The Americans [FX - Spoilers]

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

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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.

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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.

The Black Oil

1.08

Not as strong as previous ones. The mission (impossible) wasn't as interesting as the others have been, but still had a function within the broader story the international tension, etc. Elizabeth is usually alone when she goes out in a wig, so when Philip popped up to disarm the girl it was surprise. The handgun stuff reminded me of how we've seen feck all of that from the FBI side (that I recall), which is welcome given how they are often portrayed, but then, it's not really within this genre to them to pulling guns each week.

Even without that final scene Martha is bound to be on someone's radar now, or else she'll slip up and leave something in the photocopier. Liked the scene where Nina was trying to get into Stan's head a bit - about being a cop.

Have they done a song montage type ending before?

FloatingVoter

1.09

The American Revolutionary War
America Won.

Reminds me of some of my finer schoolwork.:D

Calibos

Couldn't get into Homeland or Rubicon but am loving this show.

The Black Oil

The kids are taking things pretty hard. Poor Chris and Stan, though. Best scene was Stan's hunting interrogation, he carried the episode, and also a small scene when Philip and Chris looked at each other briefly when Chris was down.

expectationlost

from the previous ep, how did he not know that fbi guy no2 had been going out with the secretary, he realised that then though could have not said oh jealous lover going to bring me down to the fbi hows is that going to look, but it was probably too late by then.

how does fbi guy no1 they get away with shooting somebody

jack presley

How soon after the episode is broadcast does it turn up on the FX website, i.e when will last night's be there?

The Black Oil

1.10

9 minutes in and I didn't even notice the credits hadn't appeared.

The early scene between Phillip and Stan when he was hammered was very good. Re the first scene in the FBI's vault, just Stan and his boss...the faces on the wall were out of focus - any idea if they're politicians, or targets?

Everyone's alone. Philip. Elizabeth. Stan. Nina. Gregory at the end, though it was unlikely that he'd take a ticket to Moscow.

'We're not monsters'.

FloatingVoter

1.11

Bit of a meh episode. Hardly plausible that they'd kidnap and then release unharmed a high ranking US spook. They've probably discredited him in the eyes of his bosses but the fact that they're working as a couple is a valuable piece of info to give away.
Why did Philip have to dress up as Vlad Lenin for his kidnapping disguise ?:rolleyes:

expectationlost

FloatingVoter wrote: »

1.11

Bit of a meh episode. Hardly plausible that they'd kidnap and then release unharmed a high ranking US spook. They've probably discredited him in the eyes of his bosses but the fact that they're working as a couple is a valuable piece of info to give away.
Why did Philip have to dress up as Vlad Lenin for his kidnapping disguise ?:rolleyes:

wonder if the guy was trying to avoid saying that he even acknowledge the death of the generals.

The Black Oil

1.11

Nice Attenborough impersonation, Philip. Not a chance Elizabeth was going to let the Zhukov's death go unanswered, though admittedly I didn't see Granny's play coming. Best scene - probably the final one with Granny, actually. Crossword puzzle bit seemed a little cheesy. I didn't quite catch who struck first in the bathroom scene just as Elizabeth was taking out the needle, but you got to figure the CIA bloke was a little suspicious. At least now they've the intel that it's a couple that are going around. Nina's surely at more risk now in her new post.