was better however. It almost seemed like a different show. One thing I particularly loved was the music and how fleetwood Mac and Phil Collins were all knitted together so nicely with the show's actual score. it was really marvellous. Sadly there was none of this in episode 2 and probably we won't see any more of it either. Maybe it's just me but I thought the In The Air Tonight scene with them both in the car was a very nice nod to a fairly well known scene from Miami Vice all those years ago. It was small things like that that really pushed the show over the bar for me and I'm kind of sorry to see them not continue, though the story is still quite engaging but I need to see a few more episodes to get a good feel for this.

mrkite77

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Actually I noticed one slip? He has a set of in-ear bud headphones on when he's listening in the car. I don't think they were around back then?

Sure they were. In-ear crystal earpieces have been around since the 60s.



Primarily used with transistor radios.

DeWitt

Another fantastic episode. That ending was especially haunting. Poor Joyce, and the fact that they didn't actually show it happening to her makes it all the more traumatic. Also loved Derek Luke as Gregory, and the grab scene was exceptional film work. Beautiful.

The Black Oil

1.03

Very solid episode. FBI guy is a real details man in going back to figure out how they lost the woman on the surveillance. Certainly had a sixth sense twitch when he figured out it was an operation that disappeared her, just a bit before they chased that guy from the truck yard. Liked the scene where the carousel was intercut with the grab. Not sure where the Gregory bloke fits into things, hello, operation Disguise of the Week. And the blind spot bit, 'cause that's not a cue to go all Jason Bourne with a brief case...Philip and Elizabeth must have a pretty good babysitter if they can spy all day long. Wonder if they're setting up his relationship with the daughter in that she may call him on his BS. Figured that coffee shop woman, sorry, Granny would fit into things somewhere.

'Where she leads us might be far more interesting than anything she might say'. Not any more, tough ending despite knowing it was coming.

thegreengoblin

Excellent episode, the best yet. The ending, while not unexpected, was really moving although the actual handover to 'Granny' was even better as you knew what was coming down the line. I also thought the scene where Elizabeth was explaining her affair with Gregory was first class as was the other scene at the end where she tells Philip she does actually love him. And Agent Beeman was class as usual!
This is brilliant television. Tight, smartly-written storylines that have a good emotional kick to them. It will be interesting to find out the ratings for this episode, hopefully the series will pick up again.

FloatingVoter

Hope this gets picked up for a second season. No hype and it has already left Homeland in the shade.

I knew they weren't going to leave her in the socialist workers paradise that is Cuba but chilling ending all the same

.

Technocentral

I was really looking forward to this and after just watching the first episode was very disappointed, I love Cold War era stuff (the recent Tinker, Tailor ... film being a great example of it done well) and don't know why its not used more in contemporary TV and film as a plot line as there is huge milage for great drama, but this was mostly amateurish, low brow and soap opera like, the main couple as Soviet agents were totally unconvincing and the whole thing seems really contrived, its more like the quality of mediocre action shows such as JAG than the great shows that rival Networks are now making like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Boss and the great House Of Cards, I don't think Netflix, AMC, Starz and HBO have anything to be worried about. Its a missed opportunity but hopefully one of the other Networks will commission a really good show based on this era soon.

ejmaztec

Technocentral wrote: »

I was really looking forward to this and after just watching the first episode was very disappointed, I love Cold War era stuff (the recent Tinker, Tailor ... film being a great example of it done well) and don't know why its not used more in contemporary TV and film as a plot line as there is huge milage for great drama, but this was mostly amateurish, low brow and soap opera like, the main couple as Soviet agents were totally unconvincing and the whole thing seems really contrived, its more like the quality of mediocre action shows such as JAG than the great shows that rival Networks are now making like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Boss and the great House Of Cards, I don't think Netflix, AMC, Starz and HBO have anything to be worried about. Its a missed opportunity but hopefully one of the other Networks will commission a really good show based on this era soon.

The excuse for that could be that they're not supposed to be convincing as Soviet agents, especially after the rigorous training they had to fit in as apple-pie eating white picket fence Americans.

Technocentral

ejmaztec wrote: »

The excuse for that could be that they're not supposed to be convincing as Soviet agents, especially after the rigorous training they had to fit in as apple-pie eating white picket fence Americans.

