The Americans, Season 6, Episode 5, The Great Patriotic War

If the final season is a roller coaster, this week’s installment was a pair of upside-down loops!  Paige features prominently; her “ad lib” activities have caused a commotion with both her mother and father.  Meanwhile, Oleg has an uncomfortable reunion with Tatiana, an old friend from the Rezidentura.  Claudia and Elizabeth continue their propaganda campaign with Paige; this week they discuss the “Great Patriotic War.”  Elizabeth’s arc into madness and self-destruction is made clear in the final moments of the hour.  Is there any possible redemption for her?

Stan pulls up to a café and buys a cake.  Lookouts observe him by car and on the street.  Stan walks into a brick building and is let in by an FBI agent.  Sofia complains about not knowing anyone in her new area.  The plan is to move her and Illia to Oklahoma.  She is anxious about what this may mean for her child’s education and her relationship with Gennadi.  Stan assures her that her son will adjust and she’ll be safe there.  Although Sofia is skeptical about reuniting with Gennadi, she’s counting on Stan to help him with this adjustment.  She says, “You’re his only friend in America.”  She’s warming up to the idea of starting over with Gennadi in someplace new.

Claudia reviews the surveillance pictures Paige took at the hotel of the negotiating team.  Again, Nesterenko is present with an American and a CIA member from the “Soviet Division.”  The women are trying to determine who might be the “man inside” the Americans were discussing.  It’s not yet clear.  Elizabeth shares that the next Breeland (Kimmie’s father) tape will not be available until after the summit.  Elizabeth seems disgusted at the notion of a bourgeois college student planning such an extravagant vacation abroad.  “If Nesterenko is bad we need to know now, before the summit.”  Elizabeth can’t discuss “Dead Hand” with Claudia but she’s clearly stressed about pleasing this inner anti-Gorbachev wing of the KGB.  Claudia agrees to help.  Claudia asks how “the courier” search is coming and Elizabeth confesses they are “still looking.”

Paige enters the flat and the tense tone shifts as Claudia warmly greets her.  Paige’s lesson for the day is “The Great Patriotic War.” (What the Soviets/Russians call WW II)   Claudia wants to discuss the conflict from the Soviet viewpoint, the Red Army, not the Allies defeated Hitler and suffered far greater losses.  (Thanks to many decisions made by Stalin, like the starving suffered at the siege of Stalingrad.Although Stalin was a key figure in the war, great atrocities were also inflicted by the Red Army. Some feared the Soviets more than the Nazis.)  Claudia shows Paige a picture of her house after the siege of Stalingrad.  Claudia states she lost her whole family during the war.  Paige is open to what she is told, and it’s never clear if Claudia or Elizabeth is ever being entirely honest with her.

Stan travels to the next “safe-house”, this time carrying a pizza.  A different group of KGB lookouts tracks his movements.  Gennadi and Stan eat pizza while enjoying the game and beer.  As a former player, Gennadi often yells passionately at the plays on the television.

Elizabeth reminds Paige of the “propaganda” she learned in ninth grade about World War II.  “I wanted to tear that bullshit they were teaching you right out of your head and shove the truth right in there!” (Now she is doing that with her active efforts to indoctrinate Paige that the Soviet Union is good and the West is the “evil empire.”  Not too different from what you’d see on “RT” today!)  Paige brings up Brian, how she met him at a party and he offered her information on the Defense Budget.  Elizabeth is unhappy, she wants Paige to control the conversation or act like she’s not interested in “that stuff.”  Paige is surprised and states that he has information so why shouldn’t she go after it?  Elizabeth wants her to leave Brian alone.  Paige doesn’t disclose she’s already slept with him!

Gennadi is onto his fifth beer when Stan decides to leave.  Stan is spotted by several lookouts.  An FBI agent is also stationed near Gennadi’s apartment as a lookout.  The lookouts drive away.

Elizabeth comes home to the bedroom to find Philip crunching numbers on a small calculator.  Elizabeth sits down on the bed.  “We told Paige about the war, how we fought, how many we lost…”  Philip wants to know how his daughter reacted.  Elizabeth nods, “I think she got it!” The conversation lulls, Elizabeth touches Philip’s tired face, and hands. Soon, they are kissing, probably for the first time in months.  As they lay down on the bed, the calculator beeps in error.  They laugh and continue to make love.

In the morning, Elizabeth smokes outside in the cold.  Philip greets her warmly with a kiss.  A cloud of tension has lifted between them after the previous night’s activities.  Philip rushes back inside to make coffee.  In the kitchen, Elizabeth speaks about the problems with the summit.  Elizabeth shares one Soviet (Nesterenko) is meeting with a CIA operative from the Soviet division.  “We’ve got to find out what he’s saying, I think there might be a way but I need your help.  You have to meet Kimmie in Greece.”  Elizabeth elaborates, the plan is to get Kimmie to cross the border into Bulgaria, plant drugs on her and put her in prison.  They would then contact her father, offer to release her in exchange for the information they need from the CIA Soviet division. Philip looks incredulous, “There has to be another way.”  Elizabeth is adamant, “Everything, the summit, our security, everything we’ve been working on comes down to this and all you need to do is go on a trip!” 

Elizabeth apologizes but states the mission is too important.  He counters that Kimmie is “just a kid.”  Elizabeth scoffs, “Not anymore!”  Philip thinks that the plan is flawed, and the information may not even be useful at great risk for Kimmie.  Elizabeth assures him that Philip would be done with “all of it” if he can complete this last task.  Elizabeth makes her finale manipulative pitch, “I haven’t asked for much, anything really but I need this one.”  It seems any hope of reconciliation between them has evaporated.  It’s questionable if Elizabeth only slept with Philip last night so that she may curry this last favor out of him.  Elizabeth seems completely soulless at this point.

 Paige and some friends are at a local watering hole listening to a live band.  An attractive young man approaches Paige and her friends.  He offers to buy Paige a drink that she accepts.  Her friends decide to call it a night leaving Paige to stay and flirt with the man over pinball and drinks.

Gennadi ventures out to a corner market un-chaperoned.  Elizabeth follows his movements in the market.  She crosses the street and down an alley while Gennadi is still in the market.

Philip has traveled to Ann Arbor to visit with Kimmie.  Philip says he needs to go to Rome on business and suggests he could visit her in Greece.  Kimmie isn’t keen on the idea, stating that her friends and she have a “crazy schedule.”  Philip opens the car door for her, he remarks on his chivalry. “We aim to please.”  Philip sighs before entering the car, seducing Kimmie after years of platonic friendship is proving difficult.

Gennadi exits the market and makes his way down a narrow brick-lined alley.  Elizabeth, in disguise, approaches him and asks for a light for her cigarette.  (How is she planning to take down a large man alone?)  A federal agent runs up to Gennadi, scolding him for going out by himself.  Gennadi lights Elizabeth’s cigarette.  Gennadi and the agent continue back to the flat.

The attractive man at the bar is telling Paige about his first experience jumping out of an aircraft.  (Is he in the Air Force?)  Paige soaks up the story, especially as he describes how beautiful it was to see the landscape from that perspective for the first time.  The man’s friend overhears and adds crassly,  “You told me it was like getting jerked off for the first time!”  The first man asks his friend to shut up but he continues, adding that it would be nice to get “jerked off” by an attractive girl like Paige.  Paige moves to leave as the first man apologizes for his friend, stating he’s drunk.  The second man chides Paige, “You’re not even that hot anyway!”  Paige puts on her coat and fires back, “If you ever want to get laid again, get a better wingman!” The “wingman” in question stands up, grabs Paige by the wrist sneering, “What did you say, bitch?”  Paige begins to punch the man in his face and chest.  With the "wingman" on the ground, Paige hastens to leave the bar.  The first man runs after Paige, asking after her and grabbing her again by the wrist.  Paige cold-cocks him in the nose.  The crowd looks on at the scene.  Paige hustles out the door.

In Ann Arbor, Philip is dropping Kimmie back to her home.  She thanks him for the meal and is about to get out when Philip stops her, “I’m proud of you. You’ve grown into a smart, interesting woman.”  Kimmie smiles and Philip continues, “I’m a little intimidated by you.”  Philip expresses fear that soon she will be bored with him.  Kimmie assures him that they’re friends and she’ll see him at Christmas break.  Philip makes one last offer to go to Greece.  Philip leans in to kiss her but after  quickly apologizes if he was “out of line.”  Kimmie, absorbing all his flattery smiles and confesses she liked the kiss.  In the next scene Philip is on top of Kimmie, she smiles warmly but Philip looks deeply pained by deceiving her into bed.  Even though Kimmie is now an “adult”, Philip still views her as an innocent child.

