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The Americans

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The Americans Empty The Americans

Post  blixie Tue Mar 12, 2013 1:04 pm

This show is kicking a lot of ass and I love that my two favorite shows this season (now that Ben & Kate was put to bed at least) are period pieces set in the 80's.

I'm really impressed at how the show has married the relationship stuff to the spy stuff, and that we see both sides of it through the central marriage/family and that of Noah Emmerich's FBI agent, who just emerged from his own undercover assignment. He did some amazing work in the episode where he had to press his female embassy contact to get information using her beauty, and yet is appalled when she tells him, "I sucked his cock just like you told me to." He realizes she didn't miss read him, and she took the only message she could from such ambiguous threats and manipulations.

Of course, I've heard it's getting crap ratings so whatever. FX already burned me once with Terriers, don't screw me again!

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Post  Morning Angel Tue Mar 12, 2013 1:23 pm

It's already been renewed for a second season so all is good.

I really enjoy this show. The relationship between Phillip and Elizabeth is so complicated and interesting to follow. I already liked Keri Russell, but I'd never seen Matthew Rhys in anything, but he's very good. The whole story with Stan and the FBI is also very interesting. There's no storyline dragging the story down; although the storyline with the kids in the last episode was a bit meh. It's very good and I think it probably can get even better as it progresses.
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Post  sunni94 Thu Mar 14, 2013 5:42 pm

All of the lies and pretending to be different people while falling in love after pretending for years is so intriguing. I want those two crazy kids to make it work and yet I still enjoy seeing them use sex as a weapon in their "work" life.

I also love seeing Mags again!

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Post  blixie Thu Mar 14, 2013 5:52 pm

Oh yay super relieved to hear it's already renewed for year two! Last nights episode was another STELLAR outing.

Poor Stan can't even relax his ass when he's with a SRSLY beautiful babe who tells him she expects nothing from him. Which I get I do, he really is falling for her and it's entirely possible he already went through something akin to this in his recent undercover gig, the likelihood Nina will end up dead, and dead because of him bringing her into it is a lot to cope with.

I liked the parallel with Phillip and Irina v. Phillip and Elizabeth, and how spy shit is weaved in and out of all interpersonal relationships. I feel stupid for not realizing that you have a son story could very well have just been a that: a story to draw him in.

I also loved the Mags/Elizabeth claws out exchanges.

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Post  Morning Angel Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:54 pm

I had my head in my hands a lot of that episode with the tension and boneheaded moves all over the place. lol

I know Nina said to Stan she doesn't want anything, but that just seems too simple. Given how she manipulated her boss, she might end up being a double agent, having the Soviet embassy feed her false info to give to the FBI or something of that nature.

Phillip lying to Elizabeth at the end just killed me. Sometimes, it just feels they lie because they can; it's almost like a game! Now, I really don't know that Elizabeth would have been okay with his sleeping with Irina as she implied she would be, and maybe he is truly trying to protect their growing bond, but that'll blow up in his face, I have no doubt.

I feel stupid for not realizing that you have a son story could very well have just been a that: a story to draw him in.

I have to say that when they were exchanging info about their respective family early on, and she said she had a son, I thought, "Oh, it must be Phillip's!" lol But I agree, it didn't cross my mind someone would lie about something like that. But those rules of propriety don't quite apply here!
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Post  Gillian Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:58 am

I've spent the past few days catching up on this show via DVR recordings of a marathon from earlier this month and On Demand, and I have such a thing for Matthew Rhys now. I can't even. He is so, so good in this. Keri Russell is, too, obviously, but I've seen her be super good in plenty of other things. I've never seen Rhys in anything before, and I've been so impressed with him from episode one. Plus, it's fun to listen for accent slips.

I've seen Noah Emmerich in tons of stuff, but this is easily the first thing I've seen him in that's given him such good stuff to work with. I've really only ever seen him be generic bad guy/military guy/government guy. Basically, I'm impressed by everyone! I'm so glad there's going to be at least two seasons.