I understand that but for example in the flashbacks they all speak English including all their superiors, just lazy and aimed at a totally mainstream audience who can't hack a few subtitles, them as their teenage selves looked totally unconvincing so they could easily have cast young similar looking Russian speaking actors to lend a bit of authenticity which the whole thing is lacking, I just think that a better Network and writers/directors would have made it more authentic and convincing and pandered less to totally mainstream expectations. If they were films I would compare its approach to "Valkyrie" with Tom Cruise (fake) as opposed "Downfall" (authentic). If anyone is interested in that era I would recommend the German film "The Lives Of Others" and there is a great recent French Cold War film called "Farewell" set around 1981 that gets it bang on (its on US Netflix):

The Black Oil

I can kinda see where you're coming from, TC, though I don't really agree. The Lives of Others was great and I liked TTSS - haven't seen the series. I haven't seen Farewell, must check it out, thanks. Have you seen Rubicon? A one season wonder, more human intelligence gathering than standard fare spy genre stuff.

On the cheapness point, I suppose it does look at little Brillo pad ish. The soap opera side doesn't bother me at all as it might depict what a real marriage can be like unlike a lot of TV dramas, and the 'real-fake' ish part of it is interesting, imo. The flashbacks in English, yeah you could question that, I suppose, but iirc, when Elizabeth and Elizabeth first met they were fluent in English at that point, and another flashback had shown her combat instructor correcting her verbal English, I think. Maybe they didn't want to have any encounters in their native tongue to prevent them slipping back. Or maybe they are being a bit lazy. Can see what you mean with Valkyrie and Downfall, but mainstream Hollywood versus small though very well-received film. Would be interesting to see a German take on Valkyrie all the same.

I haven't read any interviews with the writers/producers/showrunner of The Americans, so it it'd be interesting to hear their thoughts about some of this stuff.

expectationlost

the whole point of the story is that they've been there for 15 years, and have they gone soft.

Technocentral

The Black Oil wrote: »

I can kinda see where you're coming from, TC, though I don't really agree. The Lives of Others was great and I liked TTSS - haven't seen the series. I haven't seen Farewell, must check it out, thanks. Have you seen Rubicon? A one season wonder, more human intelligence gathering than standard fare spy genre stuff.

On the cheapness point, I suppose it does look at little Brillo pad ish. The soap opera side doesn't bother me at all as it might depict what a real marriage can be like unlike a lot of TV dramas, and the 'real-fake' ish part of it is interesting, imo. The flashbacks in English, yeah you could question that, I suppose, but iirc, when Elizabeth and Elizabeth first met they were fluent in English at that point, and another flashback had shown her combat instructor correcting her verbal English, I think. Maybe they didn't want to have any encounters in their native tongue to prevent them slipping back. Or maybe they are being a bit lazy. Can see what you mean with Valkyrie and Downfall, but mainstream Hollywood versus small though very well-received film. Would be interesting to see a German take on Valkyrie all the same.

I haven't read any interviews with the writers/producers/showrunner of The Americans, so it it'd be interesting to hear their thoughts about some of this stuff.

You make some good points, I wasn't saying it was cheap though, the production design and period detail is very good and the acting apart from the husband is also decent. I just don't find it good enough to continue watching like the other shows I mentioned, hadn't heard of Rubicon must check.it out and do check out Farewell its entertaining as well as smart and "authentic".

Mr E

FX have ordered a 2nd season.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/02/21/fx-orders-second-season-of-the-americans-544113/20130221fx01/

The Black Oil

Tc, the first couple of episodes of Rubicon might be a bit of a slog (though I liked them, iirc), the showrunner/creator left after that. It's pretty slow burn.

--

1.04

Good episode, some good lines, too. Liked how the attempt on Reagan's life wasn't overplayed for dramatics, but I get the feeling some people will tag this as a 'nothing really happened' episode. It was really about everyone's reactions. The first scene in FBI HQ definitely seemed to have the camera pull slightly towards the portrait of Reagan before they learned of the shooting. You can see how uneasy Elizabeth is with what some of her daughter is learning in school, or at least what's coming out of her mouth. I suppose her greatest unease, though, is differences between herself and Philip - they sure traded a few barbs in this one, eh? I wonder if the daughter and her new friend might start sniffing around the garage and stumble across stuff from the buried treasure box, maybe not. Not sure the FBI's source will survive the season. They might have to be careful with the number of times Elizabeth and Philip pop over the Beeman as neighbours, though.