Stan and Renee walk outside in the morning.  They make plans to have dinner together.  Stan smiles; he has had an epiphany about her desire to become an FBI agent.  He thinks she may fit in well in the personnel department, especially with her experience in the private sector.  Renee seems interested stating she’ll give the idea some thought.  The question lingers, is she KGB?

Elizabeth is wearing her hideous nurse’s aid disguise as she tends to Erica.  Erica is suffering but is focuses her energy on Elizabeth’s drawing lessons.  The dying woman is upset that Elizabeth hasn’t been practicing her drawing outside their time together.  “I don’t have a lot of free time!”  Erica is puzzled by this notion of “Free time, is that what you call this, ‘free time?"  Erica refuses morphine, demanding Elizabeth keep working on her sketches.  “There is someone in there that can see, but you have to put in the time, that’s what time is for.”  Erica continues to cough and suffer but demands Elizabeth keep drawing, that is the dying woman’s wish and Elizabeth complies.  Erica settles down but Elizabeth continues to look uncomfortable.

Oleg exits his class at George Mason University when someone calls his name.  It’s Tatiana, his former colleague, and lover from the Rezidentura.  They attempt to make small talk, Oleg says he’s thought about her, Tatiana notes she heard he was back and had to see for herself.  Oleg reminds her that he returned to the Soviet Union for “family matters.”  He states he’s back in the United States to study.  Tatiana points out there are good universities back home.  Oleg tries to steer the conversation away from their difficult past but soon Tatiana tears down his pleasantries.  “I know it was you!  You told the Americans about my operation.  I told them I thought it was you but you got out of it didn’t you?”  Oleg begins to anger, he recalls how he was interrogated and may have been killed for his involvement with the Americans.  Tatiana doesn’t care about him, she feels betrayed.  She compares his freedom to travel and high position in the government to her situation, still working at the same low level for the last five years and lucky not to have been fired.  Oleg looks at her with contempt; he apologizes but states the only thing that will help is moving on.  "You’ve moved on, that’s nice, you should try looking behind you some time and think about all the things you destroyed on the way!”  The two part ways.  Some wounds can’t be resolved.

Philip stands in front of a mirror in their bedroom, Elizabeth comes into frame behind him asking, “How did it go?”  Philip nods, “Fine.”  He begins to unpack, confirming that “it” is on, the plan to meet Kimmie in Greece.  A car approaches, “Were you expecting Paige?”  Paige comes in with a bruise over her right eye.  She asks Elizabeth if they can spar in the garage.  Philip looks concerned.

The Soviet ambassador and Tatiana debrief about the Oleg situation over tea.  Tatiana notes that Oleg didn’t disclose the true purpose of his visit.  Tatiana states she doesn’t trust Oleg.  The ambassador states he'd rather not send a cable back reporting "they don't know" what's going on with Oleg.  She suggests that they put pressure on Oleg’s father to make him talk.  The ambassador responds, “They should get rid of his father and everyone like him.”  (Meaning the corrupt Party class.)  Tatiana nods, “Oleg’s not here for GRU, he’s not here for us and he’s not loyal, send that cable!”

Philip looks on as Paige and Elizabeth spar in the garage.  Elizabeth is tough and frequently bests Paige in force and speed.  Paige takes a quick break and Elizabeth demands to know what’s happened.  “These two assholes started a fight with me.” (Not exactly!)  Elizabeth is horrified to learn that Paige fought the men, in a bar she’s been frequenting in front of numerous witnesses!  “It can never happen again, you can’t draw attention to yourself like that!”  Paige is frustrated, “You need to get off my ass, your not my boss every second of every day! You don’t tell me who I should or shouldn’t sleep with!”  Philip and Elizabeth are both taken aback.  Philip gasps, “What!”  Paige adds as she’s leaving, “If I like a guy, I’ll do whatever I want!”  Elizabeth yells if she likes a guy fine.  “If I don’t like a guy why would I sleep with him?”  Paige leaves in her car.

Philip follows Elizabeth to the kitchen asking for an explanation of the scene he just witnessed.  Elizabeth says she told Paige NOT to sleep with a brother of the kid from school, the congressional intern.  Philip follows Elizabeth upstairs.  Elizabeth tries to minimize the situation, “She’s like any other girl her age, she sees a cute guy…”  Elizabeth concludes that maybe Philip was right; maybe Paige is “not cut out for this.”  Philip counters, “That was never the point, she can do it, it's that maybe she SHOULDN’T.”   Elizabeth exits this uncomfortable argument stating she has to work.

Elizabeth walks towards Gennadi’s flat wearing a short dark wig and dark clothes.  She watches the lookout in the front of the flat before crossing the street and continuing down an alley toward the back of the building.  With the aid of a trashcan, she gets a boost up to the fire escape.  She climbs several floors and opens a window to climb into the kitchen area of Gennadi’s flat.  She can hear a television and man and a woman’s voice.  Gennadi says he’s happy she came and he’s going to sleep on the couch.  Elizabeth hides behind the refrigerator as Sofia goes into the kitchen to pour some juice.  After Sofia exits, Elizabeth moves to behind the door.  Gennadi enters and rinses a glass out in the sink.  As he looks around, Elizabeth rushes him, plunging a knife forcefully into his throat, muting any sounds.  The large man goes down to the floor; Elizabeth finishes killing him by slitting his throat.  Sofia is drawn by the noise and calls, “Gennadi?”  Sofia gasps as she sees Elizabeth, with Gennadi dead on the floor.  Sofia attempts to run down the hall but Elizabeth plunges her knife into the back of the TASS journalist before savagely slitting her throat.  Elizabeth looks down the hall to where Sofia was running.  She sees Illia sleeping, he holds a stuffed monkey as the television blares a children’s program.  Elizabeth glances at the newly orphaned boy before slipping out of the apartment.

Philip goes to see Paige at her apartment.  She seems surprised to see him.  After confirming she’s alone, Philip begins, “I remember that feeling, of being able to do that to people.”  Paige notes that she’s never hit anyone before, except for Elizabeth in sparring.  He asks Paige how she feels and she replies, “I don’t think I’m the same as you dad.”  Here, it’s clear Paige believes what her mom has told her about Philip, that he was “too weak” for the job.  “I know you’re not into what me and mom do but I am!”  Philip doesn’t contradict her but looks at her inquisitively. (Little does she know her father is also a cold-blooded murderer.)   Philip asks that Paige hit him.  She hesitates, not wanting to hurt whom she considers the “weaker parent.”  Philip assures her that he’ll be okay.  In a few moves, Philip has flipped her, got her in a headlock and slammed her against the wall.  He hold firm as she struggles but she’s no match for her father.  She’s unwilling to “tap out.”  He lets her go, whispering, “Not bad.”  Philip walks down the hallway alone.

Gennadi’s flat is abuzz with police activity.   Stan arrives and flashes his badge.  The bodies of the deceased are being carried out.  Illia, wide-eyed and tearful is still clutching his stuffed toy as a social worker leads him away from the horrific scene.  (He looks eerily like a young Philip.)  This was major screw-up for the FBI, why was the back alley not covered, and why was the window open? Will the agent remember seeing Elizabeth the previous night in that alleyway?

Paige arrives at Claudia’s flat.  The mood is more somber than usual. “What are we doing today?”  Claudia instructs Paige to take a shot of olive oil first, to coat the stomach prior to drinking to prevent the absorption of alcohol.  Elizabeth stresses the importance of being “less drunk” than they are.  The women proceed to take shots of vodka to test the olive oil theory.

