The title of the episode comes from Ronald Reagan’s famous
speech declaring the Soviet Union to be “The Evil Empire” and framing the Cold
War as an epic battle between good and evil.
The Americans often blurs the lines of morality and criminality. But, often the actions of our protagonists are
evil, justified by blind nationalism. Stan murdered Vlad, Phillip and Elizabeth
have killed numerous people in their efforts to protect their ideals. With Paige newly initiated to the grim reality
that the world is not black and white, the adults challenge is to make her
believe in ideals over reality. Or, will
Paige simply call her parents out for what they are, treasonous criminals
who’ve harmed HER country of origin.
The final episode begins with Paige and Elizabeth about to
depart for a trip to West Germany. Phillip
and Henry see them off, as Phillip explains the trip is due to some free
tickets available from their travel agency. As Phillip embraces Elizabeth he whispers,
“I’m sorry I’ll never get the chance to meet her.” Elizabeth replies, “She
wouldn’t have liked you.” Sweet.
Phillip meets Yousef in an abandoned industrial area. Yousef states the murderous mujahedeen’s
actions have spooked the CIA from further collaboration. Yousef observes this makes Annalise’s death
worth it, because it achieved the objective. Yousef asks pointedly, “Was it
worth it?” Phillip begins with the idealist argument that her life saved many
other Soviet young men from being killed in the conflict. But then Phillip
stops, and adds truthfully, “I feel like shit, all the time.” Phillip’s detached façade is slipping.
The Russian embassy staff is meeting. There is a new directive prohibiting assassinations
or threatened assassinations not cleared with Moscow. This is a response to
Oleg’s “visit” to Zianda. Oleg looks
uncomfortable. It’s unclear whether
anyone knows he collaborated with Beeman to put pressure on Zianda.
Sandra and Stan are busy at the house sorting and dividing
their shared property. Stan wants the plants. Sandra is surprised since he’s never taken
care of them before. Stan insists he’s
nurtured them and even purchased plant food. She lets him keep a plant. Sandra looks at the photo albums and Stan
offers to make another set so they both can have them. Sandra opens the wedding album and promptly
shuts it and says he can keep it. Stan
looks hurt and angry that she doesn’t want it.
It’s night in West Berlin and Paige and Elizabeth walk on
nearly empty streets. Paige asks if they
can talk here. (Remembering the stern warnings not to talk about their jobs
unless they are alone.) Paige asks if her grandmother knows she’s coming and
what her grandmother is like. Elizabeth replies, “ She’s tough, not like
grandmothers you know.” Paige says she
knows some tough grandmothers. Elizabeth is distracted and Paige notices. Elizabeth explains she’s checking to see if
they are being followed. Paige seems
surprised and nervous about this. Elizabeth
explains she just needs to be cautious when she’s working. Paige asks if she’s working. Elizabeth
replies, “Sort of.”
Gabriel is upset to learn Phillip arranged the trip to see
Elizabeth’s mother. Phillip states, “I’m getting done what I need to get done.”
This statement sounds ominous, like Phillip doesn’t believe there is much time
before they are caught. Gabriel replies,
“You’re not looking ahead. You need to
grow up.”
Beeman and Oleg meet privately. Oleg explains Zianda must have got a message
through because there are new rules regarding assassinations and threats. Stan is frustrated at their lack of progress.
Stan asks, “What is it like, for Nina?” Oleg
explains the despair of the Siberian gulag, even after long imprisonments, some
prisoners’ stay on in the towns and die there. Stan wonders if Nina were to see him if she
wouldn’t “put a bullet in my head.”
Anton is brainstorming with the assistance of the new
photographic information obtained from Northrop. Nina observes his work. Anton says, “I don’t understand it but it’s
exciting. All I have left is my mind. They
have my body but my mind is free. Understand?” Nina nods.
Stan approaches Agent Gaad privately. Stan asks if he remembers when Nina was
convicted then slides him a tape of Oleg confirming Zianda is a spy. Gaad asks, “Who does he say this to?” Stan reveals that Oleg discovered his affair
with Nina in the months preceding her arrest. Stan admits he’s been working with Oleg at first
because he was blackmailing him, and now to help free Nina.
Gaad is incredulous. “Do you care about the FBI? Did you
place the bug in my office?” It’s a fair question. Stan says he thinks he could turn Oleg, which
would be a huge asset for the Bureau. Gaad asks him pointedly why should he
trust Stan in light of these revelations. Stan pleads with him that he owes it
to Nina. Gaad walks out speechless.
Phillip is at Est, alone, listening to a woman discuss
intimate details of her sex life. Phillip stares blankly at nothing. Sandra catches up with Phillip after the
session. She’s surprised to see him there without Stan. Phillip is secretive about his presence. Is he there for himself or to try to get
close to Sandra?
Elizabeth and Paige wait in a hotel room in East Germany
where Elizabeth’s mom is scheduled to meet them. The door opens and Elizabeth’s
mother is wheeled in, looking shrunken and pale. Elizabeth approaches her and
the tears flow. “All this time is gone.” She says in Russian. “I had to let you
go, everything was at stake.”
After a moment, she sees Paige who comes over and holds her
hand. The pain and emotion of the scene
could have easily been trite had it not been done silently. The pain and separation is shared among the
three generations of women.
Zianda rides in a motorized cart with top military
officials. They are confronted by a
gaggle of FBI officers. Zianda looks
concerned, but not surprised. Stan is not part of the arresting detail.
