hellmouse

It was in Arkansas - that's the South.

I noticed that these two scenes are right after each other. The FBI looks at sketches and isn't sure of who they are, whether it's multiple people, etc. She has appeared to be so many people, with wigs and disguises, that the FBI can't tell she's one woman. Immediately in the next scene, the husband asks Elizabeth to "pick one" of the paintings. She's drawn to the large one, as she always has been. She told Philip on the plane when he noticed her drawing, "someone is making me learn". Erica didn't just make her learn how to draw. She made her learn how to see herself. The humanity Philip wants her to be aware of is making itself known. The husband sees it, and tells her to take that painting. It's wildly impractical to take such a large item, knowing she'll have to destroy it. But it's the one she wants. And it's hard to even get it in the car. This is a woman who has stuffed people in suitcases, put heads and hands in duffel bags with ruthless efficiency. But carrying the painting is like calling on her less developed skills. It's cumbersome and awkward and takes more time to get in the car. She's careful with it. When she hesitates before burning it, it reminded me of Philip pausing while chopping off Marilyn's head. He doesn't want to do this awful thing. But he knows he has to, and after a pause, he continues. Elizabeth doesn't want to destroy this painting that speaks to her so strongly, but she knows she has to, and she does. But I don't think she's destroying her humanity. If anything, it's better illuminated within herself. I may be reading too much into it, but it really struck me that she was told "pick one." And she couldn't help herself from wanting the one that spoke to her humanity. "Someone is making me learn". Claudia would be horrified!

This is exactly my problem with Renee. We've seen Philip and Elizabeth do and say whatever they need to be in order to get their marks to do what they want. They're always interested in the other person's issues, ideas, feelings, activities. etc. They never disagree or show disinterest unless they're using it as a tactic to further their agenda. They are easy to talk to. Renee was doing all these things and it made Philip suspicious. Because of the three year time jump, we don't know if/when he stopped being suspicious. Has she been this way for the whole three years? Wouldn't that get annoying? Maybe this is just how Renee is and everyone accepts it as normal. But instead of showing some independent thought or interests, she's right back to being oddly over-interested in Stan's job I kind of hope we do not see Renee turn out to be a spy because it would feel like such a cheat by the writers. I think I'd prefer her being a one-dimensional poorly fleshed out character.

Reminds me of the episode back in Season 1 where he says "for once we're doing it my way" and they don't tell the Centre about Haig having the nuclear football. And then later, Elizabeth says she's glad they did it his way and the Centre was lucky to have him on the ground. So maybe that is a good omen for how this may work out. ETA - it was episode 4, "In Control"

I love this observation.

Is it possible that Renee is some kind of American being run by the KGB, but she doesn't know that Philip and Elizabeth are also KGB? She was set out on a mission to get to know Stan and use him as a way to access the FBI. The KGB knows A LOT about Stan, thanks to Nina and Philip and the bug in Gaad's office. They may have seen him as having some vulnerabilities that can be exploited, so they set up with Renee. She thinks she's doing some good for a cause she believes in (whatever it is, IDK) so she dates him. But along the way, she actually develops feelings for him and keeps dating him. Of course, he decides to move out of counterintelligence, which is not helpful to her cause. But because she likes him, she marries him. But more recently, her handler has pushed her to get her own access into the FBI, hence her desire to work there. It's just so strange to me that she thinks working at the FBI will somehow make them more interested in each other's jobs and give them more to talk about. If she's in personnel, she probably should not discuss things with someone who's in a different division. And if Stan is in bank robbery/organized crime/counter-intelligence/whatever, he probably should not discuss things with someone in a different division. And she's going to be making less money. Who does that? If she wants something more meaningful she could take night classes or volunteer somewhere or even push Stan to retire early so they can travel or something. The way she is portrayed reminds me of that genre of 80's/90's movies with a woman who seems normal and turns out to be crazy. Like if she doesn't get a job at the FBI she will stab Stan or kidnap Aderholt's baby or take Matthew and Sandra hostage in a shopping mall. Maybe that's what will distract Stan and allow the Jenningses to get away.

