The Americans

[tammyy2j]

I enjoyed the pilot but I do like Matthew Rhys

[Perdita]

22nd June 2013


Episode four:

President Reagan is shot. Both nations' agencies are eager to learn if the other was involved.

After completing their first mission of questioning Reagan's nurses who ensure he will survive, the Jennings learn they are to mark key U.S. officials for future sniper hits.

This leads to their discovery that Secretary of State Alexander Haig, who has assumed control of the U.S., also has the codes to possibly launch a nuclear war. Elizabeth panics, wishing to inform the Soviets, but Philip insists on further investigation.

They see Stan Beeman arrive home and go to learn what he knows. He gives John Hinckley, Jr.'s motivation behind the attempt and Elizabeth mentions thinking Stan investigated spies. There was a concern the Soviets might have been involved but that was quickly refuted.

As Stan and his wife grow farther apart, Philip and Elizabeth get closer, even knowing that withholding knowledge of Haig's complete temporary power could get them killed.

[Perdita]

29th June


COMINT

Elizabeth meets with Adam Dorwin, a manager of a private company contracted by the U.S. government for the missile defense program.

Dorwin is later revealed to be KGB Agent Udacha, who feels nervous and alone because the KGB cannot contact him out of fear the FBI will move in.

The FBI has new encrypted radios so the KGB cannot tell when they are being followed.

Elizabeth turns her focus on another man who handles the technology, and learns the encryption devices are mobile. She and Philip track down one of the mobile units in the trunk of an FBI car. Elizabeth decides to make an imprint of an encrypted card, at the risk of being caught in the car's trunk.

Meanwhile, Stan pressures Nina into learning if the KGB will meet with Udacha. When the code is learned by the KGB, the meeting is set. The FBI knew of it and follows Udacha's contact to the supposed meet, while Elizabeth is with Udacha at another site. These actions force the KGB to realize they have a mole.

[Perdita]

6th July


Episode six: Trust Me

Philip and Elizabeth are separately abducted and questioned about being KGB spies in America.

Neither admit to it, even if evidence is presented otherwise. Their captors are revealed to be the KGB trying to ferret out the mole, as the Jennings were first to discover the encryptions which were immediately changed by the FBI.

The Jennings manage to turn the tables on their captors, which includes Claudia, whom Elizabeth beats mercilessly to send a message to whoever authorized their abduction.

Philip seethes at Elizabeth for what he considers a betrayal, after she tells him that she had earlier told their handlers that he "liked the U.S. too much" which he feels has led to them being under suspicion.

Although fearing being caught, Nina cleverly frames Vasili as the mole within the Soviet embassy, with some help from Stan.

Meanwhile, not knowing where their parents are, Paige and Henry hitchhike home from the mall. Nick (Michael Oberholtzer), the man who picks them up, becomes creepy to them and they are able to escape after he stops along the way.

The two kids promise to keep the situation a secret between them.

[Perdita]

13th July


Episode six: Duty and Honor

Philip is sent to New York City to discredit a Polish dissident. He starts working there and has sex with an agent named Irina, who was his lover before he left Russia. She asserts that her son in Russia is from that relationship. After the successful mission, she tells Philip she plans to leave the KGB and disappear; she invites Philip to join her but he declines.

Elizabeth develops a new source within the SDI project by paying off his gambling debt.

Stan misses a family dinner to work late; his colleague takes him to a bar and urges him to pick up a woman for casual sex, but he instead calls Nina. They have sex under circumstances which strongly hint that Nina is playing her handler.

Agent Gaad indicates that the FBI may never deliver on Stan's promise to eventually extricate Nina from the embassy.

When Philip returns, Elizabeth apologizes for their prior rift and asks him to try to make their marriage real. He agrees but lies to her about his night with Irina.

[Perdita]

20th July

Mutually Assured Destruction

Claudia tells Elizabeth about Philip's affair with Irina; Elizabeth decides to be his professional partner only and abandon the "real marriage".

Elsewhere, the KGB has hired a West German contractor to kill American scientists but has changed its mind and cannot recall him. With unwitting help from Philip's informant Martha (Alison Wright), an FBI clerical worker, the Jennings track him down. However, he has already rigged a time bomb that kills a scientist and three of his FBI protectors — Gaad vows vengeance.

Meanwhile, until Nina can be extracted for protection, Gaad gives Stan keys to a safe house in which to meet her, which she surmises Stan means to be their love nest.

Lastly, after being spurned by Martha, Agent Amador becomes suspicious and starts to follow her.

[Perdita]

27th July

Episode nine:

Philip and Elizabeth tell the kids that they are going to live apart for a while—they don't take it well.

Meanwhile, Gaad plans to assassinate Arkady, the new KGB resident, on his regular jogging route.

Philip spends the night with Martha, and the next morning Amador confronts him. They fight and Amador is stabbed; Philip takes him to a deserted building where he and Elizabeth attempt to treat him and question him about the FBI's plans.

At the time of Arkady's regular jog, the FBI find only his assistant Vlad, as Arkady is fortuitously injured. On Beeman's unauthorized initiative, the FBI seize Vlad and take him to the safe house. Beeman phones Arkady and threatens to kill Vlad unless Amador is released...

[Perdita]

3rd August

Episode ten:

In the aftermath of Amador’s murder, Gregory finds himself with limited options. As the FBI get closer and closer, Gregory makes his choice, much to Elizabeth’s distress.

[Perdita]

10th August

Episode eleven: Covert Wars

After learning of the assassination of a Soviet General whom she knew from her formative years as an agent, Elizabeth is hellbent on revenge, despite it going against her orders. Phillip steps in to help whilst also advancing a step forwards in their separation, but has their teamwork given the FBI a clue as to their identity?

[Perdita]

17th August


Episode twelve: The Oath

Nina gets closer to Stan, and begins to uncover his role in Vlad’s death. Elizabeth and Phillip continue their separation, with Phillip asking Elizabeth to pose as his sister at his secret identity Clark’s wedding to Martha. Under pressure, Weinberger’s maid confesses to planting a bugged clock in his office.