The Americans Season 3 Episode 3, Open House

The episode begins with Gabriel and Phillip talking about the intelligence that was gathered at the dive bar last week.  There are about three candidates that could be pursued, the object is to find the weakest one to work on. They settle on a man name Paaswell who is going through a messy divorce and struggling to sell his home. The conversation inevitably leads to Paige. Phillip is rightfully concerned that Paige doesn’t become like Jared and murder his entire family. (You know, typical parental concern!)

We get to meet Elizabeth’s new recruit Hans, and he’s a handsome young German graduate student. He is doing well honing his powers of observation, but goes a little to far when he pays Elizabeth a physical compliment.

In Phillip reads the latest issue of Time, “After Brezhnev” in the bedroom. Elizabeth tells him that Hans is attracted to her, but she shut him down.  Phillip retorts, “Was that wise.”  The way their relationship navigates the multitude of lovers they both have and use, honesty is the key.  Phillip is lashing out at Elizabeth due to their ongoing dispute over Paige.

Martha is helping the injured FBI agent Alderholt who expresses frustration about his lack of progress finding Elizabeth. He is hoping to find a woman who seeks medical or dental care for an injured jaw. They know that these agents are very skilled at disguise.  This is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Donning fresh wigs and disguises, the Jennings attend an open house of the CIA operative.  Phillip sneaks upstairs as Elizabeth chats up the agent. He discovers a transmitting type device and some hidden checks.  The owner makes a surprise visit to the study but Phillip turns it into an opportunity to find out more information. The man seems anxious about his divorce.  He grabs the transmitting device and leaves.

 At the Soviet Embassy, the Arkady has more bad news for Oleg, he is being recalled to Moscow.  He asks if Oleg would want him to use his diplomatic prerogative to delay the order. Oleg considers this.

In the car, Elizabeth and Phillip listen to the bug he planted in Paaswell’s office. Elizabeth notices that they are being followed.  In light of her near arrest, they do a quick assessment of the threat and Phillip does an “open and roll” exit out of the car.

Paige, home alone again, finds a ripped photo of Sandra Beeman in a bikini. (Poor boy, life before the Internet was hard!)  Phillip makes a coded call to help Elizabeth out of her predicament.  Elizabeth is driving on, and is thrown a scanner type device by a passerby through the open passenger side window.

Phillip returns home to find Paige up late and watching “Robin Hood” on television. As he attempts to apologize for the millionth time for “working” late, she shrugs it off saying, “Stop worrying about me!”

Back at the FBI agents Gaad, Alderholt and Beeman are discussing their joint operation with the CIA to pick up Elizabeth.  There are many cars following her at the moment from both agencies.  Phillip anxiously waits at home, Elizabeth waits at a stop signal.  The agent closest to Elizabeth has his communication cut off and then a multiple car traffic accident at an intersection allows Elizabeth to flee down an alley into a waiting car.

 Elizabeth makes it home to a visibly shaken Phillip. (In the background, the Star Spangled Banner plays to indicate the television sign off for the night. Memories!) The couple embraces in silence and tears.  Despite their ongoing arguments over their daughter, they clearly love and need each other on many levels.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth presently needs Phillip as her dentist.  Knowing that she can’t afford the risk of seeking dental care, Phillip must pull her fractured tooth.  It’s a gross and tender scene demonstrating their amazing level of trust of one another. Elizabeth has tears, but she is incredibly tough, mere mortals would have passed out from that level of pain.

At the FBI, Beeman and Alderholt discuss the failed mission to pick up Elizabeth. Alderholt asks Beeman about his past undercover experience deep embedded in the Klu Klux Klan.  He asks, “What did it take to fool them?”  Stan doesn’t like to “share war stories” but replies, “Tell them what they want to hear, people love hearing how right they are!” (Isn’t that the truth!)

Martha and Clark are sharing a domestic morning and she pesters him again about wanting to have a family.  She is hoping that he would consider fostering a child. “Clark” tries to shut her up with a kiss, he must be thinking that more children in his life is the dead last thing he needs!

Hans and Elizabeth continue their spying observation game.  He seems frustrated that he can’t begin to do some real spy work.  He does offer her an apology for the comment on her beauty last time.  Elizabeth is incredibly direct and tells him while sex is part of the job, that’s not where they are headed, ouch!

Phillip meets with Gabriel again and goes over the recent events. The checks he found on Paaswell were just money squirreled away from his soon to be ex-wife. Phillip wants to find the babysitter that they heard Paaswell with but Gabriel encourages caution.  The conversation swings back to Paige.  Phillip is flustered with Gabriel and Elizabeth’s insistence that she be brought in their world. “She’s only fourteen! She is not equipped!”

Gabriel replies, “She will have a choice.”  But knowing that she is a young American not Russian teen, what will she think of this choice?

At the Soviet Embassy, Arkady briefs Tatiana and Oleg.  They discuss the Northrop Company, and the development of the Stealth Bomber.  Tatiana leaves the room and Oleg tells Arkedy, “I’m staying!”

The defector Zianda is doing an interview on a talk show speaking out against the ongoing war in Afghanistan.  Beeman has been tasked with protecting her, will the Soviets really hurt in the United States to silence her?  (Especially after she’s been so vocal in the media.)

Phillip and Elizabeth are on a stakeout of Paaswell’s house.  Warned by Gabriel to be extra cautious, they risk a drive by his house to get a visual on the babysitter.  The girl is attempting to offer Paaswell an intimate encounter. He dissuades her saying this is inappropriate and he’ll have to tell her father.  The father drives up to pick up the babysitter, he is the current head of the CIA!

This episode had me on the edge of my seat.  It’s been remarked how on this show we are supposed to “root for the bad guys”, the Directorate S spies.  However, what makes the Americans so interesting is it’s really a show about relationships and how the protagonists navigate them.  The dialogue is real and the characters are not black and white.  We are emotionally invested in all sides of the drama making it one of the best shows on television.  I can’t wait until next week!