The Americans 4.01
Mar. 17th, 2016 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakThey're back!
Trivial thought first: it occurs to me that one reason why we've been seeing so little of Henry last season and nothing in the season opener is that not much time passes in the show - this episode directly follows after the s3 finale - whereas it's impossible to disguise how much the young actor grows between seasons.
However, we do see a boy: Mischa, in the first flashback to Philip's earlier life where he's not played by Matthew Rhys, due to still being a child/teen. The flashback keeps coming back through the episode. It's the story Philip began to tell Elizabeth several seasons earlier but never finished. He doesn't finish it verbally in this episode, either, not thruthfully at least, but the audience sees how it plays out. What's extraordinary is that Philip tries to tell it twice, and neither time to Elizabeth - once at EST, and once to Martha. The part he can't describe out loud is that he didn't just waylay the bullies who had been harrassing him on his getting the milk quests, or beat them up; that he killed them, bashed both of their skulls in. Presumably the first time Mischa killed in his life, and years before he became a KGB agent. Philip says to Martha that he's been wondering whether "this is why I am the way I am", though because he's leaving out the lethal conclusion, she can't understand exactly what he means - or can she? Because Martha is getting a drastic illustration not only in what it means to spy but in the difference between the Clark persona Philip created for her and the real deal: Clark wasn't a highly trained killer who can execute people quickly.
Martha's breakdown in her first scene with Philip, when she learns about Gene's death, contrasts with her growing togetherness and "I'm glad you told me" confidence in the later scenes, which are The Americans ambiguity at its best. On the one hand, Philip trusts Martha with something personal (something personal to Mischa, no less, not to Clark and not to Philip Jennings), even if it's still an edited version. On the other, by giving her something real, he manipulates her into spying yet more for him, getting the surveillance assignments. And note this wasn't, contrary to what he claims to Martha, Centre instructions. Not via Gabriel, not via radio: this was entirely Philip's idea. "They" didn't want this, Philip did, and got it, by making Martha think it's partly her idea and all her decision. And yet, he did give her something real, and he evidently does still feel something strong about those first kills, as evidenced also by the aborted EST confession scene.
Which leads to a friendly dinner with Sandra, which leads to the two of them being observed by Stan's current friends-with-benefits, which leads to Stan showing up late at night chez Jennings not for dinner or confidences but a "have you betrayed me?!?" scene. Guys, I'm crushed. (Unlike, hopefully, the supersecret bio weapon glasses Philip's carrying in his jacket when Stan grabs him and throws him against a wall.) I'm invested in the unlikely Stan/Philip bromance, after all. Moreover, irrationally jealous Stan is far more likely than trusting buddy Stan to notice that something's really odd about his pal Philip. Otoh, you can say that Stan's overreaction points to him not just being jealous because of Sandra (after all, he got used to Sandra being with another man and started to accept their marriage was over for good last season) but because of Philip. This is the lead in for a certain classic fanfiction scenario.
Okay, all kidding aside, it's an angsty set up, both on the Stan front and because at the very least, Philip will have to explain to Elizabeth what upsets the FBI agent next door so much, and while she's not likely to share Stan's paranoia about a Philip/Sandra affair, she'll be upset by the implication of Philip going to EST without Stan, as it clearly points to an emotional need of his that's impossibly dangerous to fulfill (i.e. confession).
Speaking of angsty set ups: Arkady just found out that Tatiana is Department 12, handling bio weapons, and that he's excluded from communications despite being the head of the Rezidentura. There is no way this is going to end well. The scene with Oleg where Arkady basically tells him to spy on Tatiana also is a neat illustration of how much their relationship has changed since early s2; Oleg now rates cookies from Arkady along with instructions.
Meanwhile in Russia: when Nina told her mark last season she had a husband, I assumed she had made him up. Turns out, with her last line in the episode, she didn't. Colour me stunned. I'm also wondering whether he's anyone we already know, but I can't think of Russian characters in the right age.
I've kept away from all spoilers, including about the cast, but I'm assuming they didn't just hireColin Sweeney Dylan Baker for a cameo, and that William will be with us in future episodes as well. I also wonder who the partner he didn't get along with was. My tv rules mind says: Claudia?
And in conclusion: everyone's least favourite Pastor is so far removed from reality that he suggests to Paige she should bring her parents along so they can all talk about this spying gig, but Paige is more realistic and immediately shoots that idea down. But now he knows, and she can't take her words back. One of the season's ticking time bombs.