The Black Oil

If you've any interest in spy stuff I'd says also check out BBC journalist Peter Taylor's documentary - Modern Spies. He interviews a couple of serving MI5/MI6 officers.

Episode 1.05

Again, a few uneasy moments between Philip and Elizabeth. As for the car boot ninja stuff - bit of a stretch, but I kinda liked it for the ballsiness of it. Got to figure the FBI's source at the embassy is for the chop before any exfil, and possibly also the FBI woman Philip was talking to when he was 'Clark'. What Elizabeth went through was pretty uncomfortable to watch, but she could take him if she wanted to. Beeman's obviously putting every working hour into the case.

expectationlost

bit dangerous to suddenly giving the russian diplomat a blowjob you would think this beautiful women suddenly want to have sex with you would set off alarms bells, think the russian sectary will be getting involved with somebody else soon

The Black Oil

Yeah, it'll set off alarm bells, particularly when think about how elsewhere in that episode Elizabeth, whilst undercover, was asking the guy (whom she later killed) about whether anyone had made sexual advances towards him.

I hadn't a clue Matthew Rhys was Welsh, strange to hear him speak in his normal accent.

Anyway, here's a pretty cool small promo for the show from December. Some other stuff on the page worth checking out. As usual with Youtube, the comments turn into a political cluster****.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OjxF8J9vgY

The Black Oil

1.06

Excellent episode. An unexpected grab at the start making you think this was going to be a mid series jump forward only to then pull the rug from under you. Think the assault on Granny was a tad unnecessary, though I guess if you want to send a message to Moscow that's one way. Not a chance they were going to break Elizabeth physically, so a mind **** of family photos was a good tool if it turned out to be the CIA/FBI for real. Once again it's the conflict between Elizabeth and Philip that comes to the fore, and the stakes for Nina and Beeman were also cranked up. Good job with the tea, and generally how the show is making everyone more suspicious than they already are. Nice job with the bottle, Henry, though I'm slightly concerned that that's twice now Paige has been used to attract the attention of perverts and weirdos.

Crumbs

I love this show. It started off great and keeps getting better. The most promising new show since, well, Rubicon!

DeWitt

Beeman's wife has been promoted to a season regular for season 2. Wonder where they're going to go with that one?

The Black Oil

1.07

Not as strong this week, but still solid and any show that has a teenager using the word 'incorrigible' gets points in the plus column. So travel conferences do exist, eh? It was hard not to spot the World Trade Centre... Good to see that the honey trap can be used for something other than getting information, though I would like to see such a set up go wrong and someone call them out as commies just for the fun of it. Good scene between Granny and Liz on the bench in the park. Beeman's marriage is obviously crumbling more - sloppy for him to sleep with Nina, and his wife's main scene was to mirror Philip and Liz's relationship, partners, long hours, etc...at least that now might have a chance of healing. Duty and honour ain't just about a flag or service.

Must look up some of Reagan's speeches from this era.

expectationlost

not sure what made them fallin love after 15years,

the increased thought of them being caught and it all going away?

FloatingVoter

expectationlost wrote: »

not sure what made them fallin love after 15years,

the increased thought of them being caught and it all going away?

Being stuck together in a cage (this time the cage is their false identity) will always draw people closer together. That and the fact that they both love the two kids - they just have a normal long term marriage without having gone through the moon in June honeymoon period.

expectationlost

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Being stuck together in a cage (this time the cage is their false identity) will always draw people closer together. That and the fact that they both love the two kids - they just have a normal long term marriage without having gone through the moon in June honeymoon period.

but why after 15 years, why not after 10 years or 5 years? why now

vepyewwo

but why after 15 years, why not after 10 years or 5 years? why now

My impression is that Philip has been in love with Elizabeth for a very long time, it was her who was keeping their marriage as a business arrangement all these years. I think the turning point came in the pilot when Philip killed Timoshev, the KGB defector who they were hiding in their garage, who had raped Elizabeth as a 17 year old recruit. Elizabeth realised Philip didn't do this because it was part of their mission or because he was following orders -he killed him because he had hurt Elizabeth. He did it for her.

I'm really enjoying this series so far. It's the show I most look forward to at the moment.