# New FX Series: The Americans (Starts Jan 30th) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172 "2013-01-24T02:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/81 "2013-02-08T17:59:34Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > How old is Elizabeth supposed to be? It threw me that the flashback to the rape scene was supposed to be 21 years earlier. Russell is only 36 and I sure as hell didn’t buy her being 15 in that scene… Her father was killed at Stalingrad, so she is at least 38 and could be upto 40. That would make her 17 to 19 in the rape scene. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/82 "2013-02-08T18:06:57Z")
Good episode, and I did enjoy the crappy technology from back then; the bug could only send so far, he needed that plastic ear piece and receiver that looked like it came from a scrap heap in the dumpster behind Radio Shack, and then it was all put on a tape recorder. Granted, this was high-tech at the time, but it sure does look low-tech today! When they were listening to the “grand plan” at the end, was that all a reference to Ronald Reagan’s wildly unrealistic “Star Wars” plan? So, will the girl in the Russian Embassy eventually point towards the bug in that office and that will eventually point towards our lovely couple? And the blonde spy with the camera in her boobs seems like a loose cannon about ready to fly off the handle - wonder how long it is before she becomes a liability instead of an asset? Maybe they will find a way to blame her for the bug in that office after her untimely death (should she die in an untimely manner)? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/83 "2013-02-08T19:09:03Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Her father was killed at Stalingrad, so she is at least 38 and could be upto 40. That would make her 17 to 19 in the rape scene. I think she said she was 2 when her father died at Stalingrad; that would be her 40 now. She looks really good (but not unbelivably so) for 40; especially compared to her sisters back in the motherland. It makes sense that she’d put alot of effort into her appearance considering how much of her job involves seducing targets. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/84 "2013-02-14T05:40:51Z")
Regarding the Feb 13th episode I was wondering if the KGB would really ship her to the Motherland (Cuba never occured to me until Elizabeth mentioned it). I wasn’t too surprised when they killed her. At least the baby got shipped sent to his grandparents (sure he’d be better off staying here, but at least he’s not dead). Do you Phillip & Elizabeth know that was the plan? I don’t; first I don’t see any reason for them to know Cuba is a lie, and they’re both smart enough not to question it. I doubt they’d even want to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/85 "2013-02-14T05:52:43Z")
I think deep down they both knew she was a goner. They’re not stupid. I knew it as soon as I saw the van. The whole Cuba thing was way too good to be true, but I doubt they want to think about it. Great acting by both Russell and Rhys in that scene in the kitchen. Anyone know the song that was playing at the very end? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/86 "2013-02-14T07:39:23Z")
I thought an otherwise good episode was spoiled by the last five seconds. I don’t think we really needed to be told that Mags was not a nice woman, but for those who need closure, ending the episode with the baby in Russia was an elegant way to confirm that the mother had been killed. Showing her dead after that kind of insulted our intelligence. Showing her left dead to be easily found, rather than disappeared, insults the KGB’s intelligence. Jeez, even the NJ mafia buries people in a swamp or whatever. Why hand the FBI another source of possible clues? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/87 "2013-02-14T14:47:56Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I think deep down they both knew she was a goner. They’re not stupid. I knew it as soon as I saw the van. The whole Cuba thing was way too good to be true, but I doubt they want to think about it. > > Great acting by both Russell and Rhys in that scene in the kitchen. Anyone know the song that was playing at the very end? Something-or-other by Roxy Music–it showed in the closed captioning. I’d check it for you, but I’m pretty sure I deleted the episode when done. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/88 "2013-02-14T15:47:46Z")
I am pretty sure that the KGB did not wantonly kill people unless it furthered their objectives. The woman had an APB on her. Her death would be news. Good way to lose loyalty, something the KGB was good at avoiding. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/89 "2013-02-14T16:30:39Z")
