The Americans, Season 5, Episode 8, Immersion

Last week dealt with the long and emotional goodbye to Gabriel.  As the Jennings’ become increasingly worried and wary in their multiple missions, how will they cope with their former handler Claudia?  Both parents were encouraged about Paige’s breakup with Matthew but how will she continue to deal with her isolation?  Stan and Dennis finally have a new asset to work but they too must work together between promising her rewards and explaining the risks.  In Moscow, it appears that Oleg may have dodged the Americans for the moment but what about concerns in his new role in the anti-corruption division?

The hour begins with Phillip driving home after his final meeting with Gabriel.  He goes upstairs slowly and his first question to his wife is regarding Paige. “She’s okay, spent most of the night staring across the street but hasn’t said anything else about Matthew.”  Elizabeth wonders aloud whether the teens will stay apart.  Phillip states he asked Gabriel about Renee and the old man thought he was crazy.  Elizabeth expresses sorrow at his leaving but Phillip surprises her by his statement that he won’t miss the old man.  Phillip doesn’t think Gabriel really cared about them but was simply doing his job in all their years together.  Phillip states Gabriel expressed worry about Paige, that he didn’t want her to enter their world.  Elizabeth probably had been hoping for his endorsement for Paige’s recruitment.  “Wouldn’t it be a nice world if no one had to do this?”  

This scene highlights not only the difference between how the couple viewed Gabriel and how they view their careers going forward.  Phillip sees the scars of the work, past and present in Gabriel while Elizabeth still sees a future for them and perhaps Paige.  Gabriel not only confessed to Phillip his own sins during the Stalin era but also told Phillip the truth about his father.  Elizabeth’s reverence for him doesn’t match Phillip’s view; to her, he was a proud warrior who gave his life to the patriotic cause.

Henry plays games on his computer with a male and female classmate.  Elizabeth prepares snacks for the teens.  Stan has come over to socialize.  Elizabeth notes Henry seems to like the girl.  Phillip asks if he knew about Henry’s crush but Stan says, “I was sworn to secrecy.”  Stan inquires about Paige.  Phillip plays ignorant, “We don’t get a lot of information.”  Stan observes Matthew seemed moody but it seems more serious than just a fight.  Elizabeth adds, “Maybe, they’ll be friends again one day.”  The conversation shifts to Renee, who wants to take Stan skydiving.  Stan jokes he’s not sure he wants to die before Matthew graduates from college.

Oleg heads up to his parent’s apartment but is intercepted on the staircase by three officers from “Directorate K.”  The lead man asks, “We’d appreciate your permission to search your apartment.”  They state some “issues have come up” but will not elaborate.  Due to Oleg’s father’s high government position, they need “special permission” and are trying to avoid asking the elder Burov.  Oleg replies it’s his parent’s place and he can’t give them permission to “tear up the place.”  The man asks if he can search just Oleg’s room and he agrees.

Inside the apartment, Oleg’s mother brings the father a cup of tea.  Oleg enters, with the three men following him.  He introduces them; “These men need to have a look in my room.”  Oleg’s father looks annoyed.  The men set about tearing Oleg’s room part, dismantling statues and even removing chair-rail molding from the walls.  Oleg’s mother looks concerned as she busies herself in the kitchen.

In a suburban D.C. kitchen, Evgheniya removes baked goods from the oven.  Elizabeth declines her offer of food, stating she has to keep skinny for her job as a stewardess.  Evgheniya states she is grateful for Tuan’s friendship with Pasha.  Elizabeth directs the conversation towards Evgheniya’s new job, teaching Russian.  Evgheniya is happy with the independence her job has given her.  She states they are planning to have an “immersion weekend” at a student’s home to practice speaking only in Russian.  Elizabeth is impressed her students are already fluent but Evgheniya says they are not yet.  Evgheniya goes on to describe the individuals in her class, describing one as a “big sex guy.”  Elizabeth laughs but gently points out she probably means he’s a “ladies man.” Yes, Evgheniya agrees, “Woman like him.”

The search continues in Oleg’s bedroom.  One man finds the tape recorder in his desk drawer. (Thank God Oleg had already destroyed the tape and the note.)  Oleg watches from the door but then goes to the kitchen to comfort his mother.  “There is nothing to find.”  He assures her.  She whispers, “They find things even when there’s nothing.”  In other words, they would not be above planting some evidence on Oleg.  The men leave, tersely thanking Oleg and his father.  Once the door closes his father spits, “What the hell is going on?”  Oleg pleads ignorance.  His father goes to make a phone call to complain but Oleg stops the old man.  He defends the men as “just doing their job.” Perhaps this is to save himself from further anger by these men.

  

Elizabeth and Phillip go to the same “safe house” for their first meeting with Claudia.  Gone are the niceties of their former relationship, no tea is offered and the couple keeps their coats on during the short conversation.  Claudia applauds their recent “accomplishments” while she was away.  She orders them to keep their Kansas connections active until the wheat sample can be verified.  Elizabeth gives her details on the upcoming “immersion class.”  Phillip complains their “team” is still too small but they’ll manage.  With that, Phillip seeks to conclude the meeting. “Let’s do this a little differently from now on. You tell us what to do and we’ll do it.”  Elizabeth adds, “We know what we’re doing, we know what to think.”  Claudia agrees, “You don’t want anyone inside your heads, fair enough.”  Once outside, Phillip asks, “Back when Gabriel was shooting people at home, what do you think she was doing?” (Implying it was probably much worse!)

At the travel agency, Elizabeth notes that she has decided not to go back to Kansas to see Ben noting that the Centre will need some time to test the same they sent home with Gabriel.  Phillip decides he’ll postpone his trip to see Deirdre as well.  “It’s work, she understands work.”  It appears they’ve both made an unspoken agreement to attempt to strengthen their own relationship by not sleeping with their respective marks, at least for a few weeks.

Stan and Dennis meet the TASS woman at an art museum.  She points out “there was a man back there.”  Dennis assures her it was “one of ours” and ensures her she is safe.  Stan instructs her not to look over her shoulders too much but "try to act natural."  She describes her son, “He has a big imagination, one day he wants to be a captain the next day a fireman, police a doctor…”  Her main concern is saving for a house and for her son’s education.  Stan promises her about five hundred dollars a month, likely much more than she’s receiving from her Soviet employer.  Dennis asks her about work.  She states she gets along with most of her colleagues but they gossip.  She complains about her GRU officer Yuri, noting, and “nobody likes him.”  (GRU was a military intelligence wing of the KGB.)  Stan assures her “every office has a Yuri.”  This statement helps her relax a little.  Stan asks her where she told her co-worker she was going.  They help her practice a lie that she went out to have lunch at Armand’s, a pizza restaurant she favors.  She shyly asks for a favor, if they can help her fix her teeth.  Stan promises they can help her with this issue.  She seems overjoyed, accidently thanking them first in Russian.  She practices her “lunch lie” before leaving the men.

Elizabeth calls Ben from a payphone.  He greets her warmly, “I was just thinking about you.”  She laughs it off before telling him she can’t get to Kansas to see him for a few weeks.  He seems genuinely upset, saying he’ll miss her.  Elizabeth explains it’s her work, but her work in fashion isn’t nearly as important as his ambitions to “save millions of lives, not everyone can do that, not everyone wants to do that.”  In a strange way, Elizabeth is drawn to Ben’s idealism, perhaps that was why she was so hurt to see him with another woman in Tennessee.  She may have postponed the trip to spare her own hurt feelings.

Phillip’s call to Deirdre goes far differently.  When Phillip explains he can’t come to see her she uses this as a way to start the breakup conversation.  She says repeatedly that he’s a “really sweet guy” but she doesn’t see them having a future together.  Phillip states they are just getting to know each other.  She says, “it’s been nice but we’re not compatible.”  She says she needs someone more “assertive.”  Phillip looks strangely hurt by the “breakup.”

In the garage, Elizabeth uses a baseball bat to further enhance Paige’s self-defense training.  She is not going easy on Paige and the teen exclaims, “When am I going to be able to take care of myself?”  Elizabeth states she’s improving but Paige says,  “I’m sick of being scared.”  Elizabeth says she understands how hard it is.  Elizabeth looks at Paige, silent with pain for a moment. (I admit I was screaming at my television, “Tell her about your rape!”) 

She begins, “I was scared like that for a long time.”  Paige stares at her, surprised by this admission. “When I was eighteen, a man, I was raped and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  I didn’t tell anyone for a very long time.”  Paige begins to cry and moves to embrace her mom but Elizabeth stops her.  “No, listen to me. I trained, every day as hard as I could.  I imagined that man’s face, and the more I fought the better I felt.  Until one day I knew nobody was going to hurt me like that again.”  Elizabeth wants to give her daughter the freedom from fear by teaching her how to defend herself.  “I’m not afraid and you’re not going to be either.”  It’s a powerful moment between the steely mother and the more emotional idealist daughter but sharing this secret helps Paige understand her mother better.  