Stan surprises Philip with a visit.  Philip is pleasantly surprised, as Stan doesn’t come over as often since he’s been dating Renee.  Stan confesses he’s upset about “work stuff.”   Stan elaborates, “There was this old case from when I was working against the Russians, these two people just got killed.  That happens sometimes but it’s always rough.”  Stan feels like he failed them, noting that they were supposed to be relocating the couple but instead they got murdered, their seven-year-old found them covered in blood.  Philip knows this was Elizabeth.  He pretends he’s merely shocked by the grisly details of the crime.  Stan notes he had just been watching hockey with the man…

Claudia talks about her sexual history, first with her husband, then when he died, a Red Army soldier in return for half his rations.  Elizabeth notes how they starved during the war, and “ate rats.”  Paige asks her mom about her first time, Elizabeth is coy, stating only that she was much younger than her daughter the first time.  She tells a story of a boy who mistook her intimate area for the couch cushions!  Despite all the tension, they all have a good laugh about long lost lovers.

Philip calls Kimmie from a payphone. “The reason I’m calling you is because do you remember when you told me I was stuck? You were right, I can’t go meet you in Greece.”  Kimmie is confused and distraught.  Philip continues, “I care about you a lot and I can’t keep doing this to you.  Not as friends, not as anything”  Here again it's demonstrated that even though Kimmie and Philip’s relationship isn’t based on truth, it contains truth.  He can’t go through with the plan to blackmail her father.  Kimmie says, “Something is wrong with you.” Philip agrees but states he has to move on.  Philip does something he’s never done before.  “Kimmie, when you’re in Greece if somebody tries to get you to go to a communist country with them don’t go, go to Greece, stay in Greece and then come home.”  Obviously, Kimmie can’t understand why he’s telling her this.  Philip hangs up mournfully.

This extended hour was an emotional and tense one. Paige appears to be struggling to assert her individual identity even at the risk of losing her mom's approval.  Philip wants to ensure that Paige will be able to handle the parts of the job that Elizabeth hasn't disclosed.  Stan continues to be haunted by his work in counter-intelligence. Oleg remains at risk while in America. What can he expect to accomplish? Elizabeth seems devoid of any trace of humanity as she tries to blindly keep following orders. 

Next week the fecal matter continues to hit the oscillating device!  Dennis summons Stan downstairs, “Every time I go downstairs, someone ends up dead.”  Claudia speaks about an operation in Chicago. Philip and Oleg appear to be up to things.  Dennis tells Stan, “We are going to get the Russians here and we’re Russians all over the country, it’s going to happen fast.”  This season is happening almost too fast as we are already nearer the half-way point. 

The Americans, Season 6, Episode 4, Mr. and Mrs. Teacup

So far this season has been a non-stop emotional rollercoaster.  Each hour it becomes clearer that something or someone is going to collapse this house of cards.  The divisions have never been starker, between the KGB and the glasnost wing in the USSR and between Philip and Elizabeth.  Stan tries to keep away from counter-intelligence but keeps becoming drawn back in to help Dennis.  The titular “Mr. and Mrs. Teacup” are Sofia and Gennadi who now are vulnerable as they enter witness protection after seeking political asylum.  Philip struggles to find purpose in the private sector while attempting to be a long-distance father to Henry.  Elizabeth and Paige have formed a strong alliance based on false pretenses, but Elizabeth is still very much alone with the true dirty nature of her work.  Philip and Oleg may prove to be a volatile combination, which leads to the end of the secrets and lives of spies on both sides.  

The hour begins with Philip and Oleg’s second meeting to discuss Elizabeth and the power struggles in the Soviet regime.  Although neither man is active in the KGB, both share a hope for a better future for their country.  They begin by comparing their experiences in the U.S.; Oleg explains he worked at the Embassy and Philip notes he’s been outside for so long it’s hard to remember the Soviet Union.  Oleg observes, “One thing I learned is that they are NOT crazy, we can make peace with them, now maybe the best chance we ever get. That’s why I’m here.”  Oleg explains that the Centre is actively trying to get rid or Gorbachev.  The fear is that with choice, the people will not choose to be communists.  Philip asks why Oleg left the KGB, Oleg pauses before carefully answering, “It wasn’t for me, there is something rotten about it.”  Philip notes that Elizabeth “would never do anything to hurt our country.”  Oleg replies, “We know how loyal she is, but that loyalty can be used.”  Oleg implores Philip to find out what Elizabeth has been working on.  Philip tells Oleg all he knows, but his information is only fragments now that Elizabeth no longer confides in him.  Oleg states that they can’t meet in person again due to American surveillance of his movements. 

Philip returns home free of his disguise.  He sees Elizabeth outside smoking in the dark.  Elizabeth meets Philip in the kitchen and asks, “How was work?”  Philip replies fine and offers her a beer.  She declines.  Was Philip attempting to loosen her tongue with alcohol?  Elizabeth is too savvy to be tricked in this way.

Elizabeth and a crew of lookouts, including Paige are at the warehouse to steal the radiation detection sensor based on information from the man she murdered last week.  An agent turns off the power inside so that Elizabeth can enter the gates.  The tension mounts as Elizabeth goes into the facility alone.  Several guards soon pursue her as she makes her way in the dark with only the assistance of a tiny flashlight. She shoots out some lights that have come back on.  It’s difficult to see what’s happening but it appears that she shots several guards with a silenced firearm.  Outside, sirens begin to wail in the distance, the older woman, Paige and a man listen carefully, looking concerned.  Elizabeth is deep inside the warehouse, trying to gain access to wrapped palates.  Another security guard has responded to the commotion and is shot.  Elizabeth is breathing heavily, she can hear the sirens and guards on walkie-talkies.  The older woman waits in an alley for Elizabeth.  Paige and the man drive away from the facility.  Finally, Elizabeth rushes into the older woman’s car just as a line of police cars rush to the scene on an adjacent street.

Philip has donned his “Jim” disguise as the aging cool guy with great Afghan Kush.  He’s meeting Kimmie, now a Michigan State junior.  They continue to share an easy flirty friendship.  (Philip is there to access the bug he’s placed on her CIA father.) “ Jim” wonders what his next move will be, “I’d like to use my powers for good.”  Kimmie explains she’s going to Greece over Thanksgiving break with friends.  She scoffs at him, “You’re stuck, you’re too great to be stuck, you need to ‘seize the day.’”  It’s funny how even in their relationship based on false pretenses how Kimmie can see Philip’s true feelings.

Paige debriefs with her mom after the warehouse mission.  Paige explains she loves the work but finds it hard to sleep afterward. Elizabeth confesses that she didn’t get what she needed at the warehouse and “it's like that sometimes.”  Paige mentions she’s met a potential person of value, a young man working as an intern for a Congressman from Florida on the Armed Services Committee.  Philip returns home, calls out to Paige before he notices that she and Elizabeth are “working.” 

Paige ignores her father and he expresses frustration. “Right back into it! Is this how it is?”  Paige offers to leave, but Philip probes her on her feelings about the General’s “suicide.”  Paige calmly repeats her version of events, he was troubled and that her mom tried to stop him.  Paige insists she’s fine.  Philip directs his ire at Elizabeth, “Why did he kill himself?”  She’s flippant, “You’d have to ask him.”  Paige begins to answer her father, “Sometimes bad things happen in the world…”  Philip frowns, “Don’t lecture me about ‘the world’!”  Paige offers to leave again rather than see her parents fight.  Philip exits the room.

Elizabeth assures her daughter that Philip loves her but “something got lost” in him; the work was too much for him.  Elizabeth adds that she is so proud of Paige.  This is likely the approval Paige has always been seeking from her mother.  Elizabeth asks her daughter to “forget about this intern.”  Elizabeth elaborates, “If you want to date somebody, great if you want to go after someone as a source, great, but you don’t mix the two things.”  Paige promises that she won’t pursue him.  Elizabeth cautions her that she is not prepared to “work a source.”  Elizabeth reminds Paige that the goal is to prepare her for a job as an asset in the State Department.  Elizabeth has vowed to keep her safe and prepare her for that life.

Philip works in the upstairs bedroom when Elizabeth confronts her regarding Paige.  She accuses him of being out of line, and that this was not "their deal."  Philip states she put Paige’s life in danger.  Elizabeth promises it won’t happen again but Philip notes, “How can you know that?”  Elizabeth is confident Paige will “learn from her mistakes.”  (Not that one can always prevent mistakes, especially in this work.)  Philip turns over the tape from Kimmie’s father; her vacation to Greece will bar any further tapes until Christmas.  Elizabeth is furious; the tapes are vital before the upcoming summit in early December.  Phillip shrugs, he can’t help Kimmie’s travel plans.  Elizabeth storms out, “I’m going downstairs, don’t wait up!”