Elizabeth looks out the window to watch her mom leave,
knowing she is seeing her for the last time. Paige looks introspective and
tells Elizabeth she is praying for her mom. Elizabeth slides down to sit on the
bathroom floor looking pale and weak.
Agent Gaad informs Beeman he’s just spent an hour and a half
with the FBI director and has managed to get the investigation of Agent Beeman
dismissed. Gaad states Zianda has been
arrested and will be “traded” for a high level CIA agent in the Soviet Union,
not Nina.
Paige asks Elizabeth how her mom was able to let her leave,
knowing it was likely permanent? Paige inquires further, “Would you let me do
that?” Elizabeth assures her she would never have to make a choice like
hers. But is Paige thinking running away
from her family is an option? It may be
a better choice then trying to live a life of deception.
Phillip waits at Gene’s house. He idly plays with his
collection of toys and robots. As Gene
returns, he gets a “chloroform hug” from Phillip. Phillip accesses his computer (a Commodore 64
just like my brother’s!) and types a simple message. “I had no choice, sorry.”
Gene is seen hanging from the ceiling. Phillip
planted a listening device in the apartment so that it appears Gene was the one
who bugged Gaad’s office. This action should make Martha’s life easier.
Agent Beeman is summoned to the “vault” for a chat with
Gaad’s superior. The boss recalls that
Beeman has complained about the amount of “red tape” in the agency. He observes
that twice Beeman has been caught dealing with the Soviets without
repercussions. He orders him to go ahead
working with Oleg as an asset. Beeman
asks if this will get Nina released. His boss says, “That I can’t do, you’ll figure it out.”
Phillip is back at Est where a man is describing his failed
marriage. The facilitator opines that feelings are as important as your
intellect. After the session, Phillip
finds Sandra again. Phillip asks if she talks to her boyfriend about these
issues. Sandra admits they are having some problems but begs him not to tell
Stan. (She doesn’t want him to think he may still have a chance at reconciliation.) She wonders why Phillip was taking this
course on sexual issues. Phillip assures her everything is fine between him and
Elizabeth. Sandra adds that the course
helps her to be “open” and she’s not sure if she’s really been open in her
relationships. Phillip says Elizabeth is
the only one who really knows him. Sandra
suggests they try an experiment to tell each other everything over the next
month. Phillip isn’t sure he could do
that. (Without being hauled to prison!)
Sandra decides they should try this even if it’s “scary.”
Anton is writing a letter to his son Jacob when Nina knocks
at the door. Nina asks what he’s writing
but Anton refuses to say. Nina asks him
if he knows why they brought her to him. Nina reflects she can’t keep “buying
back my life.” Anton urges her not to cooperate with “their way” and to resist
the temptations they use to manipulate her. Nina is tempted to manipulate Anton to win her
release, but now feels guilty about it, because they’ve formed a friendship. How can they not cooperate with “them” who
wield control of their lives?
Paige is stunned to be back in the United States. She tells her mom she’s not sure she can just
go home and “Lie to everyone, about everything, forever. It’s not who I am.”
(Spoken in true adolescent infinitives!) Elizabeth tries to coax her stating, “We’re
telling each other the truth now and we’ll get through this together.”
Elizabeth fails to see whom her daughter is, an idealistic
young woman with a conscience who will stand up against injustice even if it
means turning in her parents. Phillip is
much more like his daughter and was correct in his assessment the truth about
their lives would be too much for their daughter to handle.
Phillip comes home and hears a message that Henry is at
Stan’s playing a game. Henry and Stan have developed a surrogate father-son
relationship out of their shared loneliness. On the news there is talk of a
possible peace deal in Afghanistan. Elizabeth
and Paige return and Phillip greets them warmly. Paige feigns jet lag and excuses herself. Phillip
first asks about how Paige did, then about his mother-in-law. Elizabeth reports Paige did well and it was
good to see her mother. Elizabeth thanks
him for arranging the trip. Paige is in her room, crying silently.
Phillip says he took care of the “Martha thing” and that it
was hard because the man’s toys reminded him of Henry. Elizabeth thinks Phillip
should tell Martha before the news of Gene’s death becomes common knowledge.
Elizabeth chides him for “not seeing things clearly.”
In the next room, Paige approaches the phone in her room and
dials. She asks to speak to Pastor
Tim. Paige stumbles with her words,
saying she is “hurting a lot.” She says her parents have been lying to her.
Elizabeth’s focus shifts to Ronald Reagan delivering his
famous “Evil Empire” speech. Paige breaks down and says her “Parents aren’t
Americans, they’re Russian!” It’s a powerful yet subtle way to end the season
with these simultaneous confessions. Both father and daughter are sensitive and
drowning in guilt. Phillip hoped for
some guidance from Elizabeth while Paige seeks guidance from her surrogate
father, Pastor Tim.
Is this the end of the Jennings? Will Paige be believed?
Will Stan finally realize the illegals having been right under his nose for
three years? Will Anton and Nina find a way to escape the gulag?
A good series makes you think and is relatable. There are no
hero’s or villain’s here, just flawed people. The heartbreak is palpable and
even if the “good guys” win over the “evil empire” it has been done at great
cost to both parties. The action in this finale was in the emotional turmoil
fighting within each person struggling with his or her truth and identity.
Things may shift the next season with defections of heart and mind. It's only nine months away.
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