Oleg goes to speak to his superior.  He explains how members of Directorate K (part of the KGB) came to search his home, specifically his bedroom. Oleg wants to know if the boss has any idea what their purpose was. The boss claims not to know but indicates perhaps it’s because he served abroad and it was probably “routine.” But even his boss agrees that a through search seems unusual.  Oleg admits he went to the archives (without authorization) to research information about a family member.  The boss is still perplexed, noting with Oleg’s father’s rank, they would avoid this kind of action.  Oleg rises to leave but his boss inquires about the specifics of the “family matter.”  Oleg admits it was regarding his mother, who was incarcerated for five years for “sabotage.”  The boss laughs, “In those days, taking a pencil from an office was considered ‘sabotage.’”  Oleg notes she was later pardoned.  The boss again thinks this was his father’s influence, observing Oleg is “lucky.”  But, will his father be able to protect Oleg if he ends up being accused of treason?  It didn’t help Nina.

Elizabeth practices tai chi in the bedroom to Phillip’s amusement. “Looks like slow kung fu.”  Phillip explains Deidra broke up with him, complaining he wasn’t aggressive enough.”  Elizabeth offers, “It might not matter this time, but next time you might have to hurt someone’s feelings again.” Is Phillip still feeling guilty about what happened with Martha?  He certainly hurt her feelings and destroyed her life.  Phillip becomes defensive when Elizabeth suggests he did something wrong.  She wonders about his EST sessions, “Isn’t that what they’re teaching you, that people’s feelings are more important than anything?”  Phillip disagrees, “No, it’s more that there was a part of me that I’d never thought about.”  Elizabeth muses, “Then a forty-five-year-old single logistic manager kicks you out of bed…”  Phillip smiles, “We’re not all as attractive as you are Elizabeth.”  Elizabeth disagrees, “But you are, you can get her back if you need to.”  She climbs into bed with her husband.  Elizabeth says she was training with Paige and she told her about the rape.  “I just wanted her to know, she won’t always be afraid.”  Phillip agrees it was the right thing to do.

Evegena drives across town, tailed by the African-American asset.  Phillip follows further behind, outfitted with a bushy brown beard.  Evgheniya pulls into a motel parking lot and retouches her makeup. (Usually something you only do when you’re meeting someone special.) Elizabeth drives up to Phillip’s truck, wearing a long blonde wig and purple sunglasses.  She climbs into the passenger seat as Phillip takes out a camera. “Well, that’s not one of her student’s houses!” Evgheniya brings a tray of baked goods up the stairs of the motel.  Elizabeth offers to get outside of the car in order to take the pictures from a better angle. 

Dennis and Stan speak in the “vault” about the possible routes their asset would take to go from work to Amand’s pizza and other locations. They are meticulous in making her movements and routes seem natural.  They agree given her skittish demeanor it’s best to get her off the streets for their meetings.

Elizabeth is able to snap pictures of Evgheniya as a man opens the door to the motel room.  He’s tall and definitely not her husband.  Elizabeth rejoins Phillip,  “Affair.”  Phillip wonders if he’s one of her students.  “I hope so.”  An affair is perfect for blackmail.

Claudia meets with Elizabeth. “The man you photographed Evgheniya with is Bruce Tabenor, an S1S officer, most likely to be a Deputy Chief of the CIA’s Moscow division.  He’s married, two kids.  The Centre will probably want her back in Moscow with her so they can use the affair against him.”  Elizabeth seems confident they might be able to use Pasha’s unhappiness in the United States to get Evegena to be motivated to go home. Elizabeth will use Tuan to assist them in the effort. Claudia reports she went home to spend time with her family, but her grandchildren didn’t remember her, “I don’t know what I expected.”  Elizabeth notes things are going well despite all the activities they’ve had to manage.  The conversation turns to Paige, Claudia says she’s asking herself, not for the Centre. Elizabeth notes, "Paige is figuring things out.”  Claudia asks what Elizabeth wants for her daughter. “I want her to believe in something,  I want her to care about things that matter.”  Claudia says, “Her mother’s daughter.” (Believing in God is not the kind of faith Elizabeth wants for Paige ironically.)  Elizabeth notes that she and Phillip do not see “eye-to-eye” on the subject but they don’t talk about it much.

Phillip calls Deidra from a payphone.  Her answering machine clicks on and he begins a long message about giving him another chance. “I didn’t know how to tell you this before, but I’m married.”  Upon hearing his confession, Deidra answers the phone.  A married man isn’t “too nice” and will keep the relationship from becoming committed; exactly what the logistical analyst was looking for in a man.

Phillip and Elizabeth meet with Tuan to discuss the plan to get the Morozov family to move back to the Soviet Union.  Tuan asks, “How do you know if she goes back to USSR, she’ll keep screwing the guy or he’ll keep screwing her?”  He makes a good point; it will be hard to know how the affair would change under new circumstances.  Tuan has an idea, he knows some kids who bully Pasha, especially if Tuan left him alone more.  Elizabeth likes the plan. It seems rather cruel, bullying a kid to manipulate his parents.  Elizabeth gives Tuan their “flight routes” for the week.  Tuan complains they need to be around more frequently that it could be a problem.  They thank him.

Paige is flipping through the channels using the remote control. (Wow, we didn’t get a remote until the ‘90’s.) Elizabeth suggests they go for a walk together.  They walk along a path on a cold dreary day.  Paige insists she’s not upset about Matthew, that he is “just a boy.”  She characterizes her feelings towards him as “silly.”  She asks her mother if she still thinks about her perpetrator.  Elizabeth answers no, only occasionally.  Paige wonders how she could ever get over something so horrible.  Elizabeth observes other things are more important, like her and Henry and her work. “Do you like what you do?”  Elizabeth smiles, “I wish I didn’t have to do it, but I’m proud to serve my country.”  Paige asks what else she would do instead and Elizabeth replies be a doctor. Paige points out her mother does not have any “bedside manner.” Elizabeth says maybe she would have been a doctor in the third world where her bedside manner wouldn’t be such of an obstacle.  It’s clear Paige is now seriously thinking about what her life would be like in the family business.  It’s unfortunate that her mother can’t be truly honest about how hard and brutal their work actually is.

Next week’s preview shows the return of the virus which killed Walter last season, but it is unclear which side is using it.  Oleg is still of interest to the FBI and the CIA.  Tuan’s late night activities spark suspicion.  Could he be a double agent?  His plea for them to be “around more” was suspicious.

This was a powerful hour, especially with Elizabeth’s sharing her secret with Paige.  Was this a sincere effort on Elizabeth’s part to help her daughter get over her trauma or is it part of a larger effort to “groom” Paige for the work.  Oleg’s fate seems to be in question once again; will his father allow his remaining son to be tried for treason? (A sentence, which may result in his execution.) Can the small group of assets be trusted?  The viewer doesn’t know anything about the adult man and woman who’ve helped since Han’s died.  Tuan may also be hiding something. Only several more episodes remain in this penultimate season. I anticipate a cliffhanger end to this season. 

Better Call Saul, Season 3, Episode 3, Sunk Costs

Last week brought back to life fan favorite Gus Fring.  This week explores the aftermath of Jimmy’s violent run-in with his brother Chuck.  Jimmy is forced to confront his brother’s shrewd actions against him.  Meanwhile, Mike’s plans have been foiled but will he be able to work with new characters for a common cause?  I really appreciate how the series never wastes time with filler.  Each shot is beautifully crafted with realistic and creative dialogue.  

The camera focuses on faded red basketball shoes hanging from a telephone wire.  Nearby is a stop sign riddled with gunshot holes that says, “ALTO.”  Another sign in Spanish notes that the U.S. border is twenty kilometers away.  In the distance, a Pollos Hermanos truck rolls past.  It stops under the hanging shoes, the laces give way and the shoes drop to the pavement as the truck moves north.  The opening credits flash, an unseen hand ashes a cigarette on the scales of justice.

Mike stands in the middle of a lonely road.  He picks up the ringing cell phone that was resting on the gas cap.  He says, “Yeah.”  Knowing that he has been caught following the people who had been tracking him.  Gus is on the other end of the call, “May I assume that you are armed?  If I don’t see your gun I can assure you that you won’t see mine.  Two cars will arrive momentarily.”  Mike waits as an SUV and a sedan approach his vehicle from both directions.  Gus emerges from the black SUV dressed in black to match.

Mike holds up the note, which was left on his car previously that read, “Don’t.”  He asks, “Do you care to elaborate?”  Gus replies, “It’s not in my interests for Hector Salamanca to die at this time.”  Mike asks what his relationship is with Hector but Gus is vague. “He is an associate of mine,”  Gus asks what Mike’s problem is with Hector.  Mike states, “We had a disagreement. He threatened my family and I’m not going to let that go!” Gus points out that Mike HAD let that go because he had accepted payment from Hector and his family was no longer in danger.  Gus points out Mike robbed Hector’s truck, which resulted in the death of a “civilian.”  Mike seems to regret part of the story but not his attempt to kill Hector.