Oleg phones his father at the Transportation Bureau.  It’s clear that they both know the call is being recorded.  They exchange small talk and assurances about the health of Oleg’s family.  Oleg gives his father “academic” information about train algorithms.  (Is this to cover for the “official purpose” for his visit to the U.S. or is this coded information passed between father and son?)

Elizabeth debriefs Claudia about the tape from Kimmie’s father.  It appears that the CIA might have a “guy inside” of the Soviet government who may be working on the upcoming negotiations.  Claudia has found out about Stan’s ongoing case in counter-intelligence.  They know about the defections of Gennadi and his family.  Claudia wants Elizabeth to “deal with” the couple prior to their entrance into witness protection.  Claudia is upset at the prospect of the United States using a former member of the Soviet national hockey team for capitalist propaganda.  “Picture him in Time magazine talking about how terrible we are!”  It sounds like things are even more dangerous now for the unhappy couple.  Elizabeth asks what they should do next with Paige.  Claudia suggests another movie.  Claudia and Elizabeth have their own propaganda campaign going on with Paige.

Philip calls Henry at school.  Philip attempts to find out how his son is doing, the discussion turns to the familiar subject of hockey.  Henry is looking forward to being named team captain next season, his senior year.  Philip tries to explain how the travel agency is not doing well since the expansion.  Henry isn’t sure how that relates to him; Philip confesses he doesn’t know if he can afford the private school next year.  Henry is speechless and essentially hangs up on his father.

 The contrast between the parents is illustrated in these short scenes, Paige has her mother’s affection and attention while Philip has failed Henry by failing at the business and potentially failing to keep him sheltered from the family’s problems.  Where Elizabeth continues to lie to Paige earning her admiration, Philip is brutally honest with his son, earning his scorn.

Nestorova walks into his hotel, the  KGB team is keeping tabs on his movements.  The older woman reports to Elizabeth, “He’s in room 1203, the team is cycling every eight minutes, Julie is next.”  Elizabeth hands information to the older lady about Stan and Gennadi.  She hopes that by tailing Stan, they will lead them to the safe house where the family is hiding temporarily.  She cautions the lady not to use “Julie” in this case, as she’s “too inexperienced”.  Julie is Paige’s alias, and if she were to follow Stan it could have disastrous results given how readily he could identify her.  Paige follows the negotiators down the hallway and takes pictures with her purse phone.  Elizabeth has really fast-tracked Paige’s training.

Philip and Stan go out for a drink at a bar.   Stan talks about his son Matthew who is soon to graduate from college and has a serious girlfriend.  (The memory of him and Paige still seems heartbreaking; it seemed to be her only chance for an honest relationship.)  Stan hopes his son doesn’t settle down too quickly.  Philip confides that he’s having a difficult time with the travel agency.  Philip feels the pressure to grow in business.  Stan adds, “My father used to say, the more you want, the more you get and that’s both good and bad.”  Philip may have fought too hard to prove he could achieve the “American dream.”

On a cold Moscow night, Oleg’s father meets with Arkady.   Igor passes Arkady the notes he took from his conversation with Oleg.  (So it was in code.)  Igor tells Arkady that Oleg’s mother and wife are worried sick about him.  They want to know when he’s coming home.  Igor confesses, “He told me to trust you completely, it’s not easy.”  Arkady says, “It’s not really about trusting me, he wants to do something that matters and that’s because of you.”  Oleg wants his father to be proud of him, as he was of his brother who perished in the Afghan war. The men part ways.

Elizabeth joins Philip in bed where he continues to look over his business expenses.  She coos, “Are you rich yet?”  Philip confides that they are not doing well; even cutting back on the business may not fix it.  He recounts his conversation with Henry, about pulling him out of school.  Philip isn’t sure how Henry is taking the news.  Elizabeth sighs, “Well, he’s your department.” (Does she even like her son?)  Philip puts his papers away and switches off the light.  He turns to her, “How’s Paige?”  Elizabeth says she’s fine, adding that he could ask her himself “we're not keeping her from you.”  He touches her arm and asks how she’s doing,  kissing her on the mouth.  Elizabeth says only that she’s “tired all the time.”  She rolls over, literally turning away from him.

Stan drives his FBI car tailed by some KGB spotters. 

Elizabeth discusses art with Erica.  “I looked at some of your paintings in the basement, I liked the one with the woman and the broken eggs.”   Erica states that’s her least favorite work because it is too sentimental. (Something no one has ever accused Elizabeth of being.)  Erica recalls that when she first became ill she thought it was okay because her work, “the best of her” would outlive her.  Now, she wrestles with the idea that her work is meaningless and she wishes she had spent more time with Glenn.  Even though Elizabeth does not value art, she can perhaps understand the dying woman’s words, she too hopes her “important work” will be her legacy.  Erica tries to teach Elizabeth how to draw, focusing on drawing the dark parts and not to be afraid to experiment.  “Start towards the dark, work toward the light.”

Glenn enters the room, he says how some of the team will be watching the World Series with “one of the Russians” tomorrow.  Glenn doesn’t want to leave her so Elizabeth suggests that Erica goes to the party.  Elizabeth claims it will be good for Erica to get out and Glenn warms to the idea.  “I think it would be good for everyone, a change of scenery, some baseball.”  And of course easy access to Elizabeth’s Soviet mark!

Stan is interrupted by a summons from Dennis.  Stan joins Dennis in the vault to discuss counter-intelligence matters.  They don’t have the resources to keep a close tail on Oleg due to the Summit.  “Mr. and Mrs. Teacup are giving everyone on the team a hard time, they say they only want to deal with you!”  Stan objects, “I’m done babysitting those lunatics!”  Dennis implores Stan to help out by checking on them several times a week until they are relocated.  Stan can’t refuse.

Philip crunches numbers again at the office.  He sighs, grabs his cowboy boots and heads out to the line-dancing bar.  (Did he develop his love for country music that time he and Elizabeth went to Kansas, is he trying to re-create happier times.)  Eddie Rabbit’s “Drivin’ my life away” sets the tone for the montage.  Elizabeth steals Glenn’s lucky baseball jacket to have it outfitted with a wire.  Paige flirts with Brian the intern, he seems very interested in her as the martinis flow. “Ohh, I’m driving my life away, looking for a better way for me!”  The jacket is returned to Glenn’s house and closet.  Paige and Brain kiss in the street.  The song continues, “Well the truck stop cutie is coming on to me, trying to talk me into a ride, said I wouldn’t be sorry, but she was just a baabbyy!”  Elizabeth stares at Erica’s haunting portraits of woman in black and white.  Paige looks around Brian’s room as the young man sleeps after a night of passion.  Paige hones in on Brian’s intern badge.

Elizabeth and Glenn help Erica into the co-worker’s house for the party. Glenn is wearing the Japanese baseball jacket.  Nesterenko asks about the why the Minnesota team is called the “Twins.”  The men make small talk about the game.  Glenn checks on Erica but she urges him to enjoy the party.  Erica laments, “I shouldn’t have come.”  Elizabeth tries to make her feel comfortable while staring at Glenn and his interaction with Nesterenko.  The party crowd seems uncomfortable around Erica.  Suddenly, Erica begins to projectile vomit and Glenn rushes to assist her. Elizabeth cleans up vomit; Nesterenko also arrives to assist her.  The two Soviets briefly lock eyes.  Erica cries, “Why did I come?”  Glenn says they will leave the party immediately.

Elizabeth listens to the recording later in the laundry room.  Nesterenko was telling Glenn he is sorry about Erica’s condition, he might have said something more important about a “very hard thing” but then Erica vomited and the tape cuts off.

Philip is crunching numbers while slowly eating potato chips.  He stares at a turkey sandwich he’s left untouched.  Philip flashes back to his young years during the war.  He and other children are seen scrapping the bottom of dirty pans, clearly starving.  Maybe he’s feeling guilty for having come so far, gaining so many material things but still wanting more…

This hour continued to add layers to Elizabeth's struggle to keep her secrets from both Paige and Philip while pressure mounts on her as never before.  Oleg continues to climb without a diplomatic safety net which may endanger him and his family back in Moscow.  Paige has decided to go against her mother's advice with Brian in an attempt to further demonstrate her commitment.
Next week show will continue the struggle between Philip, Paige, and Elizabeth.  Elizabeth says, “Everything I’ve worked for comes down to this.”  Philip counters, “She’s just a kid.”  Elizabeth says, “Not anymore.” Did Paige confess to sleeping with Brian for work?  Does Philip have a plan how to save Elizabeth and Paige from exposure?  The series timeline ticks away and I am savoring each hour and the stellar performance of this incredible cast. 

