Leave it toThe Americansshowrunners to entirely subvert our expectations.
Not even a little.
Its not ramped up.
Credit: Patrick Harbron/FX
Its not hyped up.
Its not building the tension but itwillbe a great season.
Which did you opt for?
JOE WEISBERG: We are doing neither of those tactics.
We have a whole new tactic.
People have called this show a slow burn.
We used to think that was a back-handed compliment, or possibly even an insult.
Were just telling a story as it unfolds.
Its not ramped up.
Its not hyped up.
Its not building the tension but itwillbe a great season.
When FX picked up the final season they didnt say, You have 23 episodes left.
They said, What do you guys feel?
and lets have a dialogue and how much we need together to tell this story.
The story is giving us more than were giving the story.
WEISBERG: Just to be really difficult, we should tell everybody that were slowing down.
Because when youre about to come to a stop, youve got to slow down!
So were slowing down some and then next season were going to cruisevery slowlyto the finish line.
There were no airbags in the 80s, you have to be very careful.
The Americans unsafe at any speed?
WEISBERG: Ah, there you go!
So lets talk about this photo.
I know you dont want to say too much about it.
FIELDS: Meet the Eckerts.
WEISBERG: Hes a pilot.
FIELDS: Theyre new in the neighborhood.
I look at this and wonder: Are they going to actually infiltrate a plane going somewhere?
Or is this for, like, hanging out in an airport cocktail lounge?
WEISBERG: Did Philip in his KGB training learn to fly a 747?
Thats a good question.
FIELDS: Hell probably have towingit.
So Paige (Holly Taylor).
Last time we saw her she was becoming Elizabeths mini-me and playing with spy craft.
This will be the season where there are bigger and more profound resolutions there then weve seen before.
Theres also going to be a fun and interesting Henry story this season.
Does Paiges involvement with the Beeman boy continue?
And here we thought Philip was smart.
What do you want to say about the FBI?
They keep getting clues without getting a clue.
Usually, you have subplot like last years virus storyline.
Is there something like that this year?
WEISBERG: Theres a really good one but we cant say it.
FIELDS: The Eckerts will be involved in that subplot.
When we last left Philip and Elisabeth they were debating going to Russia.
Hows their marriage going?
How are our anti-heroes at the start of the season?
FIELDS: First of all: Anti-heroes!?
They dont have any of the selfishness of some anti-heroes Ive heard about.
Their marriage is actually as strong as its ever been.
Its a hard time for them but they have as strong of a connection as theyve ever had.
Thats where the seasonstarts out.
WEISBERG: Theyre going to be tested, as usual.
Theyre in a good place, but will they stay in that good place?
Last seasons attempted mugging had fatal consequences.
WEISBERG: I think youre onto something there.
Its going to have a big impact.
Martha (Alison Wright), still off the grid?
WEISBERG: Shes off the grid.
But whats your grid?
The grid is the cast of the show.
FIELDS: We did not say that.
Do we want to talk about Oleg (Costa Ronin)?
Whats going on with the Russian side of things?
WEISBERG: We think thats going to a be a surprising and big story this season.
Hows Stan (Noah Emmerich) doing?
WEISBERG: Theres going to be new developments in Stans personal life.
Laurie Holden is cast in the show and shes a new love interest for Stan.
Does she work at the FBI?
FIELDS: Shes good at aerobics.
WEISBERG: We feel like were being cagey.
But we dont mean to be!
