The Americans 4.05.
Apr. 14th, 2016 07:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which there is a lot of aftermath to the previous episode and build up to the next.
Not least because I can't help but feel that Martha is a dead woman walking now. Yes, Aderholt and Stan have nothing on her, but a) the Centre doesn't know that, and b) how long before the KGB decides that the fact she now has confirmed FBI surveillance on her is enough to cut their losses in a finite fashion? Practically the only reason why I have also hope she survives is that Nina has just died, and it would be unlikely to kill off both of the main supporting female characters in one season. Otoh I do think that one way or the other, Martha is going to get written out this season, but if she's lucky, she'll get what Gregory didn't want, a new life in Russia. (Not that Martha would want it, either, and certainly not if it comes with finding out Clark has no intention of going with her, but it's better than dying or spending the rest of her life in prison, surely.)
Then again: Chekov's gun. She WILL use it somehow.
Meanwhile, Oleg has three scenes with three different men about Nina's death. The one with his father is bitter (btw: knew he'd be partially blaming Dad, despite his father not being responsible - it's irrational, but that's what emotions are) and quickly gets ugly when Oleg pulls the "why didn't you save my brother from Afghanistan?" card. The one with Arkady starts better, because Arkady actually knew Nina and felt something for her, and is visibly shaken by the news, but Arkady also goes the "it must have been her fault, she must have squandered her chance" route which isn't what Oleg wants to hear. And then there's Stan, who ends up being the one who gives him the reaction Oleg has been looking for by being simply stunned and shattered, without trying to blame her death on Nina. Mind you: not that I expect this to keep Stan from playing the "so... will you work for the FBI now? I do have proof that you leaked intel to me before!" card soon. But because the scene with Arkady ended with Oleg slipping back into distant mode, I still wonder whether or not Nina's death will make him actually want to become a double, at least for a while.
The burial of Oleg's brother in Russia: that was a Zinc coffin, unless I was projecting what I wanted to see. Thank you, Svetlana Alexejevich, for teaching me about the significance re: soldiers who died in Afghanistan.
Chez Jennings, we have to different examples of working people and having to make up with them. Paige is told she needs to play nice with Pastor Tim and does so by telling Pastor Tim she was told be nice to him. This makes Pastor Tim feel like her confidant again, so I can't decide whether it was bratty or inspired. Of course, Tim and Alice have also gotten a visit from Philip and Elizabeth before, now in full Working Mode. I must admit, when they introduced their supposedly Jesuit priest from El Salvador I laughed, in an approving way. That was inspired. Not sure whether Pastor Tim bought it completely, but I think he's at least halfway considering that it's true, not least because our clever spies do use the tried and true "as much truth as possible to sweeten the lie" tactic by guilt tripping Tim re: the Reagan era US support for the death squads in El Salvador.
Of course, Paige is not the only one being told they need to make up with someone. So is Philip, not for the first time, by Elizabeth re: Stan, and by the end of the episode, he does it. Now leaving the spy factor aside, which had nothing to do with their fallout, Stan was in the wrong there, so it would have been his turn to apologize, and I suspect Philip wanted him to, but as with Pastor Tim: personal feelings have to come second to professional needs. And professionally, they need the FBI man next door in a pro Philip Jennings mode. So Philip, professional that he is, comes up with an apology designed to appeal to Stan's sense of masculine superiority, and it works. In return, Stan gives him Stan speak for "you are MY only friend and the thought of YOU with Sandra drove me mad with jealousy", which cracked me up. Though I still want Stan to humble himself before Philip at some point.
Minor points: Elizabeth visiting Younglee again, continuing to have fun. She's working there, too, but it's obvious she really likes the woman (and her reaction to Henry's "you have friends?!?" was great), so I'm expecting a tragic denouement once Elizabeth's true mission kicks in. That kind of thing never goes well for her assets.
Hans was a bit nervous but also eager to please with Philip. That a boy, Hans.
Not least because I can't help but feel that Martha is a dead woman walking now. Yes, Aderholt and Stan have nothing on her, but a) the Centre doesn't know that, and b) how long before the KGB decides that the fact she now has confirmed FBI surveillance on her is enough to cut their losses in a finite fashion? Practically the only reason why I have also hope she survives is that Nina has just died, and it would be unlikely to kill off both of the main supporting female characters in one season. Otoh I do think that one way or the other, Martha is going to get written out this season, but if she's lucky, she'll get what Gregory didn't want, a new life in Russia. (Not that Martha would want it, either, and certainly not if it comes with finding out Clark has no intention of going with her, but it's better than dying or spending the rest of her life in prison, surely.)
Then again: Chekov's gun. She WILL use it somehow.
Meanwhile, Oleg has three scenes with three different men about Nina's death. The one with his father is bitter (btw: knew he'd be partially blaming Dad, despite his father not being responsible - it's irrational, but that's what emotions are) and quickly gets ugly when Oleg pulls the "why didn't you save my brother from Afghanistan?" card. The one with Arkady starts better, because Arkady actually knew Nina and felt something for her, and is visibly shaken by the news, but Arkady also goes the "it must have been her fault, she must have squandered her chance" route which isn't what Oleg wants to hear. And then there's Stan, who ends up being the one who gives him the reaction Oleg has been looking for by being simply stunned and shattered, without trying to blame her death on Nina. Mind you: not that I expect this to keep Stan from playing the "so... will you work for the FBI now? I do have proof that you leaked intel to me before!" card soon. But because the scene with Arkady ended with Oleg slipping back into distant mode, I still wonder whether or not Nina's death will make him actually want to become a double, at least for a while.
The burial of Oleg's brother in Russia: that was a Zinc coffin, unless I was projecting what I wanted to see. Thank you, Svetlana Alexejevich, for teaching me about the significance re: soldiers who died in Afghanistan.
Chez Jennings, we have to different examples of working people and having to make up with them. Paige is told she needs to play nice with Pastor Tim and does so by telling Pastor Tim she was told be nice to him. This makes Pastor Tim feel like her confidant again, so I can't decide whether it was bratty or inspired. Of course, Tim and Alice have also gotten a visit from Philip and Elizabeth before, now in full Working Mode. I must admit, when they introduced their supposedly Jesuit priest from El Salvador I laughed, in an approving way. That was inspired. Not sure whether Pastor Tim bought it completely, but I think he's at least halfway considering that it's true, not least because our clever spies do use the tried and true "as much truth as possible to sweeten the lie" tactic by guilt tripping Tim re: the Reagan era US support for the death squads in El Salvador.
Of course, Paige is not the only one being told they need to make up with someone. So is Philip, not for the first time, by Elizabeth re: Stan, and by the end of the episode, he does it. Now leaving the spy factor aside, which had nothing to do with their fallout, Stan was in the wrong there, so it would have been his turn to apologize, and I suspect Philip wanted him to, but as with Pastor Tim: personal feelings have to come second to professional needs. And professionally, they need the FBI man next door in a pro Philip Jennings mode. So Philip, professional that he is, comes up with an apology designed to appeal to Stan's sense of masculine superiority, and it works. In return, Stan gives him Stan speak for "you are MY only friend and the thought of YOU with Sandra drove me mad with jealousy", which cracked me up. Though I still want Stan to humble himself before Philip at some point.
Minor points: Elizabeth visiting Younglee again, continuing to have fun. She's working there, too, but it's obvious she really likes the woman (and her reaction to Henry's "you have friends?!?" was great), so I'm expecting a tragic denouement once Elizabeth's true mission kicks in. That kind of thing never goes well for her assets.
Hans was a bit nervous but also eager to please with Philip. That a boy, Hans.