Trivial thought first: it occurs to me that one reason why we've been seeing so little of Henry last season and nothing in the season opener is that not much time passes in the show - this episode directly follows after the s3 finale - whereas it's impossible to disguise how much the young actor grows between seasons.
However, we do see a boy: Mischa, in the first flashback to Philip's earlier life where he's not played by Matthew Rhys, due to still being a child/teen. The flashback keeps coming back through the episode. It's the story Philip began to tell Elizabeth several seasons earlier but never finished. He doesn't finish it verbally in this episode, either, not thruthfully at least, but the audience sees how it plays out. What's extraordinary is that Philip tries to tell it twice, and neither time to Elizabeth - once at EST, and once to Martha. The part he can't describe out loud is that he didn't just waylay the bullies who had been harrassing him on his getting the milk quests, or beat them up; that he killed them, bashed both of their skulls in. Presumably the first time Mischa killed in his life, and years before he became a KGB agent. Philip says to Martha that he's been wondering whether "this is why I am the way I am", though because he's leaving out the lethal conclusion, she can't understand exactly what he means - or can she? Because Martha is getting a drastic illustration not only in what it means to spy but in the difference between the Clark persona Philip created for her and the real deal: Clark wasn't a highly trained killer who can execute people quickly.
Martha's breakdown in her first scene with Philip, when she learns about Gene's death, contrasts with her growing togetherness and "I'm glad you told me" confidence in the later scenes, which are The Americans ambiguity at its best. On the one hand, Philip trusts Martha with something personal (something personal to Mischa, no less, not to Clark and not to Philip Jennings), even if it's still an edited version. On the other, by giving her something real, he manipulates her into spying yet more for him, getting the surveillance assignments. And note this wasn't, contrary to what he claims to Martha, Centre instructions. Not via Gabriel, not via radio: this was entirely Philip's idea. "They" didn't want this, Philip did, and got it, by making Martha think it's partly her idea and all her decision. And yet, he did give her something real, and he evidently does still feel something strong about those first kills, as evidenced also by the aborted EST confession scene.
Which leads to a friendly dinner with Sandra, which leads to the two of them being observed by Stan's current friends-with-benefits, which leads to Stan showing up late at night chez Jennings not for dinner or confidences but a "have you betrayed me?!?" scene. Guys, I'm crushed. (Unlike, hopefully, the supersecret bio weapon glasses Philip's carrying in his jacket when Stan grabs him and throws him against a wall.) I'm invested in the unlikely Stan/Philip bromance, after all. Moreover, irrationally jealous Stan is far more likely than trusting buddy Stan to notice that something's really odd about his pal Philip. Otoh, you can say that Stan's overreaction points to him not just being jealous because of Sandra (after all, he got used to Sandra being with another man and started to accept their marriage was over for good last season) but because of Philip. This is the lead in for a certain classic fanfiction scenario.
Okay, all kidding aside, it's an angsty set up, both on the Stan front and because at the very least, Philip will have to explain to Elizabeth what upsets the FBI agent next door so much, and while she's not likely to share Stan's paranoia about a Philip/Sandra affair, she'll be upset by the implication of Philip going to EST without Stan, as it clearly points to an emotional need of his that's impossibly dangerous to fulfill (i.e. confession).
Speaking of angsty set ups: Arkady just found out that Tatiana is Department 12, handling bio weapons, and that he's excluded from communications despite being the head of the Rezidentura. There is no way this is going to end well. The scene with Oleg where Arkady basically tells him to spy on Tatiana also is a neat illustration of how much their relationship has changed since early s2; Oleg now rates cookies from Arkady along with instructions.
Meanwhile in Russia: when Nina told her mark last season she had a husband, I assumed she had made him up. Turns out, with her last line in the episode, she didn't. Colour me stunned. I'm also wondering whether he's anyone we already know, but I can't think of Russian characters in the right age.
I've kept away from all spoilers, including about the cast, but I'm assuming they didn't just hire
And in conclusion: everyone's least favourite Pastor is so far removed from reality that he suggests to Paige she should bring her parents along so they can all talk about this spying gig, but Paige is more realistic and immediately shoots that idea down. But now he knows, and she can't take her words back. One of the season's ticking time bombs.
