Philip and Elizabeth target new marks in Kansas, while Stan makes a bold move to protect Burov.
In this installment ofThe Americans, Philip struggles with how to engage an especially dull target.
Thats sort of how I felt about this whole episode.
Credit: Patrick Harbron/FX.
After three stellar opening shows, the fourth one of this season just feels like its running in place.
We understand how important this is, Elizabeth says.
Then I know youll work it out, he tells her.
Think were gonna get fired?
Philip asks as they leave.
Its not funny, Elizabeth tells him.
This episode features the most weve seen lately of their son Henry.
He is having some unspecified trouble at school.
The teacher has called, requesting a meeting with his parents.
They want to know whats going on, but Henry says he doesnt know.
Remember that essay How to Talk to a Woman Who Is Wearing Headphones?
This scene feels a lot like that.
He interrupts her workout, makes small talk.
She couldnt care less.
Funny, but when the characters themselves are bored, its not exactly riveting.
(Hes actually being blackmailed by the CIA, against Stans wishes.)
Hes trying to get me to do things that could put me in jail, he tells her.
His mother starts crying.
She has already lost one son to the war in Afghanistan.
Dont they want her to be a spy?
She was trying to help.
Back in Kansas, Elizabeth takes her turn with a different AgriCorps employee handsome and charming Ben Stobert.
They have a meet-cute in a health food store that involves lots a lot of spilled carob.
This is one of those places where I want to say to the writers okay, we get it.
Time to develop his story a little more.
Ive seen Alexei make variations on the same speech four times.
By the time it gets where it needs to be, its rotten, he says.
Its still not clear that hes helping America poison or ruin Russias food supply.
We get an all-too-brief scene with Laurie Holdens new character, Renee, who is Stan Beemans new squeeze.
This made me go, hmmm… What if there isnt a company, or any games?
Ive become conspiracy minded about this show.
(I also thought Pastor Tim might not be who he says he is.
But that suspicion has so far been unfounded.)
But you dont hire an actress of her stature for a mere girlfriend part.
She has to become a bigger part of the story sooner or later.
Back in Moscow, Burov meets with his boss.
The suspected corrupt supplier they have to do something about him.
One weak point is that he has a son in Afghanistan.
Its not about being soft, he says.
Its about doing the decent thing.
The decent thing is whats best for our country, his superior says.
Stan now has a new gambit.
That Russian was murdered by Stan himself.
I shot him, once in the back of the head, Stan tells the Assistant AG.
And… you want to be arrested?
Thats up to you.
But if the CIA uses the tape I made to blackmail Burov, I will go public and confess.
The U.S. government killing innocent people splashed across the worlds newspapers.
This was the high point of the episode.
Stan using himself as blackmail against the U.S. government.
Bold, fearless move.
Kind of noble, too.
Even though hes a murderer.
Im guessing youll keep quiet like the rest of us, Stan tells the Assistant AG.
And you will find a way to check that the CIA leaves Oleg Burov alone.
She would go straight to the FBI.
It happened that way sometimes, she says.
They took the wives.
And not the husbands.
I was there for five years.
I did what I had to to survive, she tells him.
You do what you’re gonna wanna do.
Philip is bored beyond belief with Deirdre, but Elizabeth suggests she might be developing feelings for Ben.
Philip says, thinking he understands why shes troubled.
He cared deeply for Martha, after all.
Elizabeth isnt soft like him.
I have to sit there with him while he makes his jokes, she says.
The guys laughing while hes trying to starve an entire country.
Ice cold, our Elizabeth.