Hmm, so now there is only one degree of separation between “The happy couple” and Stan. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/90 "2013-02-14T16:31:47Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Something-or-other by Roxy Music–it showed in the closed captioning. I’d check it for you, but I’m pretty sure I deleted the episode when done. Ah, it was “Sunset” by Roxy Music. And my respect for this show just went up a few dozen notches. Love them. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/91 "2013-02-14T23:29:34Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I think deep down they both knew she was a goner. They’re not stupid. I knew it as soon as I saw the van. The whole Cuba thing was way too good to be true, but I doubt they want to think about it. Russell knew she was a goner - she had a sad not-quite-smile on her face. Rhys I think was in denial. Either his character was better at faking a genuine smile ( and I don’t think he would under the circumstances ) or his small smile was actually genuine. Some decent face-acting by both leads in this series. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/92 "2013-02-15T02:52:23Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I am pretty sure that the KGB did not wantonly kill people unless it furthered their objectives. The woman had an APB on her. Her death would be news. Good way to lose loyalty, something the KGB was good at avoiding. NM ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/93 "2013-02-15T02:57:08Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I am pretty sure that the KGB did not wantonly kill people unless it furthered their objectives. The woman had an APB on her. Her death would be news. Good way to lose loyalty, something the KGB was good at avoiding. [spoiler] If she “disappeared” by heading to Cuba that would certainly have made the FBI far more suspicious than here either committing suicide or dying of a drug overdose. She was a loose cannon and the KGB had no reason to trust her. I thought what they did made perfect sense.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/94 "2013-02-15T08:06:36Z")
The KGB usually went out of it’s way to accommodate it’s agents and families, see George Blake, Kim Philby, McLean etc. And “Robert” had been an an officer not just an agent. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/95 "2013-02-15T17:16:21Z")
Agree about the 2/13 ending: It was unnecessary and clumsy to _show_ the mother dead, as everybody grasped that she was dead the moment we saw the baby alone in the preceding scene. Furthermore, any idea that death by “drug overdose” would fool Stan the FBI agent seems laughable – nobody watching the show at home thinks she died because she was an addict; it would be clear to any agent that a KGB suspect being chased suddenly dying of “natural causes” is too convenient to be likely. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/96 "2013-02-15T17:41:17Z")
When the woman was told, “…nice, white sandy beach…” I immediately thought, “Yeah, and Fido really was sent to a loving family with a farm where he could run free…” And when the black dude mentioned he was in the “SLS”, I assume that was a variation of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) back in the day? Odd they couldn’t just use the “real” organization name - fear of being sued by a defunct radical group? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/97 "2013-02-15T17:54:53Z")
Regarding the ending: The FBI had to find her dead otherwise the rest of the season would be them looking for her as she was their only lead at the moment. It was a loose end the KGB would have to tie up. I also think there was a racial component. I think if she were a Russian national they may have handled it differently ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/98 "2013-02-15T18:01:29Z")
Agreed with the Russian national, or correctly Soviet national reasoning. BTW, where did they get they black guy? When he first came I thought, you know what, he probably was recruited from some African colony whose colonial masters the US was supporting. But, it seems he is a native? Why would they risk that revealing the truth to him. It’s an excellent show. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/99 "2013-02-15T18:54:57Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > And when the black dude mentioned he was in the “SLS”, I assume that was a variation of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) back in the day? Odd they couldn’t just use the “real” organization name - fear of being sued by a defunct radical group? He said SCLC, not SLS. As in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization. He specifically mentioned meeting Elizabeth during the Chicago Freedom Movement led by MLK, Jr. between '65 and '67. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172/100 "2013-02-15T19:29:34Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > He said SCLC, not SLS. As in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization. He specifically mentioned meeting Elizabeth during the Chicago Freedom Movement led by MLK, Jr. between '65 and '67. Right. I think he is an American; just an ideological recruit. > [@AK84](#): > > Agreed with the Russian national, or correctly Soviet national reasoning… I wonder what they’d have done if she was Cuban? I think another part of it was that she was such an unknown variable. They didn’t know shit about her or the marriage (or that Robert was living in Philly instead of Boston). She’s just a random Puerto Rican woman, not even a local recruit like Gregory. I wonder about the kid too; if he ever finds out the truth (& can prove it) he has a handy escape ticket if he doesn’t like Putin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fx-series-the-americans-starts-jan-30th/648172.md?page=6)