The Americans [FX - Spoilers]

The Black Oil

Good interview with Rhys. No spoilers for season 3.

Link.

Kilkenny14

Good episode this week. However the sounds from the suitcase will stay with me for a loooong time.

jack presley

Nice cameo from Tony Kornheiser in the bar too (fans of American sports will know him).

But you're right, that suitcase was an awful scene.

drugstore cowboy

Kilkenny14 wrote: »

Good episode this week. However the sounds from the suitcase will stay with me for a loooong time.

IT was horrific.

The Black Oil

Two Russian spies walk into a bar.

3.02

Continuing the show's key habit - understated. Push the characters' emotional pressure points. A few shades of discord between Elizabeth and Philip, Stan is suffering, as usual. Paige gets some profile with a little more adult intellectual curiosity.

The body disposal gymnastics were suitably unsexy. So, too, was the arrival of defector - that first taste of free air, and chocolate. The FBI/CIA relationship is going to be an interesting part of the rest of the season.

Not sure what's going to happen with Nina. Minister for Railways, that's a new one. They had fun with the bit about Reagan visiting the embassy.

'This isn't a prison for innocent people'.

Black Menorca

I just watched episode two now.

I think Elizabeth's patriotic speech at the end has finally convinced Philip to recruit Paige.

Those bones breaking. Ugh.

Nine looks great in a tracksuit top.

Poor Stan. He's lost at sea, emotionally.

I love this show.

Kirby

You know how they say beware of a man who owns a pig farm? Well, not anymore.

Beware the suitcase salesman! And I don't think I'll be able to enjoy the Airport anymore

johnire

Does anyone know when the new series is back on RTE 2?
Thanks.

The Black Oil

I dunno. I'd say email them. They were repeating the show late in the evening/early morning some other week there, iirc.

Fred Swanson

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MagicMarker

I had to take off my headphones for that scene...... jesus.

FloatingVoter

I have a dentists appointment on Tuesday, so the auld fast forward came in handy.

Black Menorca

Philip: Single malt, Irish Whiskey.

Elizabeth: The best of the best.

Yet another good episode.

FloatingVoter

Black Menorca wrote: »

Philip: Single malt, Irish Whiskey.

Elizabeth: The best of the best.

Yet another good episode.

If Russians know one thing, it's alcohol. I'm not often proud of this little rock, but two Russian spies having a midlife crisis while stalking some jerk have put a smile on my face

Crumbs

Damn, that was some episode. I needed a whiskey myself after it.

So the defector that Stan is looking after...

might not be so defectory.

Black Menorca

Crumbs wrote: »

Damn, that was some episode. I needed a whiskey myself after it.

So the defector that Stan is looking after...

might not be so defectory.

He picked up on something during the interview alright.

Kirby

Yup.

"...Tell them what they want to hear. Over and over again....."

Oh Stan you magnificent genius you. Can spot a Trojan horse from a mile off and cant tell that two of them live across the street from him.

FloatingVoter

Back in the 80s at least one high profile defector turned out not to be the real deal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitaly_Yurchenko
And we're moving into the Andropov/ Chernenko period when nobody really knew which life-support case was actually running the Soviet Union. Them were the days.

There was another guy called Penkovsky who was rumoured to have been cremated alive. He wasn't but it makes for good TV.

iguana

And iirc, the TV presenter who was interviewing Zenadia is a KGB asset who pretends to be a pro-US neocon in order to earn trusts that he can use to Soviet advantage.

As for the teeth pulling scene, I never thought it pissible that something could be so utterly horrifying and unspeakably sexy at the same time. It was amazing, I couldn't take my eyes off it, even though I really wanted to.

Black Menorca

iguana wrote: »

And iirc, the TV presenter who was interviewing Zenadia is a KGB asset who pretends to be a pro-US neocon in order to earn trusts that he can use to Soviet advantage.

As for the teeth pulling scene, I never thought it pissible that something could be so utterly horrifying and unspeakably sexy at the same time. It was amazing, I couldn't take my eyes off it, even though I really wanted to.

Agree on all counts.

The Black Oil

Excellent ep. Thomas Schlamme delivers, as usual.

3.03

Firstly, mail robot's back. Every briefing should be done during Scrabble. Phlox? Grand.

The car surveillance was suitably tense. Matched by the tooth removal. I don't mind visiting the dentist, but ouch! Also, Henry. :eek: The rift over Paige continues to bubble through.

Babysitter thingy? Glad Oleg is staying - looking forward to more about stealth, too. Wonder if Stan's going to put his head together with his colleague?

If he starts singing he's a dead man... :pac:

Heraldoffreeent

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Back in the 80s at least one high profile defector turned out not to be the real deal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitaly_Yurchenko
And we're moving into the Andropov/ Chernenko period when nobody really knew which life-support case was actually running the Soviet Union. Them were the days.

There was another guy called Penkovsky who was rumoured to have been cremated alive. He wasn't but it makes for good TV.

His story is covered in the series "The Assets".

rok

with the Brasil World Cup on last summer the schedule for The Americans was moved around a bit and so I missed a few episodes at the end of season 2 - anyone know where I can catch up?

Tried Youtube but don't see full episodes there
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmericansFX/featured

Kirby

rok wrote: »

with the Brasil World Cup on last summer the schedule for The Americans was moved around a bit and so I missed a few episodes at the end of season 2 - anyone know where I can catch up?

