# The Americans; season 5 (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255 "2017-03-03T01:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/381 "2017-05-12T19:41:45Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I doubt it. Tuan isn’t working for the Russians. He’s working for someone else (Chinese and/or Vietnamese) _with_ the Russians. > It’s one thing to ask another country to go in with you on an op. It’s quite another to ask another country to spy on your spies for you. It’s not really “spying on your spies” to ask Tuan to urge P&E to spend more time building their mutual cover story. It could even be that it was presented to Tuan as if it would be very bad for him if his op with P&E were to fail (he does seem very concerned about P&E ratting him out about his off-the-books field trip, if that’s what it actually was…) and then suggested that he should be vigilant at keeping up the cover story. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/382 "2017-05-12T19:45:08Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Why is The Center insisting that P&E keep managing the scientist and accountant? They have what they need. What more can they get out of them? None of that exchange rang true for me and a quick Google suggested there is no ‘Cossack variety’ of wheat (yes, I know it’s not a documentary). Claudia also said she didn’t know anything about the hemorrhagic fever, which was clearly a lie and Pilip said as much with his throat clearing. Is The Centre unravelling (as a precursor to events next year) and Claudia is trying to keep things in a holding pattern … ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/383 "2017-05-12T19:48:04Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > I’ll also cast some suspicion on Tuan’s repeated pleas for P&E to spend more time with him. I think we’ll find that recommendation came from Claudia. She’s up to something(s) that she’s worried about them catching onto if they spend too much time at home. Fwiw, I’ve always assumed that’s an absent parents / nosey neighbours / child welfare issue - Tuan is being cautious about the authorities getting interested. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/384 "2017-05-12T19:59:39Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > That’s part of why I suspect that Claudia is up to something that affects P&E but they don’t know about. Could be a Stan’s girlfriend op, could be the groom-Henry op, or it could be something more that relates to either/both of those. Whatever it is, it seems pretty clear that she’s not only trying to keep them busy and distracted, but she might also be trying to drive them apart. That could also be about project-Paige, where an enthusiasm-gap between Phillip and Elizabeth seems to be emerging. > > ETA: If the Centre were to find out about their secret/real marriage, they may not be very enthused. They’re supposed to be \*pretending \*to be a loyal husband and wife, actually \*being \*loyal to each other might be problematic. That must be it; Claudia must be fucking with them. She’s got it in for both of them, afterall. P because she feels his loyalty is questionable, and E because she beat her fact to a pulp. I can’t imagine that Paige is a valuable asset. She’s a complete mess. Why risk everything on her? Not convinced of the center’s interest in Henry. Stan’s girlfriend is a complete mystery. I think now that it’s an inside FBI op to watch him. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/385 "2017-05-12T20:04:28Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Fwiw, I’ve always assumed that’s an absent parents / nosey neighbours / child welfare issue - Tuan is being cautious about the authorities getting interested. I mean, of course that’s what we were all supposed to assume at the time, and I was no different. But now that it is plainly obvious that Claudia is occupying them with needless busywork while there are various changes afoot with Stan, Henry & Paige that suggest KGB shenanigans, it seems like using Tuan to help keep them as occupied as possible would be a no-brainer. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/386 "2017-05-12T20:12:15Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > None of that exchange rang true for me and a quick Google suggested there is no ‘Cossack variety’ of wheat (yes, I know it’s not a documentary). _Kazakh_ wheat. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/387 "2017-05-12T20:17:17Z")
It’s a really big leap for me to accept the Centre is playing P&E, Claudia maybe - at a push - but not Moscow. Their children, behind their back? Can’t see it. For me, far more likely Moscow is beginning to fall apart and Claudia is covering. Interesting times, though . ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/388 "2017-05-12T20:18:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > _Kazakh_ wheat. Aha! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/389 "2017-05-12T20:27:17Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > That must be it; Claudia must be fucking with them. She’s got it in for both of them, afterall. P because she feels his loyalty is questionable, and E because she beat her fact to a pulp. > > I can’t imagine that Paige is a valuable asset. She’s a complete mess. Why risk everything on her? Not convinced of the center’s interest in Henry. > > Stan’s girlfriend is a complete mystery. I think now that it’s an inside FBI op to watch him. Even if you’re right, and Paige is a complete mess now and even if she has no potential value as a future asset \*directly, _Paige would STILL be an extremely important indoctrination project for the KGB based solely on the fact that she could single-handedly burn to the ground two (and a half_) of their most valuable assets. And if they agreed with you as to her being such a potential risk, they would NOT let her continue to be such a risk for much longer. Realistically, that would mean her exfiltration to the USSR and a suitable cover story for her absence. Obviously, if they were preparing to do this, they would be aware that P&E might not like that idea very much. - Half = Henry because if you’re so convinced that they’re not interested in using Paige, you’d have to be crazy to think that they wouldn’t then be interested in Henry. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/390 "2017-05-12T20:38:35Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > It’s a really big leap for me to accept the Centre is playing P&E, Claudia maybe - at a push - but not Moscow. Their children, behind their back? Can’t see it. > > For me, far more likely Moscow is beginning to fall apart and Claudia is covering. > > Interesting times, though . Do I really need to remind you of the recent, constantly reoccurring theme in the show of the USSR splitting families apart and playing their own people against each other? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/391 "2017-05-12T20:43:32Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > It’s a really big leap for me to accept the Centre is playing P&E, Claudia maybe - at a push - but not Moscow. Their children, behind their back? Can’t see it. Agreed. I’ve long lamented the Jared storyline, but this gives me another reason: it encourages a certain type of viewer to imagine radical twists everywhere. Jared aside, this just isn’t that type of show. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/392 "2017-05-12T20:55:15Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Agreed. I’ve long lamented the Jared storyline, but this gives me another reason: it encourages a certain type of viewer to imagine radical twists everywhere. Jared aside, this just isn’t that type of show. Please, be specific for future rubbing-it-in purposes. What “type of viewer” am I? What “type of show” is this? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/393 "2017-05-12T22:10:45Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Do I really need to remind you of the recent, constantly reoccurring theme in the show of the USSR splitting families apart and playing their own people against each other? Remind away; I’m not buying it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/394 "2017-05-12T22:17:17Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Please, be specific for future rubbing-it-in purposes. What “type of viewer” am I? What “type of show” is this? I’m not going to characterize you personally. But there is a type of viewer who loves plot twists, the wilder, more surprising and "mind-blowing " the better, and also enjoys trying to predict such twists. If none pan out, they complain that the show has become boring. I am not that kind of viewer, and I don’t believe this is the type of show designed to provide the kind of thrills and puzzles such viewers crave. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/395 "2017-05-12T23:33:04Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > > [@voltaire](#): > > > > Do I really need to remind you of the recent, constantly reoccurring theme in the show of the USSR splitting families apart and playing their own people against each other? > > Remind away; I’m not buying it 🙂 > [@SlackerInc](#): > > I’m not going to characterize you personally. But there is a type of viewer who loves plot twists, the wilder, more surprising and "mind-blowing " the better, and also enjoys trying to predict such twists. If none pan out, they complain that the show has become boring. > > I am not that kind of viewer, and I don’t believe this is the type of show designed to provide the kind of thrills and puzzles such viewers crave. To really simplify things into black and white, (no time for any nuance right now) I’ll just say I’m really not that type of viewer AT ALL, but THIS IS that kind of show. Seriously, sometimes some of you make me wonder if we’re watching the same thing. It’s a period-piece show about espionage that tries to stay believable, if not realistic. What scenario have I posited that is not believable/realistic? Don’t you think such plot twists are maybe the natural result of what happens to A SPY FAMILY LIVING IN SECRET OVER MANY YEARS and the natural conflicting interests that would involve as the kids grew older?!? I’ve got one of you saying that Moscow would never \*dream \*of planning something for P&E’s family without their knowledge, when the show has practically been banging every “MOSCOW BREAKS UP FAMILIES!” drum they possibly could. And I’ve got the other one who, shit, I’m still not sure what, but apparently thinks that this will either be a “And the family lives happily ever after. The End.” story, or they will somehow otherwise end this show about a Russian spy family all grown up without any plot twists that are too wild or surprising. To be clear, my only actual assertion is that Claudia is up to no good regarding P&E’s mutual interests and is intentionally manipulating them into her/Moscow’s plans, whatever they are. The rest is just doing what we always do in these threads and trying to speculate and sort out what she could be up to. …In that vein, maybe it IS more simple than any of my previous suggestions, and the Centre just wants them to get divorced… :dubious: hmmmm 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/396 "2017-05-13T00:00:48Z")
I think Claudia is just doing her job as an intermediary between the Centre and the Directorate S officers. Exactly what we see, with no secret plots involved. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/397 "2017-05-13T00:06:14Z")
I can’t say I’ve caught the “Moscow Breaks Up Families!” thing too strongly, but I’ve really just been enjoying the show as a period piece with an interesting premise and good acting and a sense of believablility about it - even if one or two things (Nina, for example) just petered out like someone had a great idea then lost interest in it all of a sudden. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/398 "2017-05-13T00:18:31Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Seriously, sometimes some of you make me wonder if we’re watching the same thing. I often wonder the same. I do think I’m pretty good at television watching (I have very few skills. But this is one of them.) But there are times on this thread where I’ve been utterly amazed at the perspectives of some posters. That said, at least people are watching. It could lead to other shows that I’ll like in the future. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > I think Claudia is just doing her job as an intermediary between the Centre and the Directorate S officers. Exactly what we see, with no secret plots involved. I quite agree with this. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/399 "2017-05-13T01:28:54Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I think Claudia is just doing her job as an intermediary between the Centre and the Directorate S officers. Exactly what we see, with no secret plots involved. Depending on what you mean by “secret plots” in a show where, by its nature, pretty much everything is plotted in secret, nothing you just said necessarily conflicts with anything I’ve said. Claudia probably is doing exactly whatever it will take to do what her bosses want. Whatthey want will not be what P&E (as a married couple) want for themselves or for their family. (P&E&P&H?) Does anybody really think differently? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255/400 "2017-05-13T02:36:31Z")
The acting between P & E is mostly unbearable. They interact as if they only recently started dating and are perpetually afraid to say something that will hurt the other’s feelings. It’s even worse when the kids are in the scene. It’s like they are talking to new foster kids. At least the story was interesting up until this season. The only reason I’m still watching is because of Oleg’s story line and Stan’s story line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-americans-season-5-open-spoilers/781255.md?page=21)