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The Americans 3.01
Aaaand they are back! First time I watched one episode without being able to watch the next.
Gabriel being the old/new handler was the one thing I got accidentally spoiled for last month, but other than that, I managed to remain unspoiled, and a great experience that was, too. Speaking of Gabriel, hello, Frank Langella! Obviously a father figure to P & E, and the hugging, not the distant type of father figure, too, and it makes sense that the Centre would bring him back now. But they wouldn't if they weren't sure his loyalties were to the Cause above P & E. Speaking of loyalties, the great thing about these characters with lies as their profession is that you can't tell whether Elizabeth means what she tells Gabriel (getting Paige ideologically ready) or what she tells Philip (just saying that to get the Centre of our back) or whether both aren't true (Elizabeth wouldn't want anyone else interferring with her daughter, but the idea that Paige will eventually be ready to hear the truth about her and accept it, even join, is still incredibly seductive to her).
Stan and Philip at EST were priceless. BTW, I'm with them - it sounds like absolute rubbish. Though I'm also with Sandra in that Stan keeping lying to her to avoid confrontation is absolutely systematic of why their marriage broke apart (and she can still read him like a book).
Elizabeth's tape from her mother: I was surprised at first that we didn't get any subtitles. Then I thought, maybe it's because the Centre is putting some extra pressure on Elizabeth (who is ideologically more reliable generally) re: Paige and that's what the mother says, some sort of blackmail. But I suppose it was simply to build up the later revelation scene with Philip, i.e. that her mother is sick. Oh, and the fact Gabriel has a tape for Elizabeth and none for Phiilp confirms my theory Philip has no living relations in Russia, methinks.
I don't get why Elizabeth didn't get rid of her wig and glasses look as soon as she was out of sight of that bar? Seems to be solely for a Doylist reason (so that Gaad doesn't get to see her real look later).
CIA sexism making a female CIA agent, Charlotte, nearly become a mole: no sympathy for the CIA here. It's probably pretty realistic. Once again we see Elizabeth being a good spy: she picks up on Charlotte having changed her mind and thinks of wiping her glass for prints before leaving immediately.
Stan teaching Martha how to shoot: that Chekovian gun is so going to get used this season, I tell you. Along with the Chekovian glasses: they might give Stan the idea of having some do another sketch of their female Illegal, without them. But I'm not clear on how the show would justify him figuring out P & E's identities this season if they want to continue.
Also: speaking of set up, I wonder whether Stan will make a deal - Nina versus deserter the FBI is supposed to protect now?
Arkady and Oleg: Nina not reporting two of her meetings with Stan is a bit of a retcon, but I don't think it necessarily means Nina was in love with Stan, just that she was keeping some information to herself to trade, just in case. (The way she never told Stan about the Weinberger clock even before coming clean with Arkady.) Anyway, Oleg continuing to want helping her regardless of her emotions for whomever is very sympathetic. But Arkady is right, Oleg really can't blurt out his true thoughts in their type of society. The new character, Tatiana, looks a bit like Agent Scully, I thought.
And speaking of people who shouldn't reveal the truth, poor Annalise. For someone who started out as pretty one dimensional, she certainly became affecting. The show keeps Philip on the grey side of morally ambiguous by letting him not figure out what is likely happening until the lamp falls (and then reacting at once), but also, professional that he is, using the situation immediately to get leverage on Yousef.
Past as comment on the present: the Afghanistan execution video, obviously. Methinks our writers have a "these were the demons we conjured up ourselves" message going on.
Gabriel being the old/new handler was the one thing I got accidentally spoiled for last month, but other than that, I managed to remain unspoiled, and a great experience that was, too. Speaking of Gabriel, hello, Frank Langella! Obviously a father figure to P & E, and the hugging, not the distant type of father figure, too, and it makes sense that the Centre would bring him back now. But they wouldn't if they weren't sure his loyalties were to the Cause above P & E. Speaking of loyalties, the great thing about these characters with lies as their profession is that you can't tell whether Elizabeth means what she tells Gabriel (getting Paige ideologically ready) or what she tells Philip (just saying that to get the Centre of our back) or whether both aren't true (Elizabeth wouldn't want anyone else interferring with her daughter, but the idea that Paige will eventually be ready to hear the truth about her and accept it, even join, is still incredibly seductive to her).
Stan and Philip at EST were priceless. BTW, I'm with them - it sounds like absolute rubbish. Though I'm also with Sandra in that Stan keeping lying to her to avoid confrontation is absolutely systematic of why their marriage broke apart (and she can still read him like a book).
Elizabeth's tape from her mother: I was surprised at first that we didn't get any subtitles. Then I thought, maybe it's because the Centre is putting some extra pressure on Elizabeth (who is ideologically more reliable generally) re: Paige and that's what the mother says, some sort of blackmail. But I suppose it was simply to build up the later revelation scene with Philip, i.e. that her mother is sick. Oh, and the fact Gabriel has a tape for Elizabeth and none for Phiilp confirms my theory Philip has no living relations in Russia, methinks.
I don't get why Elizabeth didn't get rid of her wig and glasses look as soon as she was out of sight of that bar? Seems to be solely for a Doylist reason (so that Gaad doesn't get to see her real look later).
CIA sexism making a female CIA agent, Charlotte, nearly become a mole: no sympathy for the CIA here. It's probably pretty realistic. Once again we see Elizabeth being a good spy: she picks up on Charlotte having changed her mind and thinks of wiping her glass for prints before leaving immediately.
Stan teaching Martha how to shoot: that Chekovian gun is so going to get used this season, I tell you. Along with the Chekovian glasses: they might give Stan the idea of having some do another sketch of their female Illegal, without them. But I'm not clear on how the show would justify him figuring out P & E's identities this season if they want to continue.
Also: speaking of set up, I wonder whether Stan will make a deal - Nina versus deserter the FBI is supposed to protect now?
Arkady and Oleg: Nina not reporting two of her meetings with Stan is a bit of a retcon, but I don't think it necessarily means Nina was in love with Stan, just that she was keeping some information to herself to trade, just in case. (The way she never told Stan about the Weinberger clock even before coming clean with Arkady.) Anyway, Oleg continuing to want helping her regardless of her emotions for whomever is very sympathetic. But Arkady is right, Oleg really can't blurt out his true thoughts in their type of society. The new character, Tatiana, looks a bit like Agent Scully, I thought.
And speaking of people who shouldn't reveal the truth, poor Annalise. For someone who started out as pretty one dimensional, she certainly became affecting. The show keeps Philip on the grey side of morally ambiguous by letting him not figure out what is likely happening until the lamp falls (and then reacting at once), but also, professional that he is, using the situation immediately to get leverage on Yousef.
Past as comment on the present: the Afghanistan execution video, obviously. Methinks our writers have a "these were the demons we conjured up ourselves" message going on.
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/I don't get why Elizabeth didn't get rid of her wig and glasses look as soon as she was out of sight of that bar?/ - But she did get rid of the glasses, didn't she? Maybe getting rid of the wig was more difficult, what with the pins and all? *shrugs*
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I just watched this and was wondering if Annalise was somehow faking the situation, together with Philip, in order to get more leverage but I don't see how that could have worked, and Philip changing plans on the sly makes more sense (esp given the dialogue and other interactions.)
They've certainly set up a lot to explore this season -- I continue intrigued!
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