Gus offers, “I can’t let you kill Hector but I’m not immune to your sense of justice.”  He admires Mike for hurting Hector’s business and pride, noting, “If you try to hurt him again, I will not stand in your way.”  Mike assumes Gus would like him to rob another of Hector’s trucks, deducing this action would disrupt Hector’s supply line.  Mike figures Gus must be Hector’s competition in illegal business.  Mike assures Gus that he’s not done with Hector.

At the offices of Wexman and McGill, Francesca answers the phone. Jimmy informs her, “Something came up, please cancel tomorrow’s appointments and tell Kim I won’t be back in today.”  As he speaks to her, he grabs an old pack of cigarettes from the glove compartment of his Geo.  He sits down on the curb in front of his brother’s house and smokes.  Chuck comes outside, telling Jimmy he can wait inside for the police.  Chuck begins, “You won’t want to hear it but this is for the best! I’m trying to help you. The police will arrest you and I’m sorry but I will be pressing charges! I told you there would be consequences and I believe you’ll face those consequences and come out a better man! It’s hard but see this as an opportunity to make a change before it’s too late. You can find your own path and when you’re ready, I’ll be there to help you!” 

Jimmy looks up at Chuck. “One day, you’re going to get sick again and one of Howard’s minions will find you curled up in a space blanket.  They’ll take you to the hospital, hook you up to the machines that whir and beep and HURT.  But this time it will be too much and you’ll die there ALONE.”  Chuck looks down at Jimmy with his lip curling with contempt.  The police arrive, Jimmy stands up and stamps out his cigarette with his black leather loafers.

A brief montage follows set to the song, “Hurry on Sundown.”  Jimmy is cuffed and walked through the police station.  He removes his tie and other valuables and is given plastic slip-on shoes to wear.  His photo is taken and he is fingerprinted.  DDA Oakley, a fellow attorney Jimmy once teased comes down to witness the process.  He asks what happened and Jimmy replies curtly, “Family trouble, with my brother.”  Jimmy states he’ll be representing himself.  Oakley mentions how Jimmy lost his “sweet gig at Davis and Main.”  Jimmy tries to determine which judge will be doing the arraignment but Oakley states he doesn’t know but he’ll try to get the appearance moved up but Jimmy will likely being staying the night in jail.  “Beats the back of a nail salon!”  Jimmy notes sarcastically.  Oakley adds, “Remember, pick the biggest guy and punch him, it shows dominance, you do know how to show dominance right?”  With that, the DDA leaves.  Jimmy sits alone on a bench, handcuffed in plastic slippers.

The alarm sounds at 5:30 am in Kim’s office where she has slept in her clothes on the couch. Up-tempo instrumental plays as she gathers her clothes and heads to the gym to shower and dress for another day of work. (Does she no longer have her own place after moving out with Jimmy or is she just living at work during her grueling case with Mesa Verde?) As she exits the gym, Ernesto is waiting for her in the parking lot.  He informs her Chuck has fired him. “I feel bad like it’s my fault what happened to Jimmy.”  Kim looks puzzled, “What happened to Jimmy?” Kim is told about the “incident” and arrest off-screen.

Jimmy waits between two large men on a bench wearing a bright orange prison jumpsuit.  The guard calls his name for his arraignment.  Jimmy appears before the judge and his charges are read.  The judge is surprised to see him in this role. “Not how I’d like to be seen,” Jimmy adds sheepishly.  He states he wishes to plead not guilty.  Kim hurries into the courtroom stating she will be representing Jimmy.  Jimmy corrects her, stating he will be representing himself.  The judge advises him against this course of action.  They briefly bicker, but the judge suggests they resolve this issue outside of court.  Jimmy states he wanted to tell her in person, that’s why he didn’t call after the incident.  Kim leaves the courtroom.  Jimmy’s clean record is noted and he is to be released on twenty-five hundred dollar bond.

Jimmy takes a cab back to their offices; he takes a moment before heading inside to speak with Kim.  He finds her working in her office. “Chuck bamboozled me again! He made sure that Ernie heard what was on that tape!”  He explains Chuck knew that Ernie would tip him off to the tape and Howard and a P.I. were waiting for him. “Chuck played me like a fiddle and shmuck that I am, I fell for it!”  Jimmy doesn’t want Kim to compromise her practice by taking on his case.  He tells her that is why he didn’t call her the previous night.  He apologizes to her but states this is his screw up and it’s his responsibility to fix it.  He doesn’t want Chuck to ruin everything they’ve tried to build together.  Kim looks up from her paperwork and says tersely, “Okay.”  Jimmy sniffles and leaves her to her mountain of work.

Jimmy approaches Francesca at the receptionist’s desk. “I finished it, I touched it up a little.” She is referring to the paint lines he messed up prior to leaving to destroy the tape.  He gives her faint praise and asks if she can give him a ride to his car. (Parked at his brother’s house.)  He apologizes, “This isn’t a typical week around here.”  She laughs it off awkwardly.

A doctor sees a young boy at family practice clinic in Mexico.  After giving the boy a lollipop, he calls the next patient. “The gringo who wants revenge.”  Mike is seen privately.  The “extra-legal” vet referred him from Albuquerque; he’s after some drugs.  The doctor says warily, “He said what but not how much.”  Mike shows him the quantity he’d like with his hands.  The doctor sighs, “How much is that in grams?”  Mike leaves the office with a paper bag.  Chickens surround Mike’s car.  He places the package next to his rifle in the trunk of his car.

DDA Oakley gets a cup of coffee from the vending machine inside the courthouse.  He sits down and opens a bag of potato chips and a bag of Cheetos’s puffs.  Jimmy joins him on the bench with a burger and fries in a Styrofoam box.  Oakley asks him how his night was in jail.  “Fine, I caught up with a few old clients!”  Jimmy offers him some French fries.  Jimmy characterizes the whole problem as a “big misunderstanding.”  He doesn’t want it to go to trial, “Whoever catches this at the D.A.’s office is looking at an easy clear.”  Oakley notes that Jimmy’s case contains a felony charge, making it tricky.  Jimmy notes that is “classic overcharging.” Jimmy states he’s happy to make a deal if it’s the right deal.  Oakley gives him some bad news, however.  Due to Jimmy’s familiarity with the court, the whole Albuquerque office has “conflicted out” of prosecuting his case.  Oakley doesn’t know who will be prosecuting the case but heard it’s someone from the “Belen office, something-Hay I think, I heard ‘tough but fair’.”  Jimmy leaves his burger to Oakley.  Oakley makes one last attempt to gloat, “So did Davis and Main let you keep the fancy German car?”  Jimmy sighs, “No.”  His attempt to bribe the prosecution has failed.

Mike approaches the lonely stretch of road near the U.S. border from the episode’s opening scene.  He takes out a pair of bright red basketball shoes and ties the laces together.  He places a plastic bag of white powder into one of the shoes.  Mike tries to hang the shoes on the telephone wire, after several attempts he succeeds.  He drives away.

An African-American woman approaches Chuck’s home.  He calls out to her from an upstairs window.  “Ms. Hay? Please come inside.”  He instructs her to leave her things in the mailbox, “anything with a battery.”  They meet inside his dusty living room lit only by natural light.  She asks for details about the attack, asking if Chuck was struck or felt threatened.  Chuck replies, “My brother is a lot of things but even he has limits.”  Ms. Hay notes the sensitive nature of lawsuits involving family.  She wants to be sure he’s not going to change his mind about pressing charges.  Chuck assures her he will not.  Chuck asks her about her legal strategy.  Ms. Hay states she will not take it easy on Jimmy just because he is a fellow lawyer.  She anticipates he will want to plead down to a misdemeanor but she will stand firm on the felony charge.  She asks if he’s prepared to testify if the case goes to trial.  Chuck is confident he could appear if needed “if a few minor adjustments are made.”

Chuck changes his demeanor to appear emotional.  “I was thinking, Jimmy has a good heart but sometimes he gets emotional.”  Ms. Hay notes this incident was more serious than “flying off the handle.”  Chuck smiles slyly, “I can’t help but wonder if there might be a better solution for everyone.”  The scene ends here but one can theorize Chuck would love to find a way to see Jimmy dis-barred. 

Mike waits on a hill with a view of the hanging shoes.  He trains his rifle as one of Hector’s ice cream trucks approaches.  The men stop briefly to stash their weapons before crossing the border into the United States.  Mike fires a few random shots.  The men get down on the ground but Mike is not trying to hit them.  The men dismiss the shots as hunters and place their weapons in the hiding spot.  (Mike didn’t want them to notice when he shoots at the shoes.)  The men return to the truck and begin to drive north.  Mike shoots the toe of the shoes and white powder pours onto the back of the truck.  This scene is an excellent illustration of Mike’s cunning genius. 

The men arrive at the border.  They wait and chew gum as their cargo is inspected.  A German Shepard stops at the back of the truck, noting the presence of drugs.  The men are ordered to get on their knees and they are arrested.  Mike's plan is working. 