I agree that Claudia is a formidable threat. She certainly has allies and resources. Not to mention she's been brainwashing Elizabeth into hating America more than ever with her movies and music and food, and Elizabeth thought it was all for Paige so she didn't even realize what was happening. BUT, she doesn't know that Elizabeth and Philip are on the same side. She doesn't know that Elizabeth has a way to communicate back to Moscow without involving Claudia. So that at least gives Elizabeth a bit of an edge. And Elizabeth can certainly take Claudia in a fight. We know that. I'm wondering what Arkady's plan is once he gets the details from Oleg. What can he do against his own bosses in the KGB? Does he have any powerful allies? If so, that's another advantage for Elizabeth against Claudia. If not, then the advantage goes back to Claudia.

Interesting article by the Jonna Hiestand Mendez, former Chief of Disguise at the CIA. (What a job title!) Washington Post - The Americans got a lot right

When they get wind of things we know how they did it. They don't just hear stuff from everywhere. There's really nothing the FBI is doing yet that could tip them off at all. Father Andrei can tell Philip about the senior priest being called in for questioning. Aderholt gave the okay to bring him in - that should raise the alarm for Philip that the FBI are on to something. I wonder if he sees Stan at the office before he sees Father Andrei or after.

That's probably suspicious in and of itself! I was trying to think of who else he might call. Sandra and Matthew knew them. Tori from EST met them. Aderholt has met them (LOL). Renee has met them. The travel agency employees are another source. That's about it.

I have always enjoyed the fact that no matter what is going on between them, Philip and Elizabeth are always professional about the job. It is a huge part of why they have succeeded at this for so long. They trust each other's ability to do the job and even if are angry or disappointed about something personal, they are always able to focus on whatever task is at hand, and work together as partners.

It has to make her question everything. If they're planning to falsify her reports to achieve some outcome, she must wonder, have they ever done that before? How have I been duped by my own people? Have they been using her as a weapon for personal ends? it's not like Elizabeth to sit and reflect on every operation she's ever done, but she's going to think about it a little, at least. It's also going to make her question the plan for Paige. Elizabeth has lied to Paige, but she's always thought it was for Paige's own good. Now she's got to reconsider the fact that she's setting her daughter up to be a pawn for an organization itself can't be trusted. Her naive, inept, American daughter. How does Elizabeth decide to handle that?

Maybe Philip figures out that Stan is on to them and they decide to frame him and/or Renee for some crime. They plant evidence in their house or car. So now Stan has this crazy idea and a cloud of suspicion around him, which makes Aderholt discount his idea. Stan doesn't die, but he isn't believed, and by the time the setup is disproved, Philip and Elizabeth (and their kids? IDK) have gotten away Here's a question, though. We know the hardliners in the KGB are going to be pissed at Elizabeth. But it's not everyone. Arkady would want to protect her (if he gets her message, via Oleg, n time). Is it possible that they could still trust someone at the Rezidentura to help them get out of the country? I would like to see either Philip or Elizabeth kill Claudia. Or both shoot her at the same time, lol.

It was for Philip to take the kids to a hotel for a night and if Elizabeth didn't show up, to take them to the Rezidentura in Ottawa, Canada. I don't think that plan will work now because Paige and Henry aren't living at home.

More questions from the preview: Why is Stan going to visit Philip in the travel agency office? Is that the "encounter that turns into much more than he had bargained for"? I was thinking it was the meeting with the priest but maybe it will be Stan instead. Hopefully Philip clues in to the fact that Stan is ON THE CASE and is very suspicious. Does Elizabeth get to meet with Oleg? Is it before or after Oleg is brought in for questioning? If it's after, does Oleg tell Stan why he's there in the US? He can't do that, can he? Also, where are the FBI agents in the scene where they get out of the cars and draw their guns? It isn't a location I'm familiar with. I kind of hope it's wherever Claudia lives and that she is arrested and thrown in jail.

I think we're meant to see it as related to Paige being angry at Elizabeth. Elizabeth says "I had nothing to do with that boy" and Paige says "I'll never forgive you if you lie to me". But how would Paige know anything about the guy? So it could be a preview misdirection. Oooh, I like it. That is plausible. The other thought I had was that maybe Claudia tells Paige something to turn her against her mother. Claudia was always willing to turn Philip & Elizabeth against each other so I fully expect her to try to do so with Paige.