Tried Youtube but don't see full episodes there
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmericansFX/featured

I'm sure I'll get a torrent of abuse for saying this but I'm amazed you even need to ask.

The Black Oil

Pretty for typical what this show does. After last week's car surveillance, we ease up on that side of things.

3.04

Some parallels in that teaser, for sure. Later on, I thought Paige was going to announce she wanted to become a nun. Also, holy vinyl, Batman.

I think we knew it was coming, nonetheless, Elizabeth certainly made her intentions clear!

Leniency for Nina? That doesn't sound very Russian, but I suppose when you want information you'll work all your sources. Mind you, it is Oleg's dad, so you never know. Everyone was faking it in this one, basically. I think Stan is right to follow his instincts even though he didn't find anything. Still, the Milky Bar was nice attempt.

I liked the notes of humour that crackled throughout. Now, that ad for body mist, wtf?

Wig of the week - Philip's fake ID bloke. Bonus point for the headphones with orange/red sponge thingies.

Black Menorca

My usual source is letting me down for episode 4.

Fred Swanson

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Black Menorca

Hold on that. Another source has presented itself.

Black Menorca

This show is so good on so many levels!

From last weeks high tension of the car surveillance to this week's introspectiveness. Stan being honest with Sadra and Philip wondering wtf its all about when he has to woo a girl a little older then paige 'for the cause'.

I hope he stands up to Elizabeth on recruiting Paige.

The music, Only You by Yazoo, was the icing on the cake.

FloatingVoter

Bad haircuts....Alison Moyet, Vince Clarke, bad weed....brings a tear to the eye...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdvZa46xb3M

thegreengoblin

Great episode, if only for the revelation that Yazoo were known as Yaz in the States! (for legal reasons). When they were initially talking about the record I thought it was Yazz of The Only Way Is Up fame :pac:

FloatingVoter

thegreengoblin wrote: »

Great episode, if only for the revelation that Yazoo were known as Yaz in the States! (for legal reasons). When they were initially talking about the record I thought it was Yazz of The Only Way Is Up fame :pac:

So did I....would have been a major timeline error. Only when i heard the song at the end did the penny drop.

The Black Oil

Unsurprisingly, ITV have dropped this.

WSJ interview with Holly Taylor who plays Paige. She sounds pretty grounded.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/02/18/the-americans-actress-holly-taylor-on-paiges-big-bombshell/

Calibos

Unlike other popular shows, I don't think there's been a single episode of Americans that I didn't enjoy or where I got bored at any point. Great show.

drugstore cowboy

It's about time Stan started to suspect his neighbours. It will really ramp the tension up.

If the show lasts a few more seasons I can see it ending up with Philip turning against mother Russia and his wife leading to a season long cat n mouse game with his lovely missus with Stan & Paige in the mix.

The Black Oil

Stan needs a vinyl collection!! :pac:

FloatingVoter

The Black Oil wrote: »

Stan needs a vinyl collection!! :pac:

It'd be like Stan to invest heavily in one. CDs are just round the corner.

The Black Oil

CDs - the next chapter in decadent capitalism.

Black Menorca

I wonder how Stan will begin to suspect Elziabeth and Philip. Will they drop the ball is some way? I can't see that happening. Will someone in the Russian Embassy give vital info, eventhough hardly anyone knows their identity in the first place there.


Intriguing...

The Black Oil

it's hard to know alright. I think he'll be mostly glued to the alleged defector and maybe the half sketches Gaad and co. have will keep getting updated based on various wigs! It seems like the show often has the KGB a little bit ahead most of the time, whilst the FBI makes progress in very small steps.

Kilkenny14

Another good episode, the bedroom scene with Philip and Elizabeth was the highlight.

Philip's experiences of spy training were as bad as Elizabeth's. This show is brilliant in showing the realities of espionage.

How is it doing in the ratings?

Black Menorca

Kimberley is younger that Paige! Poor Philip.

Jeez, that training. Scary!!

Another excellent show.

FloatingVoter

Bed hopping was a reality of the life and not as glamorous as we'd like to imagine. I'm beginning to think he could get lifted for the underage sex angle. The kids at the drinking session clocked him as a wrong 'un. Last thing any agent needs is getting a tug and needing to call in their FBI friend for help. Either that or junior gets in trouble for dealing Afghan herb that is way above her street level.

Black Menorca

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Bed hopping was a reality of the life and not as glamorous as we'd like to imagine. I'm beginning to think he could get lifted for the underage sex angle.

That would be very interesting alright.

The Black Oil

3.05

Reflection episode. Those flashbacks were rather creepy.

Press people when they're vulnerable, always.

Yousaf's comments were interesting. Henry gets dinner table some life philosophy and that car death was pretty nasty.

Meanwhile in Olegville...'defections reflect badly on the motherland'.

Black Menorca

Speaking of the car death. Do we know why it had to happen?

The guy worked for Norcorp (or whatever the company's called).

JohnK

Black Menorca wrote: »

Speaking of the car death. Do we know why it had to happen?

The guy worked for Norcorp (or whatever the company's called).

His death cleared the way for the woman Elizabeth was working to get his (now vacant) job in Norcorp which will give the russians access/information etc.

Black Menorca

JohnK wrote: »

His death cleared the way for the woman Elizabeth was working to get his (now vacant) job in Norcorp which will give the russians access/information etc.

Gotcha.

FloatingVoter

^ When it comes to sorting their pals out with jobs the Russians go that extra mile.

Black Menorca

I wonder where Elizabeth got the Labrador from.