Jimmy smokes outside the office.  Kim sees his shadow through the opaque glass and comes out to join him.  She takes a drag of the cigarette and notes how old it tastes. “I found it in my glove box, best guess is it came from the time when all the doors matched!” Kim laughs.  Jimmy explains he got an offer from the D.A.’s office and it’s not what he expected.  “She’s offering me a ‘pre-prosecution diversion.”  Kim is amazed.  Jimmy says they want him to confess to “all of it” including assault even though he never touched Chuck.   All he has to do is “keep his nose clean for a year.” Kim asks if he can go that long without being “Viktor with a ‘k.’” (Referring to their little scam at the bar posing as wealthy investors.) Kim is still puzzled, “They must not want the hassle of a trial.”  Jimmy notes the PPD was Chuck’s idea and Kim becomes suspicious. “What’s his game?”  Jimmy states that one condition of the agreement is his written confession is submitted to the New Mexico Bar Association. “Your written felony confession,” Kim observes.

“I thought he wanted me in jail but he just wants my law license.”  Jimmy feels boxed-in; he may lose his license either way.  “He knows everyone at the Bar, it’ll be him and his cronies versus me, alone.”  Kim offers to fight with him, reasoning he needs her help.  Jimmy wants her to be sure she’s willing to do this. Kim takes Jimmy’s hand, “Let’s just call it the fallacy of sunk costs.” (The "sunk cost"  theory in economics or business decision-making is that a "sunk cost"  is a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered.)  Jimmy has a new plan. “Why don’t we take that PPD and shove it up Chuck’s ass!”

It’s nice to see Kim reach out to Jimmy after a long period of tension between them.  Next week's preview shows them working together on his case.  Mike has landed Salamanca’s organization in serious trouble with the DEA looking into his trucks.  Gus and Mike grow closer as the trouble mounts for Hector.  

This season promised more about what finally made Jimmy become Saul Goodman and it appears we are well on our way to these revelations.  The shoes on the wire are a poignant metaphor, when will the “other shoe drop” for Jimmy or for Mike?  The aged shoes may have outlasted both Mike and or Jimmy/Saul or even future protagonist Walter White. 

A Few Thoughts on Fargo Premiere, The Law of Vacant Places

Fargo returned last week for the third season of the anthology series.  This season stars movie actor Ewan McGregor in two roles as brothers at odds with one another in 2010 in the frosty North.  Like the cult classic film, it is produced by the Coen brothers and shares similar themes, which made the film so iconic.  Like the film, it states the “Following is a true story but the names have been changed to protect the innocent but in honor of the dead the story will be told exactly as it happened.”

The hour opens with a view of the inside of a microphone.  The dateline informs the viewer it’s “1988” in East Berlin.  A Stasi officer brings a man in for questioning.  The man is being accused of murder in a clear case of mistaken identity.  The man who previously occupied his flat was a Soviet man by the name of Yuri.  Yuri is accused of murdering his girlfriend named Helga.  The man being questioned has a wife named Helga but is nearly twenty years older than this mysterious Yuri.  Unfortunately, the man can’t contradict the Stasi officer and will likely be held for this crime.

The scene shifts to 2010 North Dakota where older brother Emmit is celebrating his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary in grand style.  Brother Ray arrives with his much younger girlfriend Nikki in an old red Camaro.  After some festivities, Ray requests a private meeting with Emmit to discuss a loan.  Emmit’s quirky lawyer Sy is present for the meeting.  Ray explains that he intends to marry his girlfriend Nikki and needs money to buy her a “decent ring.”  At issue is the inheritance; Ray feels he is owed the proceeds of his father’s stamp collection.  Emmit refuses to concede the rare stamp, noting Ray got the Camaro from his father and noting money is tight for him at the moment.  Given the lavish party downstairs, complete with ice sculptures, Ray finds this fact hard to believe.

Ray is a probation officer, he meet his girlfriend Nikki (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) in this role.  They share a love of bridge and play in regional tournaments together.  Ray decides to use one of his clients to help him steal the rare stamp from his brother.  When Maurice, a mullet, dim-witted parolee fails a drug test, Ray blackmails him in to do the job.

The law enforcement character is Gloria Burgle (Carrie Coon.) She is the dedicated police chief in the small hamlet of Eden Valley.  She is a single mom to one son. It is revealed her husband left her for another man.  They travel to her stepfather’s isolated cabin to celebrate her son’s birthday.  The old man is grumpy and opinionated but clearly loves his family.  He gives the boy a carving he made of a man and a boy fishing.

Maurice loses the paper Ray gave him with his brother’s address.  He half-heartedly looks for it in the snow by the side of the road but fails to find it.  Maurice is loaded on weed but thinks he remembers what the paper said.  He heads for the wrong the town. The mailbox reads “Stussy” but it is Gloria’s stepfather’s place not Emmit Stussy’s mansion.

Meanwhile, Emmit and Sy get a strange visitor.  Apparently, they had to take out a large loan the previous year to keep their company afloat. An English-accented gentleman informs them this was not a loan but an “investment” The man states his company doesn’t want the money but services they will explain at a later date.

Gloria and her son are on their way home when he remembers he left the carving at his grandpa’s.  He insists on going back, despite the late hour.  Gloria returns to the house to find the door open and the house ransacked.  She calls to her father without an answer.  She retrieves her weapon and tells her son to call for backup and remain in the car.  She finds her father tied up in the kitchen with the freezer door open.  He is deceased but it is unclear how he died.  Gloria finds a hidden compartment in the floorboards.

Maurice goes to see Nikki and Ray at her apartment.  He tells Ray, “Some stuff went down.” And he doesn’t have the stamp.  Maurice also notes that his older brother was really old!  Maurice now threatens to tell the authorities about the crime in an attempt to blackmail Ray.  Frustrated with his incompetence and worried about getting caught Nikki swings into action after Maurice leaves.  She hastily unscrews the air-conditioner box from the window and counts the seconds as Maurice leisurely strolls back outside in front of the building.  Once he’s below, Nikki, with a little push from Ray drop the heavy unit on Maurice’s head, killing him instantly.  Nikki calls 911 as Ray hurries to leave before the cops arrive.  They are excited by their violent victory over the imbecile.

The basic themes of jealously and incompetence are laid out.  The police chief has a murder to investigate and a child to protect.  The dialogue and dry humor make the Fargo series unique.  The show-runners have stated that this season will connect to the earlier seasons.  It should be a fun, yet weird ten part series. 

The Americans, Season 5, Episode 7, The Committee on Human Rights

This week’s installment featured the long goodbye to the beloved character Gabriel.  Paige makes a decision about her relationship with Matthew and Stan trusts Renee with more of his secrets.  Meanwhile, the grain mission continues but with a different focus.  Oleg’s predicament resolves, but thankfully not through his suicide, as I had feared last week.  Elizabeth continues her solo mission, with a tie-in to the title of this week’s episode.

Phillip offers to help Gabriel in the kitchen during their final meal together with Paige.  Paige asks Gabriel frank questions as he pours tea and offers them dessert.  She learns he met her parents before she was born and he too is a spy.  He offers her insight on them, “To you, they are just your parents, but to us, they are honestly heroes.  They have saved a lot of lives.” (He doesn’t mention all the lives they’ve taken!) Gabriel waxes poetic, quoting Marx describing his admiration for Phillip and Elizabeth.  He then directs his advice towards Paige. “You asked for the truth and faced it. That’s courage!”

After they leave Paige shares her thoughts about Gabriel with her parents.  She deduces that the home they visited was not where he lived because there were no pictures or personal effects.  Elizabeth confirms it is a “safe house.”  Paige muses how strange it is that he knows everything about her but she didn’t even know he existed until recently.  Phillip informs her a beloved stuffed tiger from her childhood was actually a gift from Gabriel.  “Because he wanted you to grow up strong, like a tiger,”  Paige notes that Elizabeth and Phillip are like a family to Gabriel.  It is still unclear why Gabriel would want to leave them.

Phillip and Elizabeth study surveillance pictures of the greenhouse in Illinois.  Since the “disappearance” of the lab manager, they have increased security around the greenhouse including fences with barbed wire. They agree they have to work on their respective “marks” to find out how to obtain a plant.  Elizabeth observes that Paige liked Gabriel, she hopes it’s a start to “get her past this.”  Elizabeth still hopes to bring her daughter around to being proud of her parents,  possibly even joining the cause one day.

At the FBI, Dennis receives a call from the Soviet mother he spoke to the last episode.  He instructs her to meet them at a public park later that afternoon.  It’s the first person they’ve got to call them back after months of “fishing.”

Elizabeth dons a blonde wig to break into the psychiatrist's office at night.  She signs in at the desk while the new African-American asset distracts the night manager by pretending to need directions.  The guard doesn’t notice as Elizabeth walks past the security cameras.  Elizabeth uses the key she made to enter the office.  Using a red flashlight she breaks into his filing cabinet.  After a moment of looking, she pulls a folder labeled “The Committee on Human Rights, Moscow.”  For perhaps the first time, Elizabeth is using her resources in the United States to spy on people in the Soviet Union.  The Human Right’s committee was considered an “enemy of the state.”