A bunch of reviews of episode 8 The Summit. It's always interesting to read the different takes reviewers have on this show. But they all agree that this was an excellent episode. From Vox.com: The Americans unveils a master class in building tension in The Summit From Alan Sepinwall: The Americans Brings Elizabeth To A Series-Altering Decision From Paste magazine: The Many Faces of Elizabeth Jennings From AV Club: Between two conversations, The Americans do battle and seek absolution From Den of Geek: The Americans Review: The Summit ETA From Vulture.com: The Americans Recap: Friendly Fire From NYT: The Americans Recap: Elizabeth Comes Around

Do you think he will call the Jenningses to tell them he got a phone call from the FBI? If he feels enough loyalty to them to not tell Stan anything (and I agree with you about that), then he might even feel enough loyalty to give them a heads up.

This made me LOL thinking of Apollonia jumping into the wrong lake in Purple Rain. "That's not Lake Minnetonka.". Would Paige have seen that movie? Did they go see R-rated movies?

I think it's possible that some of Henry's friends at the boarding school will take him under a protective wing and help him get through high school and into a good college. Of course I could see them all shunning him as the son of Commie spies, but I feel like Henry's been set up as someone who is well-liked by not just his friends but their parents. Chris' dad wrote a recommendation letter for him. This other kid's dad talked to him about his business. It is plausible that some family would say "Henry deserves better, we will look out for him". If they are rich enough and well-connected enough, that could be enough to help ease Henry's way into adulthood. As @sistermagpie said, he's going to have psychological damage from this. But he has been shown to be a go-getter in a way that makes me think they want us to believe he might be able to get through this, unlike his sister. I do not see Henry ending up with Stan. If anything, I see an end to his friendship with Stan. If Stan is involved in taking down his parents and sister, he will see it as a personal betrayal. Uncle Stan was not there to help the family when the chips were down. That would hurt Henry.

You're right that it would be moving and emotional. BUT. I don't want to see it. Because once again, something that is truly about Philip would be presented to us as being about other people. Philip's life is now a reason for Mischa and Elizabeth to meet. It would make me mad. I don't want to see Mischa again, because it's just a reminder of how ridiculous his existence and his mother and his futile journey to the US was. It was such a waste of time in terms of the larger story. IMO. I think we've seen the last of him - I think Gabriel wrapped up the story lines of Martha and Mischa by giving them families. He knew that Philip didn't want them to be alone, and now they're not.

It's so hard for me to think that Stan could even conceive of Philip being Martha's husband. He knows there is an illegals couple. But that might not click in his mind as being related to the Martha op. That's where the sketches will be important. How much does Philip's Chicago disguise look like his Clark disguise? Not a lot, IMO. Elizabeth on the other hand didn't look all that different in Chicago and Stan apparently suspects her.

The major plot lines in Season 5 were all like dud firecrackers given how Season 6 is playing out. If the Jenningses had actually moved to Russia, then it would have felt like Season 5 was laying the groundwork for what it was like to live there. The food is not great and hard to get. There is lots of corruption. It's hard to travel out of the country. If you speak against the gov't you will be imprisoned. Meanwhile in the US they are trying to make pest-resistant wheat and they have plenty of food. Look at how hard it is for the defector family to be in a new country - even the father who wanted to defect. Look at how eager the young couple are to have better things for her son. Look at how bitter Tuan is about how people don't appreciate their homeland. All of that would have been kind of interesting as a precursor to a Season 6 where they were living in Russia. Maybe Philip and Elizabeth had to go back to the US to do special operations, but in general the family would be in Russia with the green walls and gray skies. I remember people wondering if they would actually go to Russia at the end of Season 5. It felt like they were building up the Russian side of the story for a reason. But instead, they stayed in place and all of that table setting about food and corruption and defection and the meaning of home was just kind of pointless. There are some good moments in Season 5, but in general, I agree with @sistermagpie that they didn't have that far to go from S4 to S5.

Based on the description of episode 9 that was just posted, I can think of three situations that might fit "Philip has an encounter that turns into much more than he had bargained for." 1) Father Andrei - maybe he sees Father Andrei being questioned/arrested and barely escapes capture himself. He knows he and Elizabeth may be blown. 2) Oleg - maybe he sees Oleg being arrested (by FBI) or kidnapped (by KGB). The latter would put him on high alert regarding his own safety from the KGB. 3) Stan - maybe Stan asks him if Elizabeth is involved in drug dealing, based on a possible positive identification from Curtis. How would he talk his way out of that one? He'd be mentally planning their getaway every second of that conversation, IMO.

Imagine Paige seeing her father chop off Marilyn's head with an axe. LOL.