Agreed, it feels like the Centre sent them on a wild goose chase. I wonder how they’ll react when they realize it.
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One of the themes that they’ve dealt with a number of times is that the institutions are not omniscient. One of the clearest examples was when Reagan was shot and everyone (FBI, KGB, etc.) was scrambling trying to sort out whether it was some sort of international espionage event.
Here, the problem is that something (many things) is (are) wrong with the food supply chain. And we’re seeing two different branches trying to figure it out from their perspective (and probably not coordinating well between divisions). Oleg’s current department is invested in governmental corruption - so of course, to them, if the corruption stops, then there will be no problems with the food. Center sees everything through the lens of international espionage - so, to them, the problem must be that the US (or Western Europe) must be destroying the crops somehow.
(We’re seeing smaller echoes of the same thing in the US where the FBI & CIA aren’t exactly working together).
Does anyone know what was going on with the wheat in the USSR at the time? I’ve not yet looked it up.
Good seeing Martha again. It looks like they did take care of her (her clothes were a tiny bit nicer than those of the other women shopping. She’s also shopping in what must be a more expensive grocery store - (it has tangerines)).
And I’m worried about Mischa.
So far I think the best thing about this season is Tuan. I was listening to the podcast, and the writer of the episode made a good point, which is that Tuan now is what Elizabeth was when she first came to America… dedicated and pure. Since then, life has at least somewhat tempered her, but not him.
I’d love to see Tuan and Paige meet.
tbf, this wheat thing isn’t a million miles away from Fort Detrich. You can understand the concern and you don’t have to be paranoid.
Great to see Martha. Damn, that woman needs a break.
How long before Paige gets her first mini-mission …
But even his hard shell is starting to crack. He asked for a dog, didn’t he?
the ideal thing to do with Paige is to teach her everything she needs to know but not jeopardize her cover by sending her on any missions, mini or otherwise. They need to send her to the best school possible and have her “marry up”.
I thought the idea of the dog was to help with walk-by surveillance. A couple of things I caught:
- Roxy Music - twice!
- Gabriel’s body language when talking about the midges - he touched both ears indicating discomfort (not lying). Clever guy
- Martha was reading Russian labels!
- Keri in a stetson …
I thought the excuse for the dog was to help with surveillance. It was the same as your more typical American kid saying they need a dog to help them learn responsibility and exercise more.
The P and E body count rises with yet another victim who ten minutes before had no idea what was in store for them.
How many is it now…has to be at least ten innocent people they have offed since the series began, not counting Hans, who made the mistake of becoming clumsy at the most inopportune time imaginable.
Thus far, I have to agree with Sefton: this has been the least-enjoyable season start-up yet. The episodes are barely memorable (and this from a huge The Americans fan).
With Oleg being squeezed, I wonder if he’ll discover, and use, Martha to counter-counter-espionage the CIA. I don’t know how that would work, but I’m thinking it isn’t just coincidence the writers put them in the same place at the same time.
What is very interesting about this season is usually you root for the Jennings despite their loyalties not because of them but this time it really does seem that they are working to undo a pretty evil plot by our Government (assuming all is as it seems).
ETA: The reason he asked for a dog is it gives him an excuse to walk the same route every day and not look suspicious.
I don’t think it is as it seems. I think, as someone said earlier, that they are working on better wheat, not on better pests. Peter is already have a crisis of conscience wondering why the mighty USSR can’t provide for their own without help from the evil USA. Should they find out that the Center got it wrong and they killed that scientist for nothing, it might break him.
I wouldn’t say it’s been laboured but we have had enough exposition about the what/how/why the Soviets couldn’t feed their people and were, in the early 80s, importing wheat of all things from the evil empire, the other evil empire - Philip and E, Oleg talking to the supermarket lady, Oleg’s boss during his interview, etc.
I guess we’re building towards Gorbachev; perhaps this story arc is emblematic of a system struggling to maintain credibility, and the ir/rational lengths it might go to.
I wouldn’t say it’s been laboured but we have had enough exposition about the what/how/why the Soviets couldn’t feed their people and were, in the early 80s, importing wheat…
I would disagree…the story line hasn’t even addressed one of the main reasons…that being that the Soviet government chose to spend their money on the arms race over feeding its own people. It may not be the only reason, but it certainly looms large.
It’s possible that the storyline concerning Philip’s son will touch on that aspect of history, given that the son was in the military, and also involved with anti-Soviet activities (if I’m remembering correctly).
The way the Soviet system worked it’s not necessarily that the grocery store is more expensive; it might be restricted to employee’s of certain enterprises or government agencies or party members. Even then the tangerines aren’t just going to put out display in the produce section; they stay in the back for special customers who have connections. There were also stores which only accepted hard currency; these were very well stocked and aimed at diplomats & tourists from Western countries (& the few Soviet citizens privileged to access to hard currency, which they had to convert into script).
Scrip. 
(The show’s writers are converting these sorts of historical facts into “script.”)
So is it just me or did they swap Henry out for a new actor?
Just going with my gut, here…but Stan Beeman will not survive this series.
Nope, it’s just a growth spurt and a haircut.