Phillip is in Topeka again dealing with the Lotus loving Deidre.  Phillip asks her if she’s ever lived with anyone before.  Deidre scoffs at this suggestion, it’s clear she’d like to keep things casual and let their relationship “run its natural course.”  She notes, “You NEED, a lot.”  She then asks him if he’d like to have sex!  I swear Deidre is a man in a woman's body. 

Oleg walks alone at night back to his parent’s apartment.  He finds his mother at the table polishing silver and greets her warmly.  He explains, “The people who were after me, I went to meet them, twice and they didn’t show.  I don’t know why.”  His mother concludes that whatever the reason this is a positive development.  Oleg looks at the framed photo of his deceased brother in uniform.  He says, “I’d give anything to talk to him again. About how Dad is driving me crazy, about anything at all…”  His mother is the one person who understands his grief.

The Soviet mother arrives at the park to meet with Dennis and Stan.  Her eyes dart around nervously assessing each passerby, worried about being seen talking to the FBI.  When she meets up with the agents she expresses her fears. “My son needs a mother to become a man if I end up dead or in prison…” Dennis tries to ease her concerns, stating they just need some information from time to time about how TASS works. He adds she will receive huge financial compensation.  TASS is a Russian news agency founded in 1902 and is the fourth largest news wire service in the world.  It is wholly owned and controlled by the Russian government.  Stan notes that it maybe possible to grant her asylum in the United States in return for her cooperation.  The woman is wary, “Possible is a word Americans use when they can’t promise.”  Dennis tries to assure her she’ll be safe but the woman walks away.  Dennis is frustrated with Stan, fearing his realistic assessment of the danger has scared her away.

Elizabeth joins Paige on the couch to talk.  She asks her mother, “Are you going to miss Gabriel?”  Elizabeth confirms that she will.  Phillip arrives home from Kansas.  Paige asks her father if he’s still working on “the grain thing.”  Phillip notes they are “making progress.”  Both parents are careful to not tell Paige what they learned last week, that the United States isn’t trying to sabotage the grain but create a “super-grain.”  Paige is troubled by the idea, “I knew America did terrible things but people’s food!” Paige wonders why they don’t try to go to the media with this damning information.  Paige recalls how the media helped to expose Watergate.  Elizabeth replies, “No one would believe us.”

In the privacy of their bedroom, Phillip and Elizabeth share information about the grain mission.  They might able to procure a plant from a farm in Mississippi.  (Time to dust off the cowboy hats!)  Elizabeth notes the psychologist operation went well, she obtained names of “some people back home.”  Phillip doesn’t question her further.

Paige meets with Pastor Tim.  She explains that things are getting better between her and her parents.  Paige notes that it has made her realize “that there are bigger and better things in the world than me.”  Pastor Tim notes that she is wise to think that way,  noting it creates the ability to have empathy.  Pastor Tim notes Jesus is an ultimate example of self-sacrifice for the greater good.  He asks Paige if she has been praying.  Paige is ambivalent. “Sometimes.”  Have Marx and her parents made her lose her faith?

Stan is called for a meeting in the “vault” with his boss Agent Wolfe. Wolfe informs him that the Deputy A.G. was not pleased with Stan’s attempt to interfere with the CIA’s plans for Oleg.  However, “For what it’s worth, the CIA has backed off Burov.”  Stan’s insubordination has come with a price; the A.G. wanted him transferred out of counter-intelligence immediately.  Wolfe notes that he bargained with him, stating he couldn’t transfer Stan due to an active mission. (The TASS woman.)  Stan thanks Agent Wolfe but there is little warmth between the two men.  Stan tries to determine if there will be a job for him after his current mission is complete.  Wolfe says, “We’ll worry about that later.” 

Bolivar, Mississippi is a flat expanse of farmland.  Elizabeth and Phillip ride together in a pickup truck.  Phillip wears a long blonde wig and baseball hat; Elizabeth sports a frizzy red wig.  The spy Ben in a nearby field, he is taking notes on the crops. These fields are unmarked and unguarded.  Elizabeth decides they’ll return to the site that night.

Paige goes over to the Beeman’s to see Matthew.  He’s relieved to see her and asks if she wants to go to the movies with him.  Paige declines. Matthew is hurt, “Why would my girlfriend want to spend time with me?”  Paige utters those dreaded words, “I have to talk to you.”  She claims Matthew doesn’t know her.  He is confused.  She continues, “I don’t want to make out anymore, I can’t be your girlfriend.”  Matthew tries to bargain with her.  He reminds her he’s not like his father; he wants to know how he can improve their relationship.  He tries to embrace her but she pushes him away, hard.  “Let go!”  Matthew is bewildered and hurt.  Paige mutters, “I’m sorry.”  She leaves him alone.

Elizabeth and Phillip are on a busy street in a town.  Marilyn, one of their new assets, patrols the street following Ben to a place called the “Grass Feed Club.”  There is a line outside.  Ben greets a woman who exits a cab with Tennessee plates.  (Perhaps they are on the border with MS?)  He embraces the blonde woman and kisses her deeply.  Elizabeth and Phillip observe him from a pay phone across the street.  Phillip asks, “Who’s that?”  Elizabeth states she doesn’t know but adds, “Let’s go get it!”

Paige returns home from her breakup.  She turns on the lights in her bedroom, resigned to loneliness.  She looks at her bookshelf, the Marx book is now crowded with other “books on the subject” as her mom had promised. Is her new faith in Marx?

Elizabeth and Phillip work digging up the plant in the field. She explains, “I didn’t think he was like that.”  Phillip observes that she liked him and that’s okay.  (He too had feelings for Martha and others.) Elizabeth rejects this; “It’s NOT okay for me!”  She returns her focus on the plant, hoping this mission will help create better food for the Soviets.  Phillip admits he “feels like one of the guys on the posters.” This is likely a reference to the huge propaganda posters featuring proud proletariats in industry and farming.  Phillip is desperate to be a hero for his daughter and perhaps himself. 

The next day, Elizabeth delivers the young plant to Gabriel.  He notes, “Perfect, I have strict instructions for its care, I must tend it like a baby!”  Gabriel is happy to be ending his service with this positive mission.  He says he enjoyed meeting Paige. “ You’ve done well, she doesn’t think the world owes her happiness which is no small accomplishment growing up in this country.”  Elizabeth again tries to figure out why Gabriel is leaving.  He is vague, “It adds up, some good, some not, but it adds up.”  Elizabeth wonders what they will do without him; she reaches for the old man’s hand tenderly.  Gabriel states he leaves that night and to please send Phillip to say goodbye.

Elizabeth finds Paige home alone, mourning her breakup.  She tells her mom, “I broke up with Matthew. It wasn’t fair to him.”  Elizabeth wants to know how he reacted. “Not so great,”  Paige admits.  “I know how hard it must have been but I’m proud of you.”  Her words aren’t necessarily comforting to a teenage girl going through her first breakup.  It’s hard for someone like Elizabeth to connect with her own emotions, let alone the feelings of others.  It’s how she’s coped so long with her career.

Renee and Stan watch a movie together. (I believe it is Breaking Away, an awesome flick from 1979. Check it out if you haven’t seen it.)  Renee notices Stan is preoccupied and pauses the movie.  After a few seconds, Stan confesses. “I had a meeting with my boss, I thought I was getting fired. I had asked my boss’s boss to do something, make something happen. It happened but he wasn’t happy about it. But they can’t fire me yet.”  If Renee is an agent, it’s impossible to glean much from these vague statements.  Renee states, “Good.”  They return to the movie. Renee may be the perfect woman for Stan.

Phillip returns home and learns from Elizabeth that Paige broke up with Matthew. “Thank God.” (Funny, because Paige was the one who believed in God.)  Elizabeth informs him that Gabriel is leaving that night and wants to say goodbye.

Phillip approaches Paige in her bedroom.  She is lying down staring at the walls.  He tells her gently, “I’m really sorry but I have to go back out. Gabriel is leaving and I have to see him.”  Paige asks her father to say goodbye from her.  Phillip sits down on the bed next to his daughter.  “I know how you feel, you’re different from everyone else…”  Paige is miserable, “It’s a million times worse! I felt that way before all this!”  In other words, all teens feel awkward and different but for Paige she really is different.  Phillip tries to comfort her, “You’re a beautiful girl, and in time you’ll get used to it.”  This reminds me of something my stepdad told me as a teen, each of us is uniquely alone.  It’s not comforting but there is love in that type of honesty.

In Moscow, Oleg goes to a records vault to request a file on his mother’s incarceration.  She was in a camp from 1945-1951.  Oleg opens the file to see a black and white photo of his mother as a young woman.  Will he learn what she endured there and what the “charges” were made against her?