The Americans, Season 6, Episode 3, Urban Transport Planning

The Americans, Season 6, Episode 3, Urban Transport Planning

The third hour this season is bookended by violent acts committed by Elizabeth after her missions go awry.  The split between Elizabeth and Phillip continues to deepen especially with Oleg and the upcoming summit driving their ideals ever further apart.  On the FBI side, Stan wrestles with his past mistakes and tries to prevent new ones by handling his former assets Sofia and Gennadi.  Phillip wrestles with concern for Paige as a “next generation” spy knowing the psychological toll the work took on him.  Elizabeth is driven by a fatalistic fury to “complete her mission” even at the cost of her own life.

The hour opens with Elizabeth cleaning up the blood of General Rennhall off her face and clothes before she returns home.  Her desperation is reminiscent of Lady Macbeth; she can wash away the blood but not the stains on her psyche.  Phillip stays up to discuss the evening’s events with Paige, encouraging her to talk about her feelings of anger or sadness like he learned at the EST program.  (Which by ’87 had changed its name to The Forum.)  Paige assures her father that she’s “fine.”  Phillip cautions her not to push her feelings away.  He explains he saw “difficult things too” in his years on the job.  Paige asks him how he dealt with the hard times. “I don’t know, I had your mom, and you do too.”  They both bristle slightly as they hear Elizabeth’s car entering the garage.

Once inside, Paige innocently asks her mother what happened.  Elizabeth reprimands her daughter severely for “putting the mission at risk” by not following protocol.  The phone rings, it’s Henry calling to gloat about his hockey game win.  Phillip dispatches the call by stating he’s “in the middle of a work thing.”  Paige explains she heard a shot and didn’t know what to do.  “You were supposed to do what you were told to do!”  Elizabeth warns Paige that if she were “any other recruit” she would have been fired for such behavior.  “You don’t get to talk about what you thought or what you felt or anything else! Not right now!”  Phillip tries to stick up for Paige, “This isn’t great, but I think there is a lot to talk about here.”  Paige takes her mother’s harsh words stoically and apologizes.  Elizabeth refuses to allow Paige to spend the night at home and insists she returns back to her apartment.

After Paige leaves Phillip muses, “She’s pretty much seen it all know.”  Elizabeth, probably thinking about Paige’s questions about sex responds, “Not all of it.”  Phillip offers, “I told her that she’d have you to talk to…”  Elizabeth is dismissive, “What do you think I was just doing?.”  Phillip probes Elizabeth about the mission and the course of events.  Elizabeth mentions Rennhall because he was an asset that Phillip originally acquired.  “He was an idealist, what happened?”  Elizabeth will only state that they needed a piece of technology and Rennhall was a source.  Phillip notes that Paige thinks the general killed himself.  (Phillip probably knows that’s not what happened but he didn’t let Paige assume differently.)  Elizabeth confesses she “didn’t have time to work him and I moved too fast.”  Elizabeth doesn’t admit to her husband that she, in fact, pulled the trigger, murdering Rennhall.  Elizabeth says vaguely there’s trouble back home with Gorbachev.  Phillip wants to know more details about the technology and operation but Elizabeth stops him. “I can’t.”  Even with Phillip officially “out”, it’s been rare for Elizabeth not to confide in him.  She leaves Phillip alone with his thoughts.

As promised, Stan goes to meet with Sofia to try and get her to reconsider divorcing Gennadi.  Sofia continues to be adamant about her plans.  She frequently mentions her male co-worker and confident Bogdan.  “Bogdan says I’m too much listening to you, I need to listen to my heart!”  Stan is horrified to learn that Sofia has exposed her and Gennadi’s relationship with the FBI.  (It is likely, one or more employees at the TASS media agency would have also been KGB agents or reported to them.)  Sofia is flippant, “I trust him.”  Stan tries to warn her how much danger she and Gennadi could be in for their activities.  Sofia puffs on her cigarette, “I’m not a child Stan! We’re Soviets, we know how to keep secrets, it’s what we do!”  She’s not doing a very good job at keeping secrets about working with the FBI,  she's told Gennadi, now Bogdan; it’s only a matter of time before she tells the wrong person.  Stan is speechless.

Elizabeth is briefly at the travel agency.  After she departs, Phillip calls the bursar at St. Edward’s Academy to discuss Henry’s tuition.  Phillip boasts that his company recently expanded and leased a new office.  However, this has made it more difficult to keep up with the payments.  Phillip asks for a payment arrangement so that they can better afford the school.  The administrator finally agrees but cautions Phillip to not tell other parents for fear they might also want individual plans.  The financial stress on the business is another thing Phillip is not sharing with Elizabeth.  (The stock market crashes in October 1987, Phillip’s problems will probably worsen in the aftermath.)

Elizabeth and Paige go for a walk by the water while continuing to discuss the “mistakes” of the previous evening.  Paige confesses that she can’t get the images out of her mind.  Elizabeth chooses her words carefully stating that you “can’t ever know someone’s true state of mind.”  She paints the Rennhall as depressed and overwhelmed in order to explain his “suicide” to Paige.  Elizabeth claims she tried to stop him. To gain Paige’s trust back, Elizabeth mentions she made a mistake as well, miscalculated on how hard to push him.  Elizabeth says the technology they needed from him would “keep our country safe.”  What would Paige think if she knew the technology was to ensure the development of the “Dead Head”, destruction of the United States if they ever bombed the Soviets?  Elizabeth declares that it’s okay for her to take risks; even if they led to her death it’s okay.  Elizabeth implores Paige to never live her life in fear, Elizabeth claims she’s not afraid to die because she knows she’s “making a difference” fighting for something she believes in.  Paige is concerned about an investigation into the scene at the park.  Elizabeth again hammers at the need for protocol.  Elizabeth says Paige’s job will be different but she’ll still need to know how to “deal with things like this, just in case.”  

Phillip decides to dust off a self-help book “Success of Positive Mental Attitude” prior to speaking to his employees.  He walks out onto his office floor and asks his employee Rick to discuss how he sold several cruises that day.   The man seems a little bashful but with Phillip’s encouragement he’s able to offer up a few ideas to sell more packages including “upselling.”  The scene illustrates how “Americanized” Phillip has become.  He wants to prove that he can achieve financial success in his “second” career.  This ideal would likely mortify Elizabeth’s communist sensibilities.

Stan visits Dennis in the “vault” to discuss the situation with Sofia.  Gennadi is currently in the Soviet Union.  The choices are either to get the CIA to “pull him out” over there or to attempt an action in the United States.  Both men clearly care about their assets, while acknowledging the “information” obtained by Gennadi has not once been useful.  Stan jokes about how Sofia stated how good she was at “keeping secrets.”  Stan is very skeptical of Bogdan, the “senior correspondent at TASS.”  Dennis stands up and sighs, “Did you hear about the general who committed suicide in the park?”  Stan replies, “Not the place I would do it.”  Dennis outlines his thinking, “no history of depression, one of the key people working on SDI.”  (Special Defense Initiative, or “Star Wars” program.)  Stan brought in Rennhall years before after the general shot a man who had accused him of being a Soviet spy.  (The incident, which the general mentioned as haunting him.)  Dennis nods in agreement.  Dennis encourages Stan to visit “their friend from out-of-town” soon.  Stan nods, his reunion with Oleg will be awkward.

Elizabeth meets Father Andrei, the Eastern Orthodox priest who married them in a cemetery.  The Father provides information to Elizabeth from time to time.  Elizabeth shares that she’s teaching her daughter “about us”, the Russian culture and history.  Father Andrei says he also teaches a class to second-generation kids but they fail to be interested in their own culture.  Elizabeth brags that she feels Paige is beginning to understand it. (Of course, through her mother and Claudia’s carefully curated lessons. )  He soon shifts the conversation to more personal matters, asking Elizabeth about Phillip.  Elizabeth admits that they are leading separate lives now that he’s out of the business but Paige is “with her.”  Father Andrei expresses a desire to see Phillip but Elizabeth balks at the suggestion, citing his “retirement.”  Father Andrei adds, “I know, but tell him that I asked for him.”

