By repeatedly bringing up the subject, they’re ‘running the scene’ over & over.
We got that they were trying to gain access; do they think we developed amnesia?
There may be a twist coming.
I think in the business they call that a story arc.
You should tweet the co-producers though, sounds like you have some great editing ideas.
Essential listening - this week the senior west coast presidents, etc, explain teir role in the collaborative processes. Fascinating stuff:
https://soundcloud.com/panoply/the-americans-s4-e9-the-day-after-slate-tv-club
I think folks may be on the right track about the guy offing himself. Especially after, Elizabeth has said how much she likes the woman. Crisis of conscience, anybody?
It seems that’s what is being foreshadowed. And, of course, E didn’t dismiss EST itself, just the fact it is based on making money.
E is also in all kinds of conflict about pushing Paige into religion.
On that podcast they talk of 5 or 6 seasons in total to tell the whole story, whichever it takes - with a possible hiatus between 5 and 6.
They obv. know how and where this ends and are, to some extent, building backwards now. I do wonder if this change in E is significant in the ultimate overarching theme of the show …
Slightly amused we haven’t met the new FBI boss yet. They keep talking about him as a tease … surely it’s someone we know …
No.
Well I’m still not totally convinced that Don has anything to do with Level 4 access. Let’s not jump to conclusions.
It’s clearly implied in the story arc. We can jump to any damn conclusions we want…we all bought the mat.
That 7 month jump helped ease the legal challenges … 
Her boyfriend seems so … young. Canyoubelieveit.
And not to go all Nietzsche, but Gadd is dead! And as a direct result of intel provided by Phillip (“What happened to your old boss?”). Clearly not the intended result, but you gotta wonder what their play was. Just to try to buy info from a possibly disgruntled guy who’d been forced from his position? Heck, probably just a routine approach, get a no, move on.
You could tell that Arkady wasn’t pleased. I think he had a certain level of respect for Gadd.
RIP Gaad. I wonder how many people knew that Gaad was in Thailand, and if Stan will put two and two together.
I love the continuing scenes of the kids hanging out together - drinking beer, making coffee, unknowingly trading intel…it’s almost humorous how clueless the adults are about it.
Only three more episodes to go this season. Next week’s previews look intriguing: Stan at a dinner with Pastor Tim & Alice, and Elizabeth fakes a pregnancy to get to Young Hee’s husband.
By the way, is it just me or does Phillip’s “Kimmie Personna” seem based, at least in part, on NORML founder Keith Stroup?
(Shown here next to some guy with a cigarette holder.)
All I know is i’m flesh and blood and I’d take myself off that mission.
Yeah, Stan told Phillip about Gadd, but who knows who else knew and who they told.
Watch your margins!
Anyone else want to scream at Paige “What the fuck did you think was going to happen?” Yes, they might have to pick up and move to the USSR, there’s really no other choice (well, there’s life imprisonment and/or execution). If they think Alice might turn them in, they’re going to have to run. I’m not clear why that didn’t occur to Paige until then.
I loved how Elizabeth had to fake being outraged at the idea they Pastor Tim killed, but was ticked for real at Paige for thinking they’d be stupid enough to leave Alice alive. 
Whatever it was the KGB sure as hell didn’t send their varsity squad; those guys were terrible (not least because of their accents).
Pretty sure you got whooshed.
Tell me about it.
They sure removed any ambiguity about Don’s role in Level 4 access. I still don’t see the play - how they get from guilt over a fling to violating his security clearance.
So, is Pastor Tim a spy? Seriously, just wandering around a Soviet client state? And his wife is SO dead. I was surprised Paige showed no guilt over having told Tim. I could see her advocating offing them as a further step towards joining the family business - maybe as a season ender.
I didn’t draw the connection between Stan’s mentioning Gaad’s travels and the approach to him. That scene played out really oddly. They obviously misread him if they thought he would simply turn traitor. The Soviet team was weird, the way the one guy kept apologizing…
And why does Tatiana want an old English-speaking secretary?