Phillip meets with Gabriel for the last time. “I’m sorry you’re leaving.”  Gabriel remarks that it’s kind of him to say as they haven’t always “seen eye to eye.”  (Is Gabriel feeling guilty for denying Phillip a chance to meet Mischa?)  Gabriel notes he’s happy returning the plant home will be his final duty.  The old man is frank, “I doubt we’ll ever see each other again.”  Phillip wants more information on Elizabeth’s mission. “It’s a list of people in opposition to the Party at home.” (The Human Rights Committee was hoping to open the books on the secrecy of the regime and its political prisoners.)  Gabriel confesses he did many terrible things when he was younger.  Phillip knows nothing about that period of time when he was a small child.  Gabriel continues, describing the prisoners in the camps who were shot or worked to death.  “Some were counter-revolutionaries but some hadn’t done anything wrong.” (This mirrors what Alexie said about his father, he was sent to a camp and died after sixteen years of hard labor.)

Gabriel continues with his confession.  He justifies some of his actions as “setting an example” in order to maintain disciple and order. He remembers everyone was scared but he believed he was acting for the “higher purpose.”  In the end, he admits he too was scared about what might happen to him if he didn’t comply with his orders.  He thinks about the people he knew from that time and notes “a lot of us didn’t make it out.”  His exposition is reminiscent of Nazi soldiers, they may not have agreed with what they had to do but were too fearful to resist. Stalin mirrored those tactics of terror.  Gabriel sighs and touches Phillip over his heart, “I have to go.”

Phillip has one final question, “Is Stan’s girlfriend one of ours?”  Gabriel scoffs, “You’re losing it!”  However, the old man notes that he may not be privy to that information since he was planning on retiring.  Gabriel concludes, “You may be right about Paige, she should be kept out of all this!”

This hour was filled with emotion and old versus fresh wounds.  Paige experiences her first big loss by breaking up with Matthew.  She may also be losing her faith and hope for a better world which is tragic for someone so young.  Stan nearly lost his job but is enjoying a life outside of work with Renee.  Gabriel reflects on a life of loss, perhaps more than he can bear alone.  He is losing his surrogate children by leaving but perhaps feels he deserves to be punished for his past dastardly deeds.  Elizabeth allowed herself to have respect for Ben only to learn he is a womanizer.  Even though she’s using him, the realization hurt her.  Will Phillip be able to navigate Paige away from their complicated lives as Gabriel wished?

Next week shows Claudia clashing with Elizabeth and Phillip.  The TSSA woman is of interest to Elizabeth, she is shown spying on her when she meets up with Stan. The paths between the FBI and the KGB might be about to intersect with potentially explosive results.

Better Call Saul, Season 3, Episode 3, Witness

Things have started to get complicated; Jimmy is about to realize the depth of his brother’s treachery and Mike plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Kim and Ernesto struggle with their relationships with Jimmy.  Everyone’s favorite chicken place proprietor from Breaking Bad returns in all his distinguished glory. Let’s order a chicken breakfast special with extra salsa and dig in!

The hour opens with Chuck making himself a cup of tea and peering out his window into the dusk outside. He whistles nervously.  He checks the peephole at the front door and ensures it’s locked.  A man plays solitaire on Chuck’s dining room table.  The man explains the cards came from a casino in Las Vegas and they are “a nice souvenir.”  Chuck requests the man switch off the camping light now that the sun has set.  The man calls him “Sir” and complies.  What has Chuck hired the man to do? Chuck makes another round of peeping out the window onto the quiet streets.

Two men sit in a sedan at night; one does a word-find while the man in the passenger seat sleeps. An SUV approaches and all the men exit their respective vehicles.  The SUV man has brought the others coffee; he asks how replacing the battery went. “No problem.”  States the puzzle find man; the other man confirms that no one saw the battery switch.  They hand the gas cap to the SUV driver.  He warns them to “Stay awake.”  The area is near a power station.  In the shadows at a safe distance, Mike observes the scene.  Mike checks the GPS as the SUV drives away.  He gets into his car to follow the man.

Mike continues to track the green Chevy Blazer with his GPS device. Mike exits his car on a lonely road outside of town. He searches around for a few minutes until he sees the other man has got out of the Blazer.  The man retrieves something stashed inside a valve box under a small overpass. The next stop is an industrial warehouse where the man appears to retrieve another small hidden item before going inside the building.  Mike watches him with binoculars from a distance.  The third stop is by a viaduct.  The man scales down the structure into one of the large drainage pipes. It’s hard for Mike to see what he does in the drainage pipe.  What is the man getting from each location or does he know he has a tail and is leading Mike on a wild ride?

 Mike sees the man pull up to beige and red-bordered building at dawn carrying a large khaki knapsack.  In front of the restaurant is a red car. (Could it be the men from earlier in the night?)  Mike looks exhausted as he once again surveys the scene with his binoculars.  He sees the Blazer driver go back into his car, with the knapsack and drive away.  Mike looks around puzzled.  Mike pulls out of the driveway and the Los Pollos Hermanos sign is revealed in front of the building. 

Jimmy greets a young woman at his law office named Francesca who has arrived for a job interview.  Jimmy is busy working on outlining the W-M motif on the wall with blue painter’s tape.  Francesca apologizes for being a little early; Jimmy says, “It’s good to be early except for death and taxes, am I right?”  He asks for her opinion on his work and she notes a part that’s crooked.  Jimmy seems to appreciate her honesty.  Kim and Jimmy interview Francesca together, she has a history of working for the MVD or DMV. She explains why in New Mexico it’s organized differently.  Jimmy asks about her experience with the elderly and if she ever yells at them. Francesca seems confused, “I would never.”  Jimmy laughs that it’s a trick question and she passed.  Kim explains how her and Jimmy’s clients and work are different.  Kim presses her on her experience. Jimmy offers her the job but Kim asks to speak with Jimmy privately.  Kim is frustrated by Jimmy’s impulsiveness.  “We need help, perfection is the enemy of perfectly adequate!” After some bickering, Kim decides to give Francesca a trial hire.  Jimmy states he’s got a commercial running in eleven minutes and needs her help immediately.

Jimmy coaches Francesca briefly at the desk. He implores her to speak loudly and clearly. As she picks up the first call, he whispers for her to be “folksy” and “mention Cracker Barrel.”  The first call goes well. Jimmy busies himself with moving around the waiting room furniture.  Francesca struggles with next caller, she states Jimmy is busy but when Jimmy learns it’s Mike and asks her to patch him through to his office.  Francesca notes, “This one really didn’t want to hear about the Cracker Barrel!”  Mike is calling from a used car lot where he’s purchasing a different vehicle.  He asks, “Are you free for breakfast tomorrow?”

Jimmy pulls into the Pollos Hermanos parking lot the next morning. Mike wants Jimmy to keep his focus on the man who drives the Chevy Blazer.  What does with the Chevy man do with the khaki knapsack he carries, does he take anything out of it, and does he leave it inside?  Jimmy is excited to help Mike. “What’s in the bag is it drugs, is it money?” Mike is impatient for Jimmy to get inside.  Jimmy scoffs, “I’ll do the job, you charmed me into it!”

Jimmy goes inside and orders a breakfast special with a cup of coffee.  He sits in a booth and looks around at the other customers.  The Chevy man enters; he too orders a breakfast special with extra salsa.  Jimmy goes to the beverage counter for a better view of the man.  The Blazer man places the knapsack at his feet and eats.  A man sweeping the floor with a broom and a dustpan temporarily obscure Jimmy’s view of the knapsack.  After another thirty seconds, the man takes the knapsack throws out his trash and exits.  Jimmy then goes to the trash can, thinking perhaps the man dropped something from the knapsack when he threw out his garbage.  The cleaning man sees Jimmy trying to get into the garbage and Jimmy quickly removes his watch for an alibi.  Gus Fring, the “cleaner” offers to help Jimmy find his watch.  Upon retrieving it, he offers to clean it off for Jimmy.  Jimmy says, “It’s okay, it’s been in worse places!” Gus looks calmly at Jimmy and asks if there's anything else he can help him with.  Jimmy thanks him and exits the chicken restaurant. 

After the meeting, Jimmy relates all the details he witnessed but is adamant that no one touched the bag.  Jimmy states, “I literally checked the trash can!” Jimmy is disappointed that Mike doesn’t want any further help with his mission. “Hey, who’s got your back? Me that’s who!” Mike says drily, “I’ll keep that in mind.”  Mike can’t figure out what happened.  It was extremely subtle but it appears that something from the knapsack ended up in Gus’s dustpan.  In front of Pollos, Gus continues to sweep up, perhaps disturbed by the unusual encounter with Jimmy.

Mike continues to wait in the Pollos parking lot, noting the make, model and license plate number of the customers.  He drinks coffee from a thermos and waits with tired eyes.  He sees a black Cadillac Escalade pull around the back of the restaurant quickly and leave mere seconds later.  The man driving the Escalade appears to be one of Tuco’s henchmen. The GPS is activated and Mike pulls out to follow the large SUV.

Across town, Ernesto drives to the new law office of Wexman and McGill.  Inside, Jimmy is busy turning on the charm for his elderly clients, Kim requests some documents from Francesca.  They look at each other and smile. Ernesto calls  Kim’s cell phone to request she meet him in the parking lot.  She gets in the young man’s car, puzzled by his demands for secrecy.  Ernesto stutters, hoping he isn’t breaking confidentiality when speaking with Kim.  He’s nervous about getting fired from HHM and doesn’t want to tell Jimmy directly.  Kim urges Ernesto to just tell her what’s on his mind. Ernesto tells his story off-screen. 