Elizabeth and Paige begin a mission mid-day.  Elizabeth resembles Crissy Hinds in a long dark wig with blunt bangs.  She drills her daughter, “Are you good?  Because I need you to be good today!”  Paige assures her mom that she’s ready.  Paige exits the car; other KGB lookouts monitor the movements using walkie-talkies to signal.  The summit negotiators including Glenn are meeting with their Soviet counterparts for lunch at a pizzeria.  The group discusses baseball versus hockey while Elizabeth eats pizza near the group.  (Glenn is lifelong Minnesota Twins fan, Twins took home the trophy in 1987.)  A colleague mentions the “weird Japanese jacket” Glenn owns.  It was a gift from his now terminally ill wife from their time living in Japan.  Glenn is visibly emotional at the mention of Erica.  Not wanting to discuss her condition, the conversation pauses before another American invites the Soviets to view the World Series games at his home.  Elizabeth hones in on a younger negotiator who seems more interested in American culture, the only one willing to accept an invitation watch baseball with the Americans.  The conversation moves on to the difficult tasks ahead of the summit but offers Elizabeth no real insight into the team’s work.

Stan heads to the Potomac Inn to visit Oleg.  Oleg opens the door and is clearly wary about this reunion but really has no choice but to let Stan inside.  Stan offers an apology regarding the tape and the CIA’s pressure on him several years ago.  Stan states he advocated for Oleg, stating he “wasn’t a traitor” an even offered to expose FBI secrets if they went through with their plan.  Oleg shrugs, “That’s it?”  Oleg eyes the door, hoping Stan will leave now.  Instead, Stan enters the room further; “I’m not in Counter-Intelligence anymore.”  Stan describes his new job in the criminal division and asks about Oleg’s new career in “urban transport planning.”  Oleg describes the mundane new career.   Stan questions why Oleg came to allegedly take a course at George Mason University since the course actually began week’s prior.  Oleg offers some half-truths, “My father asked me to, I said no.  Then I needed some time away, from my wife.”  (Arkady would be the “father” in this scenario, and his wife was angry for him because he wanted to go.)   Stan persists, “What are you doing here Oleg?”  Oleg maintains he’s here for classes.  Oleg asks, “Do you ever think about her at all?”  Oleg shares that he thinks he sees Nina everywhere, clearly haunted by her memory.  Two men discussing a lover in common would be awkward in a scenario, but between these two former intelligence officers, the room hangs heavy with the air of tension and regret.  Oleg says, “They had the tape of the conversation between you and me.  They said they would use it against me and my family if I did not cooperate.”  Stan apologizes again but Oleg shakes his head, “Bullshit!”  Stan warns Oleg, “You are here on a diplomatic passport Oleg, whatever you’re doing here, don’t!”  Stan exits.

Paige is at Claudia’s again for more “Russian cultural lessons.”  Today they are cooking “peasant food” which consists of carrots, onions, and meat to make a hearty stew.  Claudia teaches Paige the recipe.  Claudia asks how Paige is doing, Paige again insists she’s “fine.”  After discussing various dishes, Claudia sends Paige out for more sour cream in order to speak with Elizabeth alone.  Claudia hands Elizabeth a new target at the warehouse where the sensors are kept.  Elizabeth sighs, knowing it will be more difficult to obtain the sensor now the general is dead.  Claudia throws some salt over her shoulder for luck.  Elizabeth is filled with the scents of home.

At the Jennings’ residence, Phillip crushes numbers on his Texas Instruments calculator on a table littered with Chinese takeout.  Elizabeth enters and offers Phillip a bit of the dish they made a Claudia’s.  Elizabeth states that even this small sample can’t stay in the house.  Phillip expresses his regret that he’s already eaten.  Elizabeth moves to throw away the food but Phillip stops her and has one bite.  “That is delicious.”  Phillip declares.  This small moment illustrates how Phillip may pine for his old identity but is “too full” of American food.  

Elizabeth describes how she’s trying to recreate “home” for Paige with Claudia, and how good that feels. “Then I walk out and it hits me, ‘here’, I hate it!”  Phillip agrees but adds, “Honestly, the way things are going I think will have Stan over here in a couple of years for zhakoye.”  Elizabeth seems repulsed at the ideas of glasnost and Gorbachev.   “I don’t want to be like them, and neither do the people back home!”  Phillip reminds her she hasn’t been “back home” in over twenty years.  Elizabeth shoots back, “Neither have you!”  Phillip stares at nothing, perhaps wondering if the Washington Post knows more about what’s happening in the Soviet Union today then he does.  Elizabeth, like many immigrates pines for HER version of the country she left, not the country that exists in the present tense.  What she’s doing with Claudia and Paige is creating a tiny version of the world she left, the county she idolizes.

Stan feigns interest about Renee’s discussion regarding her work.  She admits to him that she doesn’t really feel satisfied with her job.  She’s been doing some brainstorming about a change. “I wish I could do something to make a difference, doesn’t that make you proud?” (Interesting she uses Elizabeth’s exact phrasing, about making a difference.  Is Phillip right about her? Is she KGB?)  She notes how it must be nice for Phillip and Elizabeth to work together.  Stan points out that Elizabeth deals with corporate clients and Phillip with the local agency so they are apart a great deal.  Renee reveals she wants to become an FBI agent.  Stan doesn’t laugh but points out she is too old to become a new agent.  She hopes Stan can pull some strings for her to make an exception.  Stan is non-committal.  Renee sighs, is she secretly planning a long game to become a double agent? 

Phillip looks in the mirror vacantly.  He spies Elizabeth sleeping on the couch.  It seems he still longs for a connection with her.

Phillip has put on a disguise of a wig, mustache and beige “Members Only” jacket.  He parks his car and begins to walk.

Elizabeth meets a man in a hotel to allegedly conduct a security audit of his company.  (The company that manufactures the sensors.)  She asks for him to sign a confidentially agreement and emphasizes how important it is to keep this meeting secret as to obtain the “best data.”  She is looking for lapses in security at the warehouse.  Obviously, the plan is to assess the company’s weaknesses and steal the sensor.

Stan and another agent await Gennadi’s arrival at JFK.  Stan approaches Gennadi and identifies himself as an FBI agent, “I understand you want political asylum.”  Gennadi’s traveling companion objects, stating they enjoy diplomatic immunity.  Gennadi pauses, before handing his companion the pouch. “Yes, I want asylum.”  Stan escorts Gennadi away.  Dennis and a few agents enter TASS.  Dennis approaches Sofia, “I understand you want political asylum.”  The TASS boss objects, stating that they have no right to be there and threats to call the Soviet Embassy.  Sofia hesitates, looks at her friend Bogdan before finally agreeing to do with the FBI team.  The boss yells at her as she leaves.  Her son Illia next, taken out of his elementary school classroom by the FBI.

Gennadi is brought into a sparse conference room where he demands to know what happened.  Stan apologizes but confesses that Sofia had told someone about his activities.  Gennadi seems crestfallen that Sofia is confiding in another man, he fears they are having an affair.  Stan can’t elaborate on Sofia’s relationship with Bogdan but admits Sofia wants a divorce.  Stan explains the plan for them to remain in separate places until a final relocation plan is formulated.  Gennadi pleads with Stan to tell Sofia he loves her, and her son Illia.  He doesn’t want to live without her.  Stan promises to try to help Gennadi, a man presently without a country or a family.

Phillip continues his stroll through a large park.

The man in the hotel room helpfully draws Elizabeth a map of the warehouse and points out all the weak spots in the company’s security.  It’s a treasure trove of information.  As she closes the meeting, she reaffirms the need for absolute secrecy about their meeting. “ I bet my girlfriend already knows about it, she works in security!”  Elizabeth asks, “Oh, who’s your girlfriend?”  The man smiles as he gives her the name.  Elizabeth smiles in return, “Oh Teresa, she’s great!”  The man steps to leave the room but Elizabeth pounces on him from behind.  Leonard Cohen’s "Dance me to the End of Love" punctuates the scene.  Elizabeth astoundingly is able to choke the much larger man and break his neck. The song crones, “Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin, dance me through the panic until I’m gathered safely in…” as the man gasps his final breathes.  Elizabeth pants, and checks the man’s neck pulse to confirm his death.  “Dance me to your beauty when the witnesses are gone, then dance me to the end of love...”  It’s another innocent life taken in pursuit of the “Dead Hand.”

