MovieChat Forums > The Americans (2013) Discussion > Season 5 episode 2

Season 5 episode 2

posted 7 years ago by Popcorn Kernel (2368)
7 replies | jump to latest

This episode was really interesting the way it presented the US being just as bad as the Soviets.
I think the show is at it's best when it doesn't have good guys and bad guys, when it shows that both sides do deplorable things, and that both sides have good decent patriots trying to help their country.
The CIA is going to get poor Oleg killed because they won't listen to Stan. Oleg tipped them off about the bio weapons to save lives, but now they are going to get him killed.
The plot to destroy the Russian grain crop, is even worse than bio weapons. A famine is going to kill the weakest poorest people - the top level party officials will always have food.

I have a suspicion that Stan's new gf might be an operative.
I'm glad we got a little backstory on the Vietnamese kid. He was a boat person who had a foster family in Seattle. I am still not sure when the Russians recruited him though.

I have a good idea how Phillip and Elizabeth can get Paige off Matthew's dick. They need to get a young pretty spy to seduce him and then have Paige find out some 'accidental' way , and she will break up with him.

[–] DreamersxDisease (817) 7 years ago

I feel sorry for Oleg too, I somehow hope they can prevent his death. Do you think that guy was really sent by Stan or was just a ploy to gain his trust?

The crops thing is terrifying, and you're right...it would only hurt the most desperate of citizens and that would probably be true almost anywhere, sadly.

I have suspicious Stan's new love is a spy of some sort as well.
As for the whole Paige and Matthew thing, man, that is such a delicate situation. One side goes too far it could upend everything!

[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 7 years ago

I also think Oleg is going to run into some other trouble back in Russia. He's investigating corruption in food distribution, and his father is some party bigwig, he was told not to tell his family what he is investigating because it would tip them off possibly. The show does a good job contrasting the way of life for Oleg's family compared to Mischa's grandfather- so there is definitely much corruption in the distribution of food and housing. Oleg's parents house is like a mansion with just the 3 of them living there, while other houses have, like, a family of 5 in each bedroom.
In the last episode of season 4, you had 2 different characters tell Oleg he was "a good son" to to back home for his mom. But now he's going to have his sense of duty pitted against his loyalty to his family. Will he continue to be a 'good son' to his parents, or a good son to the motherland?

Also, to lower the tone just for a second, if that was Kerri Russel's own ass in the shower scene and not a 20 yr old body double, props to her.

[–] DreamersxDisease (817) 7 years ago

Oleg's plight is certainly one of my favorite story lines of the show. I was glad to learn they'd be giving him more to do. You outline all of it well and we can tell he's already struggling with it seeing the way he reacted to getting that map.

Hah, yeah Kerri Russell is doing well for her age, which is stupid to say anyways cause it's not like she's that old even! They both have had their fair share of baring it all either in a literal sense or not for this show, props to the both of them. Their performances are really what carries the show.

[–] HollyGoLightly2013 (331) 7 years ago

That could work. I just got into the show recently; however from what I've seen of Paige and from what little I know about her she seems like the type who would crack under pressure or in the moment. I don't think Elizabeth or Phillip are willing to take that type of chance. I mean I know they were showing her all of these coping mechanisms, but she's still a teenager. I don't think they even expect them to work.

[–] CharlieboboMoe (7) 7 years ago

I am curious if the situation with the wheat is actually as it looked. I think it was mid 80's when the study of GMO's really took off, so that farm could have been a research facility for the US trying to create drought and pest resistant strains. I do know that historically the grain exports from the states where awful but not bioengineered awful, just cheap/ lazy awful.

Either way that farm scene was just so good, the noises, the lighting, the camera angles, Elizabeth's face as she reacted to the bugs!

[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 7 years ago

That is true- it could be some other research and not aimed at the USSR.
I had to wonder how does Elizabeth get to Indiana and back without even needing a cover story for the kids. It would have to be a overnight trip, right? She was showering in a hotel. Don't they have any midwest agents to send on that mission?

[–] CharlieboboMoe (7) 7 years ago

haha I think the show has started to take larger liberties with "the viewers will just fill in the blanks"