Jimmy continues inside with his normal routine of being charming towards his clients.  Kim rushes inside and demands to speak to him at once. Kim is flustered, she asks for Jimmy to give her a dollar.  He hands over a twenty.  “If anyone asks, I’m your lawyer now and we have confidentiality.  Jimmy, what did you say to Chuck?” Jimmy sets the scene, the inside of Chuck’s house looked like “the inside of a Jiffy pop” with Mylar covering the walls.  Jimmy describes his brother as being distraught over the Mesa Verde mistake. “And I couldn’t leave him like that, alone in crazy-town!”  Jimmy notes he confessed to make Chuck feel better.  However, it’s Chuck’s word against his and no one will believe Chuck given his mental state.  Kim drops the bomb, “He got it on tape, I don’t know how, but Ernie told me!”  Jimmy is incredulous, “He taped me.”  He sits silently for a moment.  Kim tries to reassure him, “I’m not sure what he can do with it, legally.  He made that tape for a reason we need to figure out why.”  Jimmy goes back to the waiting room after Kim assures him she’ll help him through this ordeal.  This revelation could hurt her too if HHM took it over to the Mesa Verde clients.

Jimmy finishes with his last client.  While he tries to appear upbeat, you can hear the strain in his voice as he congratulates Francesca on her first day of work.  “Those folks, they love you!”  Jimmy mutters to himself, “Who doesn’t?”  He’s got to be feeling that Chuck doesn’t love him if he taped him.  Kim makes a call to a professor about Jimmy’s case.  Kim gives a task for Francesca to do in her office and walks over to Jimmy.  Jimmy is at the logo wall removing the painter’s tape just as Chuck had shown him with the duct tape at his house the last episode.  She tells him she has spoken to her old criminal law professor about his predicament. She outlines how he had the right to make the tape but thinks there are many holes in the case. “If Chuck has a plan for this tape, I don’t know what it is.  All we can do is wait for his move and act accordingly.”  Jimmy thanks her.  He hopes she likes the logo, he chose the colors to reflect the blue sky (her name) over the golden mountains (his name). “It doesn’t look like a stock market crash?”  She says no, and compliments him on the wall.  Jimmy says he’s “good” but rips off the final piece of tape after she leaves, destroying the perfect line.  Jimmy runs out the door.

Mike follows the signal to a deserted stretch of highway.  He comes to a dip in the road and approaches slowly so his car remains hidden.  He looks down the road with his binoculars but doesn’t see any person or car.  Mike drives down the road. He stops when he hears a cell phone ringing.  The flip-phone is placed on top of the gas cap in the middle the road.  Mike answers, “Yeah…” With one word, Mike conveys the disappointment of several nights of careful work. Like Jimmy, he doesn't enjoy being outsmarted. 

A Jaguar zips down the street.  Howard gets out and climbs over several fences to arrive in the back of Chuck’s house.  Chuck greets his partner at the door but insists Howard remove his car and keys before entering the home. The bodyguard from the first scene is also present.  Howard indicates he is frustrated, they have waited eight days and provided Chuck with round the clock private investigators and the expenses are really starting to add up.  Chuck notes Howard’s frustration but states it’s their duty as “officers of the law to punish Jimmy, who broke the law."  (Which explains the opening scene.) Howard implores Chuck to be open to “alternative strategies.”  Chuck is open to curbing the operation to only nighttime hours.  He theorizes Jimmy will most likely break in to steal and destroy the tape while he thinks Chuck is sleeping.  Howard is skeptical.  “Howard, I know my brother!”

As if on cue, Jimmy arrives and begins pounding on the door.  After several seconds, he breaks down the front door.  Jimmy screams at his brother, “You taped me, you asshole! You pulled that heartstrings con job on me! You piece of shit!” Jimmy runs towards his brother, fuming. “Oh, my brain doesn’t work, I’m sick I don’t know what to do!”  Jimmy mocks his brother as he nears the desk. “No wonder Rebecca left you! What took her so long?”  Chuck stares at his younger brother in shock.  Jimmy takes a fire poker to destroy the locked drawer.  He finds the tape recorder and removes the tape.  Jimmy holds up the incriminating object, “Is this it? For this, you destroy our family? You happy now, for what, for nothing!”  Jimmy breaks the cassette in half and unspools the tape while asking if there are copies of it.  Chuck looks close to tears of rage.  Jimmy barks, “Tell me or I’ll burn this house to the ground!”

Howard and Dave the P.I. come out of the adjacent room.  Howard takes charge by yelling, “That’s enough Jimmy!”  Chuck asks the men, “You were a witness to what happened here?” Both and Howard and Dave confirm that they were witnesses.  Jimmy looks at his former boss and Dave in horror.  Jimmy is probably going to jail on a myriad of charges. Chuck wears an expression of satisfied contempt, he has proven himself to be the smarter lawyer. 

Next week shows Jimmy getting booked in jail; he states he’ll be representing himself.  Ernesto speaks with Kim, he feels guilty about Jimmy.  A Pollo Hermanos truck drives through the desert.  Mike looks at the truck through a riflescope.  Jimmy dons an orange jumpsuit.  Chuck has an aggressive lawyer who talks about the case possibly going to trial.  Howard warns Jimmy to be very careful going forward.

This hour was subtle but heartbreaking.  Chuck knew how to play his brother perfectly.  Why?  Is he resentful of being smarter and working harder but ending up a shut-in while Jimmy has a successful career and a girlfriend?  Speaking of his girlfriend, if Jimmy had followed Kim’s prudent advice he wouldn’t be in this predicament.  But Jimmy always has to flirt with disaster and she is an exacting mistress whom may render him dead on the floor of a Cinnabon in Omaha.  At least his ride there will be fascinating to witness.

The Americans, Season 5, Episode 6, Crossbreed

This week’s hour centers on failure and resolve.  Elizabeth learned their mission was based on a false premise; the United States was trying to alter grain so it would be more resistance.  Stan has been forced to repeatedly “fail” in trying to obtain new assets for the FBI.  Oleg struggles to present a change in hardline tactics and fail to impress his bosses.  Paige feels that she will be forced to live a solitary life due to the secrets she must keep. She feels like she has failed Matthew.  Certainly, all of the characters will have to adapt to being on the losing side. This seems especially hard for Elizabeth and Paige to deal with anything less than perfection.  The hour is filled with challenging and revealing dialogue as the main characters grapple with their past deeds.

The hour opens with meeting between Gabriel and Elizabeth.  The old man ponders the “Miss America” aspirations of trying to feed the world with altered grain.  They conclude that Morozov was brought into the project due to his expertise with the Soviet grain industry.  The mission has changed to obtain the altered grain sample and get it to the Soviets.  The relationships Phillip and Elizabeth have cultivated must continue.  Elizabeth seems frustrated, “I know it’s part of the job but.”  Gabriel notes, “It’s a long career, nothing is wrong with you, ever.”  Elizabeth and Phillip have hardly been able to live any other life separate from their work in the KGB.  He gives her another assignment that he describes as “easy” it involves a psychiatrist. Elizabeth asks her boss if how he’s feeling. “I’m just tired, but I’m old.”

The Jennings family eat dinner a rare dinner together.  Henry’s progress in the advanced math class is noted.  Phillip asks if Henry has any interest in running their travel agency someday.  (An old world assumption, to go into the family business.)  Henry doesn’t know what he wants to do but has “bigger plans” then running a modest travel agency.

Dinner breaks up and Elizabeth talks to Phillip in the kitchen.  She turns on the faucet to mask their conversation.  Elizabeth is concerned about how Phillip is coping with murdering the “innocent” lab manager.  Phillip seems troubled but only says, “I’ve done the job, and I’ve always done it.”  Elizabeth notes she has a new solo assignment involving a psychiatrist.

Mischa arrives back in the U.S.S.R. on a small plane at night.  A man in a fur coat and hat meets him. In those days, he would have probably had to meet with the State to “debrief” on what he saw and did in the West.

Phillip has another flashback of his childhood.  His father brought home some dirty boots, which were washed and salvaged by his mother.  He relates this memory to Elizabeth as they lay in bed together.  He notes how growing up they had to scrap by to have material possessions and now (in America) they have “everything.”  Phillip struggles to reconcile these parts of his life.

Stan and Aderholt approach a woman on a bench at a children’s playground.  Aderholt begins his pitch about working with the FBI and how they could provide opportunities for both her and her young son.  Unlike the other men they have approached, the mother listens but replies, “It is not safe talking to you.”  Stan hands her his card, notes it’s a private telephone number and encourages her to think about their offer.  The woman accepts the card.