It is nightfall when Phillip finally meets up with Oleg.  They look at each other knowingly and stroll off together.  What they will discuss will hopefully be revealed next week.

This hour was another amazing episode of the final season.  The tension keeps building steadily as Elizabeth appears to be on the verge of a breakdown.  Meanwhile, Phillip may try to fight for her soul and assist her to escape from the prospect of exposure and death.  Paige continues to be a savvy student, how soon before she discovers the real ugly reality behind her mother’s carefully worded lies?

The preview of next week shows Paige getting closer to Glenn and the negotiating team.  Phillip discusses his fears for Paige’s safety with Elizabeth.  Claudia shows Elizabeth a picture of Gennadi, stating him and his family must be “dealt with.”  These interactions may lead Elizabeth right into Stan’s orbit.  Phillip tells Oleg how fiercely loyal his wife is to the Soviet Union. “That loyalty can be used.”  Oleg offers cryptically.

The Americans, Season 6, Episode 2, Tchaikovsky

Last week explored themes of disconnection and the need for constancy in an ever-evolving world.  The very nature of the Soviet Union is changing under Gorbachev while the United States seems ready to soften its rhetoric led by an ailing Ronald Reagan.  This hour, characters from previous seasons return with new conflicts.  The complexity of the game on both sides is illustrated with Stan and Elizabeth’s different ways of handling past informants.  Phillip finds it difficult to maintain the same sense of purpose now that he’s out of the business.  The stress of maintaining operations by herself while trying to shield Paige from the reality of the work is taking a toll on Elizabeth.

Phillip sits alone at the breakfast table watching as Elizabeth comes downstairs but leaves him to smoke outside.  Stan is discussing operations in his new position in “criminal investigation” when he is summoned down to “counter-intelligence.”  Stan remarks how the office seems empty, Aderholt explains that “there are many Russians in town” ahead of the big summit.  Aderholt explains that “Teacup” called the operations line and Stan has to meet with him.  Dennis mentions another development, Oleg has returned to Washington D.C. on a tourist visa and is taking classes in urban transport planning.  Oleg has been out of the KGB for three years but Dennis would like Stan to meet with him to ascertain whether he’s still involved with Soviet intelligence.

Phillip crushes numbers on a calculator at the travel agency.  He looks tense and alone.  Meanwhile, Elizabeth follows an older gentleman into a bookstore wearing a short brown wig and glasses.  Elizabeth greets the man, using the identity of “Meghan” from the State Department.  The man works for the Department of Defense and the pair exchange views on the upcoming summit.  The man confides that the United States feels like it has the upper hand in the negotiations because the “Soviet Union can’t afford an ongoing arms race.”  There are rumors that Reagan is “going soft”, perhaps because he’s thinking about his legacy.  Still, there are enough “hawks” in the administration like Caspar Weinberger who will keep Reagan to the right.  McIneesh exclaims, “We can win this Cold War!”  Elizabeth suggests discussing these issues further over lunch, however, McIneesh insists on meeting her at the State Department cafeteria instead of an “off-campus” location.  Elizabeth agrees, but this will make her more vulnerable to exposure.

Stan meets with Gennadi, the Soviet hockey player from last season.  Gennadi complains that he and Sofia (a journalist at the Soviet news agency TASS) have not been getting along.  Sofia has kicked him out of the house. “I was watching game, relaxed.  I ask her to bring me beer.  She get mad!  She was already standing!”  Stan appeals to Gennadi to do everything possible to repair the situation, reminding him that they need him to keep working for the FBI.  Gennadi hugs Stan as they say goodbye. “You’re a good friend!”

Elizabeth is in her caregiver role at the Haskart home.   Erica screams in pain, demanding more morphine.  When Glenn arrives to comfort his wife, Elizabeth explains that it’s “too soon for more morphine, she might develop a tolerance.” (Even in this era, that is not likely a concern for a hospice patient.  The goal is to make the patient comfortable.)  Glenn ignores Elizabeth and gives his wife the medicine.  Erica pleads, “I need you to end this, soon!”  Glenn assures he that he’ll help her.

Later, Glenn attempts to work while listening to a baseball game on the radio.  Elizabeth asks to speak to him about whether he plans to help his wife end her life.  Glenn acknowledges that he’s seen her suffering and knows that she doesn’t want to continue on like this.  Elizabeth explains she knows people who’ve done it, cautioning him that it can “go wrong.”   She asks him how he plans to do it.  Glenn admits that he’s been saving unused morphine and is planning to give her a large dose in approximately one month.  Elizabeth cautions that a morphine overdose can lead to a coma or brain death and to let her handle it instead. (This is not true, a morphine overdose will generally cause a cessation of breathing followed by cardiac arrest, and it is generally peaceful and painless.)  Glenn agrees to let Elizabeth help.

Elizabeth discusses Erica’s situation with Claudia.  Claudia affirms, “You just have to keep her alive through the summit.”  Elizabeth notes, “She’s really going to suffer now.”  (My guess is that Elizabeth will continue to withhold morphine and perhaps even give small doses of a narcotic reversal agent to keep Erica awake and in pain. This is a heartless thing to do in both my personal and professional opinion!)  Claudia asks about Erica’s artwork and it clearly makes Elizabeth uncomfortable. “She paints faces, people.  At least her husband is DOING something.”  Elizabeth places no value on creativity or expression because she doesn't understand it. 

Elizabeth describes her upcoming lunch date with McIneesh at the State Department cafeteria.  McIneesh is important because he has a direct role in the negotiations for the summit.   Elizabeth wonders what the odds are of her being unmasked in such a setting.  Claudia cautions her to not think about those odds.  Claudia has another request from the Centre.  Elizabeth is to get back in touch with an Air Force general in order to obtain lithium based radiation sensor.  This piece of technology will help the Soviet general whom she met with in Mexico. (To assist with the “Dead Hand” technology.)  Elizabeth accepts these assignments without question but adds, “Paige has taken to you, and if anything happens to me, you can finish with her.”  Elizabeth notes that Paige will “have it easier” being a double agent working for the CIA or State Department.  Claudia assures her, “You’ll be fine, both of you!”

Stan pays a visit to Sofia at her apartment.  She is agitated when discussing her strained marriage to Gennadi.  “He lazy, he drinks and has affairs!”  She has decided to divorce him.  Stan tries to interject but Sofia confesses she’s talked it over with Bogdan, a senior correspondent at TASS.  Sofia insists Bogdan is just a good friend who listens but her tone suggests that she is developing feelings for him.  Stan states that if she leaves Gennadi, he will be in danger.  “You figure it out, I have to take care of my boy!”

Phillip again eats breakfast alone while Elizabeth sneaks outside for her morning cigarette.  After a moment, he goes outside to join her.  “You got home pretty late last night.”  Elizabeth apologies for disturbing him but Phillip wants to know how she’s feeling.  Elizabeth again apologizes for being so busy.  She explains that she thinks that Paige will be a good agent but she made a mistake recently. “She got someone’s name wrong.”  (Unless this a code for what happened, she is lying to minimize the scale of Paige’s mistake.)  Phillip is more understanding, noting they too made mistakes in the beginning. “I learned fast.”  Elizabeth declares.  She asks that Phillip not discuss the matter further with Paige.  Elizabeth is torn between being forgiving of Paige as her daughter but tough on her as an apprentice. 

Dennis looks for Stan to get an update on the situation with Gennadi.  Stan is too busy to have the conversation in the “vault” so they step into an empty room for privacy.   Stan states, “Things are bad, and she’s met a guy at work.”  Neither of them trusts Sofia not to confide in her new beau spontaneously one day about her and Gennadi’s work for the Bureau.  Gennadi has a flight and information drop scheduled for the next day.  The men share how complicated divorces can be in their line of work.  Dennis hopes that Sofia is not looking to get Gennadi killed.  Dennis sighs, “He goes, we work on her and sleep like shit as always!”  Stan replies, “I can’t tell you how much better it is to deal with murderers, drug dealers and corrupt politicians.  I’m serious!”  Stan is called away to attend to matters in his own department.

