MovieChat Forums > The Americans (2013) Discussion > What's the deal in S04 finale?

What's the deal in S04 finale?

posted 8 years ago by elliest_5
2 replies | jump to latest

I didn't get what exactly happened in their last exchange with Gabriel: he tells them they are done and they could go back. So what is supposed to be the deal: they are free from the KGB and can go anywhere? They *must* go back to the USSR? They will sever their KGB ties?

None of these options makes complete sense to me. I understand that they could be compromised due to William's arrest, but they have come closer to being blown before and the reaction was not the same. I would understand if they were talking about a concrete plan of extracting them in case their cover is blown, but this sounded more like "yeah, you're done, just go back whenever".

What about the Paige / 2nd generation plan (which sounds like a pretty serious goal)? Wouldn't they want to at least try with both kids and see if any of the two is suitable? Why not keep them as sleeper agents for some time and bring them back when needed or relocate them a bit further away from the main action, giving them more subtle and less dangerous missions? I doesn't make sense to me that the KGB would just offer them retirement when they (the whole family) can still be useful to them in so many ways.

~*~

[–] Beauq81 8 years ago

I'd they're blown, they're going home. Return as heroes, get desk jobs or become instructors etc. They've spent 20 years in Washington, building their covers and their network, relocation would mean starting over.

The kids are going with them. The whole point of the second generation was to have someone born and raised in the USA, living their original lives, all the while working for the KGB. Relocation would mean building a new cover, which might not stand deeper scrutiny. Living her original life means she could become the president.

Fighting a religious war is like fighting over whose imaginary friend is better.

[–] CindyH 7 years ago

You're assuming of course that they're not going to use the kids. Just because they send them home, doesn't mean the kids are going to remain on Soviet soil. Remember that both Philip and Elizabeth got training BEFORE they were assigned in the US.

I don't see what the problem here is. They go home and retire, just like anyone would.

Of course, we know since there are two more seasons, this won't happen anyway.

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