The only thing that bugs me is what they do about the kids when they go out on these night missions. I guess Paige is technically old enough that she can be left home alone, but she doesn't know she and Henry are being left alone, and you can't tell me they never wake up sick or after a nightmare or get up to pee and notice that their parents aren't home. And what did they do when the kids were too young to be left alone? Is there some sort of KGB nanny service?

I've got two episodes left to be completely caught up. I want to try to stretch them out a bit since I'm pretty sure there's no new episode this week, but yeah. I'll totally fly through those tomorrow.


Last edited by Gillian on Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:10 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Post  Algae Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:11 am

From a meta-point of watching, I loved the scene last week
Spoiler:

I'm really enjoying this show. It's fun, but serious and it's a neat change of pace from my other TV watching.
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Post  blixie Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:31 am

Is their some sort of KGB nanny service?

Ha, yeah I sort of thought that was a plot hole in episode where they were interrogated about the mole. Like someone should have gone to pick up the kids and explain the situation. But I assume that they simply weren't as active, or maybe not active at all for the first five or so years, though what we've seen is a lot of trade offs with him running one mission at night and her sticking around, or her running a mission and him staying at home, appropriately egalitarian for Communists!

I seriously love the show but I find I almost can't watch it in real time while it's airing because it's so tense/stressful, like when Elizabeth mentioned she wanted to go sleep one time without being worried. DAMN. I'm actually a week behind which is good if they are skipping a week for Easter. They shouldn't though, religion is the opiate of the masses.

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Post  Muggsy Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:04 am

Help? I'm doing a social activity at work where we show an episode of a tv show.

Want to do something fairly unique but it's a semi-conservative office so don't want to get into anything too graphic. Would the first episode of this show be something I could show to work people? Any nudity or excessive swearing for the first episode? I'm Cdn so not sure what is normal for FX...my other options are House of Cards or Downton Abbey...

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Post  Algae Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:25 am

I don't know...I don't remember explicit nudity, but (spoiler?)
Spoiler:

I don't know if it's something I'd show at work, even though we've talked about the show.
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Post  Muggsy Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:32 am

Oh gosh - thanks! That is definitely not something I would want to show. Downton Abbey it is!

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Post  Genevieve Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:43 pm

I am really enjoying this show a lot. (though OMG I wish they could light the show better. I know FX does things on the cheap but go to IKEA buy some lamps.)
I remember seeing Matthew Rhys a million years ago in "Very Annie Mary" so it is cool to see where he has ended up. I love the duelling nature of things -really enjoying living in the US but also being devoted to this other country and how these two sides have shaped them.
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Post  blixie Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:52 pm

That is definitely not something I would want to show.

Yeah the show is VERY F/X and risque. The premiere also has a Blow Jay. I actually like that it has a lot of low/natural lighting, I think it gives the show a *feel* of gritty realism, so much of the already disturbing sexual encounters and violent confrontations feel even...dirtier and more disturbing. Unlike every other spy show/movie I've ever seen there is never a moment I think ooh being a spy is so cool and glamorous even if it's sometimes hard and grueling. No it's hard and grueling every single breath you take.

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Post  Gillian Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:01 pm

(though OMG I wish they could light the show better. I know FX does things on the cheap but go to IKEA buy some lamps.)
Me toooooo. It got better once I started watching on the HD channel rather than the regular channel, but for the first few episodes, I couldn't see anything that was happening in the nighttime scenes. In the Gregory episode especially, I couldn't see anything leading up to Philip and Granny's first confrontation, and I also could barely see Philip and Elizabeth in that "it's happening now" scene at their table. Keri Russell was killing it with her voice, but I could barely see her face, and I could barely see Matthew Rhys's face (which sucked because that guy kills it with the faces) and I was like, "What's happening are they holding hands or is he just holding his coffee I can't tellllllllllllllll!!!" So I remembered that HD is a thing and started recording on that channel and now it's better.