A uniformed Air Force general walks at night, Paige and the older women are in the area to keep an eye out for witnesses.  Elizabeth approaches General Renhall wearing a short blonde wig and large glasses.  “The future looks bright, don’t you think.”  (This was likely a previously established code.)  Renhall looks wary so Elizabeth continues, “One of my colleagues approached you in ’81 about a future arms race in space.”  (Probably Reagan’s “Star Wars” proposal.)  The general says it’s not a good idea to talk to him.  “We need a piece of technology, a lithium-based radiation detector.”  General Renhall scoffs, “Do you even know what that is?”  Elizabeth responds, “It’s a sensor that can detect a nuclear blast very quickly, we just need one.”  Renhall tries to dismiss her, “There are proper channels of communication between our two countries, and I’m not a channel. Don’t contact me again!”  Elizabeth insists, “You need to get this for us.”  She barks out a time and place for their next meeting.

Gennadi lands at JFK International airport with his diplomatic pouch. (As a former hockey player for the national team, Gennadi has the privilege of carrying such an item into the U.S. on a regular basis.)  The Talking Heads song, “Slippery People”, punctuates the scene.  Stan observes Gennadi entering the airport and making his way to the restroom.  Other agents act as lookouts for the agent holed up in a men’s room stall dental style x-ray equipment.  Gennadi is in the next stall when he flushes the FBI agent takes an x-ray of the pouch through a concealed hole between the stalls.  The exchange is done in a matter of minutes but the tension is high for all involved.  

Elizabeth enters the State Department as a visitor wearing a straight long blonde wig and light framed glasses.  She has signed up to take the eleven o’clock tour.  The tour guide discusses statues, as Elizabeth appears to blow her nose before sneaking off to the restroom.  After a few moments, Elizabeth exits the bathroom in her “Meghan” personae, with a short dark wig and dark-framed glasses.  The tour guide notes her absence and sends another woman into the restroom to look for a lady with “long blonde hair.”

Phillip calls out to a man named Jeremy, a loyal client of his travel agency.  Phillip asks if he can help the man plan his next vacation and the man sheepishly confesses to using another company, which specializes in “budget travel.”   Phillip tries to assure the man that they can also offer competitive rates but the man states he wouldn’t want to bother him for a less expensive trip.  The men part ways amicably but Phillip is clearly worried about the future of his business.

When Phillip returns to the office he speaks with his colleague Stavos regarding Jeremy.  Phillip is upset that Stavos was unable to keep one of Phillip’s oldest clients.  Stavos explains that the man insisted on speaking to Phillip but Stavos was trying to “take personal responsibility” and not burden his boss.  (Phillip is still pushing his “Est” teachings on his employees.) In these moments, Phillip misses Elizabeth's savvy with clients of all types.  

Elizabeth meets with McIneesh at the State Department cafeteria.  He speaks paternally to her, advising her to “broaden her horizons” and perhaps pursue an academic career or work with him over at the Department of Defense.  Elizabeth tries to remain poker-faced as she observes security guards mounting a search for the “long haired blonde woman” from the tour.  She encourages McIneesh to go and eat outside.  Once outside, McIneesh drops a bombshell of information, it is rumored that Reagan may be going senile.

Elizabeth reports this dramatic news to Claudia.  “I can’t fathom the implications of this!”  Claudia reasons that even if Reagan is impaired, his aids and advisors are shrewd and hard against Soviet interests.  Paige enters without knocking.  Claudia sharply steers the conversation to something completely different by asking Paige if she likes Tchaikovsky.  Paige groans and Elizabeth confesses Paige doesn’t care for classical music.  Paige softens and remembers how she went to the Nutcracker as a girl.  Claudia puts on a record of “None but the Lonely Heart.”  The older woman explains how this piece helped her cope with the sadness after the war.  The three generations of women all looked moved by the music. While this appears to be a touching scene, Claudia seems to have a strategy of using art, music, and film to further connect Paige with her Russian roots. 

Paige and her mom walk her back to the University.  Paige asks, “Do our people ever use sex as a method of getting information?”  Elizabeth looks startled, “Where do you get that idea?”  Paige explains she’s been reading a book she found in a used bookstore about “our organization.” Elizabeth dismisses the notion as “bullshit” and a mere ploy to sell books.  (In modern parlance, “fake news!”)  Paige is adamant that the book seemed credible.  Elizabeth notes she can’t speak for every officer but sometimes people do get close when working together and their relationship can turn into something else.”  Paige asks if she’s heard of that happening.  Elizabeth says she’s “cut off” from everyone else and would not hear such stories.  (If you can imagine how hard it is to think of your parents having sex, poor Paige might have to imagine her parents both having sex with other people.)  Elizabeth says, “It’s easy to see things as black and white but the world is more complicated than that!”  Elizabeth advises her daughter to be very careful when obtaining books; she suggests an out of town used bookstore in the future.

Paige acts as a lookout again as Elizabeth makes her way to meet General Renhall in the park.  Elizabeth approaches Renhall, this time in civilian dress standing with legs apart defiantly.  “How are you?” begins Elizabeth. “Like you give a shit how I am!”  Elizabeth retorts, “I give a shit about my country and it’s in trouble right now!”  The general grumbles, “Whose fault is that?”  He continues to explain how he never wants to see “you people” again.  Renhall recounts his guilt over someone who died in connection with their interaction in ’81. “All those people I killed in Korea, and this is what I have nightmares about!”  Renhall shakes his head, “I’m not going to give you the God damn sensor or anything else!”  Elizabeth cautions him to think the matter over.  “You may think I’m a traitor but I was trying to do the right thing. You used me, that’s not going to happen twice!”  Elizabeth states that the Soviets will expose the past misdeeds that would shame him and possibly land him in jail.  Elizabeth calls out the next meeting place and time before walking away.

While Glenn is occupied, Elizabeth photographs documents he’s taken home to work on prior to the Summit.  Erica paints furiously but then cries out in agony.  Elizabeth goes to tend to the dying woman.  Erica asks for her opinion of the work, a black and white sketch of a woman with her hand over her mouth.  Elizabeth is not able to see any deeper meaning or emotion in the work.  Erica scoffs, “You wouldn’t be the first.”  Erica insists that Elizabeth take up a pencil and draw.  Elizabeth insists she can’t draw.  Erica replies, “That’s not your problem.”  Erica asks her to draw a mug, noting that everything is simply light or dark. She asks Elizabeth draw the dark parts.  (Again the theme arises of Elizabeth’s black and white thinking in the shaded world.)

Phillip calls Henry from the office late at night.  Even Henry can sense that his dad sounds, “Like you are about to jump out of a window.” Phillip relates the story of Jeremy to his son.  They are able to share some levity, which is so desperately lacking in Phillip’s life.  Henry is the last “uninfected” person in the family;  Phillip craves his son’s ignorance of the dangers his wife and daughter are subject to.

Paige waits in the car as Elizabeth goes to her meeting with Renhall.  The older woman serves as another lookout.  As soon as Elizabeth approaches him, he pulls out a handgun and aims it at her.  He says, “I’m not going to jail! I’m not going to betray my country!”  Elizabeth tries to calm him, saying maybe she pushed him too far.  Renhall sneers, “You people don’t pray do you?”  Elizabeth begins to kneel and explains she’s a mother of two children.  As Renhall looks down at her Elizabeth rushes at him, reaching for his gun which accidentally fires.  Elizabeth gets him into a headlock and aims his gun under his chin and fires.  Elizabeth is covered in Renhall's blood and brain matter but otherwise unharmed.  Paige comes rushing towards her mom.  Elizabeth looks like a demon, her eyes obscured by the blood- covered glasses.  She screams at Paige to get back in the car and “follow the plan.”  Paige runs away quickly.

The episode highlighted Elizabeth’s increasing difficulty in handling her work without Phillip’s emotional support.  The stakes keep being raised, as Elizabeth has to lie and manipulate Paige just like her many other “marks.”  But Paige isn’t naïve; it’s likely that she will discover the truth about the work soon, especially under these increasingly volatile situations. 

The next week preview shows Stan and Dennis discussing the General’s “suicide” in the park.  Phillip tells Elizabeth that Paige thinks that Renhall killed himself.  Perhaps he’s beginning to question whether Paige should be told the truth about the work.  Is this really the life they want for their daughter? Stan and Oleg reunite, he cautions the former KGB agent to "Not do whatever it is your planning." With critical weeks before the Reagan-Gorbachev summit, the tensions and dangers are mounting on both sides.