Ben and Elizabeth speak after “sexy time.”  He notes there has been a shift in her demeanor.  “I felt something different, a whole other side of you I don’t know at all.”  It’s just like she warned Paige, after physical intimacy, there are feelings you can’t hide.  Elizabeth feigns ignorance, stating she’s not a deep person at all but Ben is perceptive enough not to believe this.  He asks her to stick out her tongue, and uses his knowledge of ancient Chinese medicine to diagnose her with “excessive heart heat.” He explains that the condition is due to emotional turmoil and blocks the chi. He rises from the bed and begins demonstrating tai chi. He urges her to join him.  She mirrors his movements well and seems to relax.  Being with Ben is proving to be a challenge for the usually pragmatic Elizabeth.

Claudia and Gabriel walk and discuss Mischa. The young man has returned home and been granted his old job back.  Gabriel notes how Mischa looked so much like Phillip, especially when troubled.  Gabriel is troubled by his lie of omission.  Phillip still doesn’t know his son was in the United States looking for him.  Claudia assures him he did the right thing.

Late at night, Gabriel walks near the Washington Monument and then on towards the Lincoln Memorial.  He looks the large statue of the sixteenth President with quiet reverence.

Oleg and Raslan pay a visit to the grocery supplier's home. On the coffee table are boxes of expensive watches and cash.  They demand the man tell them how the operation works.  The man refuses to tell them where the money and items came from but says that they give some of the surplus goods away to orphanages and hospitals.  Oleg asks, “Who pays you?”  The man replies, “I can’t say, you don’t know who you’re dealing with!”  It’s possible the corruption goes all the way to the very top of the Party establishment.  Ultimately, it could be the anti-corruptions unit that will get into trouble for exposing important people.

Phillip meets with the new “spotters” including the woman who witnessed the body being removed from the lab in Kansas and an African-American man.  They are currently tasked with following Evegena’s new job teaching Russian for the CIA.  Phillip warns them to be very careful in photographing her movements.

A Mary Kay representative comes to the door.  Paige welcomes the woman and seems interested in her pitch but Elizabeth is forceful in her disinterest. After nearly shutting the door in the woman’s face, Paige admonishes her mom. “You weren’t very nice to her.”  Elizabeth replies, “Being nice would have just wasted her time because I wasn’t going to buy anything.”  But is the real reason because Elizabeth is troubled by the memory her Mary Kay representative friend from last season Young Hee?

Oleg goes to the park at night.  Has he decided to try and meet with the CIA?

Phillip and Elizabeth meet with Gabriel to go over their current assignments.  Gabriel stops the conversation, “Hold on, I have to talk to you. I’m going home, it’s time.”  The couple looks shocked.  He continues, “You have each other.  Phillip, the Centre is worried about you, and once they start worrying about you, they never stop. You’ve both seen too much, done too much.”

Oleg looks around the nearly deserted park. No one has arrived to meet him.

Elizabeth dons a curly wig and enters a lobby of a large office building.  She ducks into a public restroom and smokes a cigarette in a stall.  She heats a key using the flame, then walks down the hallway and inserts it into a door of a psychiatry practice.  (She is likely making a mold of the key to break into the office later.) 

Elizabeth meets with the doctor for a session.  She pretends to be embarrassed and flustered.  She states she was referred by a “friend” and describes (in part) her near mugging at the hands of two homeless men, one who was armed with a knife.  In this version, she doesn’t kill a man, but others happen by and stop the attack.  “I realize how lucky I am.”  She notes she’s been taking self-defense classes (rather than giving them to Paige) but she still can’t shake the memory of the experience. “I want to feel like I did before.”  The doctor describes her experience as post-traumatic stress; he encourages her to share her feelings.

Elizabeth meets with Phillip at the travel agency.   Phillip is curious about her experience with the doctor but Elizabeth just notes the file cabinets in his office will be easy to break into.  Elizabeth expresses dismay at the news that Gabriel is leaving.  Phillip wonders if she is privy to more information about it.  They both wonder if he’s ill, perhaps seriously.  Phillip shares more memories of his past with his wife.  He shares that there were many people in his village “lowlifes” who used to stare with hatred at him and his brother.  Elizabeth encourages him to ask Gabriel about his past, noting “He would have read everything about you in your file.”  It’s strange to think that the government knows more about Phillip’s past than him.

Henry shares “stuffed peppers” with Stan.  Henry complains that his parents are still incredulous that he was able to move to an advanced math class.  Stan teases him, “We always knew you were a brainiac, but you just never did any work before!”  The conversation shifts to Henry’s romantic interests, he’s now harboring a crush on a girl his own age. Stan wonders whether Henry knows why Paige “hasn’t been coming around much lately.”  But Henry isn’t privy to his sister’s many secrets.

Phillip goes to speak to Gabriel alone.  He asks after the older man’s health but Gabriel maintains he’s fine.  Phillip describes the memories he’s having about his past.  He notes his mother told him very little about his father except that they met at the movies and were married a month later.  Gabriel says Phillip’s father worked at a “logging camp.”  Phillip relates his memory of his father bringing home a myriad of used items.  Gabriel notes that his father was actually a guard at a work camp or gulag.  Phillip asks if his father ever had to kill anyone while they were attempting to escape.  Gabriel will only say that he didn’t personally know Phillip’s father but “There were kind guards and cruel ones.”

Gabriel notes Phillip’s father “worked for us.”  Phillip theorizes that is why the KGB later recruited him.  The old man adds, “It was a different time, a lot of things happened. He was a nobody, we were all nobodies then.”  This conversation reveals the deeply difficult time Soviets had in speaking about the post-war Stalinist era.  There were many atrocities, but the history books have largely been scrubbed clean of what really happened.  Like many Nazi’s after the war, the idea of “following orders” and being a small part of a big evil was a fiction many clung to in order to cope with what happened during that period.

Elizabeth watches Young Hee’s house from a parked car.  A family arrives and enters the house but it isn’t her old friend.  Elizabeth felt guilty about the abrupt end to their friendship after she staged an affair with Young Yee's  husband.  Elizabeth seems newly in touch with long repressed feelings.

Elizabeth returns home and finds Paige reading Marx's "Das Capital" in her bedroom.  Elizabeth is shocked to learn she got the book from Pastor Tim.  Paige notes that there are many ideas in it which she agrees with except with his ideas about religion.  Elizabeth seems to fondly remember studying the book herself and relates some highlights of Marx’s theories.  Paige is ambivalent about Marx’s denouncement of religion.  She tries to explain to her atheist mother. “Getting baptized was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life.”  Elizabeth explains how “my country came out of those ideas.”  Paige asks her mom what the Soviet Union is like.  Elizabeth notes that it has its problems but everyone is “in it together.”  Paige notes that it’s been a long time since she has been there.  Elizabeth laughs, noting she sounds just like Phillip.  Elizabeth cautions her to hide the book on her shelf with other “texts on the subject” which Elizabeth will procure for her.

Elizabeth comes into the garage to speak with Phillip after his meeting with Gabriel.  Phillip looks stunned and he shares with her what he learned.  Elizabeth isn't sure what to think, she's heard about the camps but neither of them really know what happened inside them. Phillip muses, “I don’t know why my mother never told me.”

Peter Gabriel’s “Lay Your Hands on Me” overlays the final scenes of the episode. The lyrics highlight the struggle between the mundane and the divine, of our longing to be connected to something deeper. (Lyrics will be in quotation surrounding the description of the scenes.)

“Sat in the corner in the Garden Grill with the plastic flowers near the window sill.

No more miracles, loaves, and fishes, been so busy with the washing of the dishes.”

Oleg views the supplier man who sits imprisoned for his part in the corruption case.  Oleg returns home to collect the incriminating tape and note. 

“Reaction levels much too high, I can do without the stimuli!”

As he leaves his parent’s apartment, he nods to his mother in the kitchen who gives him a knowing smile.

“I’m living way beyond my ways and means, living in the zone of the in-betweens.  I can see flashes on the frozen ocean, static charge of cold emotion.”

Oleg looks at his father who is drinking his tea but doesn’t acknowledge him leaving.

“Watched on by the distant eyes, watched on by the silent hidden spies.”

Oleg stands on the snow-covered rooftop of his building.  He strikes a match to burn the note containing the map.

“But still the warmth flows through me, and I sense you know me well. No luck no golden chances, no mitigating circumstances now.  It’s only common sense, there are no accidents ‘round here!”

Oleg pulls the tape out of the cassette and sets it on fire.

“I am willing-lay your hands on me! I am ready- lay your hands on me! I believe- lay your hands on me, over me!”

Paige joins her parents in the car.  They exit together and approach Gabriel’s apartment to say a final goodbye.  The old man smiles warmly at Paige.  Is she going to follow her parent's path or will he try to convince her to live her own life?

The hour was filled with conversations as each character navigates their search for truth.  The fears from the past and for the future have invaded the present.  Will Oleg jump off the roof?  There seems to be a symbolic nature to his destruction of the evidence against him.

Next week’s preview shows the details of what Gabriel will tell Paige. “To you, they are just your parents but to us they are heroes!”  Stan has more dangerous intimacy with Renee as she tries to get him to reveal details about his work.  The FBI works on trying to obtain cooperation from the young Soviet mother.  Although there is still much of the season to go, each character’s final trajectory is becoming clearer each hour.