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Post  blixie Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:38 pm

So not that I'm complaining per se, but WOW that opening sex scene? DAMN, GINA. I don't know how they've managed to have an obligatory graphic sex scene in almost every episode without it playing to me as gratuitous, like Game of Tits does on HBO.

I'm sort of bummed Phillip and Elizabeth decided to actually separate, but I have to believe you can't put your feelings back in the box just because you decide to put some distance there. I liked that they had the courage to kill off Amador and get Beeman all riled up. I like that he's becoming as destabilized as the core couple. Noah Emmerich was fantastic, I really hope he gets some award recognition because as good as Rhys/Kerry are he's just a click above.

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Post  Gillian Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:35 pm

blixie wrote:I liked that they had the courage to kill off Amador and get Beeman all riled up. I like that he's becoming as destabilized as the core couple.
Man, I didn't even know what to make of him when he offed poor Vlad. He is totally cracking, but he basically went out of his way to make being murdered slightly less terrible by helping him relax a bit and then shooting him from behind. Oh, Beeman. You, my friend, are a mess. Also, I feel really bad for your wife.

With all the super good acting, Rhys is still my #1. I continue to be in awe of what he can do with his face. Like, he's just chilling against the wall at the Beeman house, looking all exhausted, like shit warmed over. I mean, obviously, good job hair and makeup people there, too, but the way this guy conveys stuff with his eyes impresses the hell out of me. I may be just a little bit smitten here.

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Post  biakbiak Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:43 pm

If you watched the show in DVR there is a chance you missed the last part of the episode, so FX has put the ep online without the wait.
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Post  Gillian Sun May 05, 2013 8:34 pm

I just watched the finale (boooo, I want more episodes), and I'm going to be really fangirly here, but I thought it was fantastic. Damn near perfect, really. I think this show and I are still in the honeymoon stage. What they're doing with Nina is perfect. She is DEFINITELY going to die now, but I'm glad she turned double-agent the way she did instead of them having her have been playing both sides secretly all along, or something else that's been done a zillion times. I loved the subtlety with which they handled the marriage stuff. I loved that Paige is starting to get curious but didn't actually find anything, because please. And finally, I loved, loved, loved the set-up stuff. I loved that they were wrong about which mission was the set-up. I loved Arkady spray painting the shit out of all of those cars. I also freaking love that this show takes place in the 80s, so nobody has cell phones or other fancy communication gadgets, so if you want to help somebody avoid being arrested for being a Soviet spy you have to spray paint cars and haul ass across town to pick them up yourself.

I crack up every time I see those witness sketches of Phillip and Elizabeth, because throughout this series I've thought that both of them would be recognized really easily by anybody they've interacted with in one of their disguises. Even if you were fooled by one of Phillip's terrible blonde wigs, I feel like his voice is so distinct that a person would recognize it immediately. Then you have Keri Russell, whose face is so Keri Russell-ish and gorgeous. You can't change that face, or that steely death stare, no matter how many 80s wigs and huge glasses you throw on her head.

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Post  Morning Angel Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:38 am

So glad to have the show back!  It was my favourite new season last year, and this first episode was fantastic.

Lesson #1 from this episode: Never open doors. ;) Opening doors leads to seeing things you wish you hadn't seen (and this applies to many characters tonight.)  Lots of traumatized people.
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Post  Carrie Ann Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:31 pm

I just watched the entire first season and 2x01 in the past 48 hours. I think I've convinced myself we're back in a cold war.

Anyway, I LOVE this show. The chemistry between Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys is perfect, and I like that in a show about spies, their relationship is nuanced and believably complex. I also appreciate that Elizabeth is the one who is a little colder, a little more committed to the mission, a little more focused. It's nice to see a different gender dynamic.

Also, it's true that Noah Emmerich is working on a whole other level on this show. All three of them deserve award recognition, and so does Margo Martindale.
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