The Americans review: "The Colonel"

In these games without borders, knowledge is the most dangerous weapon. The Season 1 Finale of FX’s The Americans saw the KGB and the Jennings bring the gun to the proverbial knife fight. My review to follow, but first, I need to catch my breath and think of an episode specific reference.

The Americans: "The Oath" Review

The penultimate episode of The Americans, “The Oath,” is jam-packed with plot developments.  I review it, but only after I’ve caught at least five grapes in a row, thrown from across the room by my daughter¹.

The Americans Review: "Covert War"

The Americans goes against orders (or does it?)  I review this week’s episode, just as soon as I understand that, in a covert war, there are rules.

The Americans: "Only You" review

Americanism and the Civil Rights Movement in The Americans’ “Only You.” It's time for another review of FX's Soviet-era Spy show, but first, I need to plant evidence in your apartment.

The Americans: "Safe House" review UPDATED!

Phil the Sick Day parent, John Denver, and the Potato that saved the Western Hemisphere. It’s time for my review of this week’s episode of The Americans, “Safe House.” But, first, I need to return some salacious answering machine messages…

The Americans Review: "Mutually Assured Destruction"

Mutually Assured Distruction is both M.A.D. and a sleek reference to the Jennings’ marriage, and the philosophical underpinnings of the Cold War policy of pointing weapons of global annihilation at each other.  Fun for the whole family!  I review this most recent episode as soon as I figure out how kinky a KGB Assassin can be…

The Americans: "Duty and Honor" review

This week’s episode of The Americans puts at the forefront the perspective of th show, and the lack of knowledge we, as the audience, have over the character’s actions.  My review is after the jump, as soon as I finish this glass of Latour.

The Americans - "Trust Me" review

The Americans goes “Trilogy of Terror” in this week’s episode, “Trust Me,” which I review after the jump, just as soon as I brew my cup of tea infused with rectally smuggled African blood diamonds…

The Americans - "COMINT" review

It’s time to review this week’s episode of The Americans, a treatise on patience (Axl Rose did it first, and with a seemingly unending whistle solo.) Before I do that, I should probably attend a sexual harassment seminar.

The Americans - "In Control" Review

“The Americans” goes in to hyperdrive as Reagan forgets to duck, and we learn just how much of a foil Phil and Stan are for one another.  It’s time to recap the most recent episode of everyone’s favorite 1980s Soviet-based spy drama. But first I need to consult my Constitution regarding the presidential line of succession.

The Americans - "Gregory" review

Phil and Liz face ghosts from the pilot, a challenge to their attempts to make a real family out of their cover assignments, and Stan needs to start buying lottery tickets, because he’s right about EVERYthing in “Gregory” – episode three of the 1^st season of The Americans.  There was so much plot in this Thomas Schlamme-directed episode, they barely had time for the 80s breadcrumbs.  I’ll get to my review right after I change out of my racquetball shoes.

The Americans: "The Clock" Review

The mission-driven spy drama is on full display in the second episode of The Americans.  For those who wanted cloaks, daggers, and dead drops, “The Clock” doesn’t disappoint.  All that was missing was a self-destructing message.  I’ll be better able to speak about that as soon as I pull this speaker foam out of my esophagus.

The Americans: Pilot

I finally sat down to watch The Americans last night, a show that has gotten some rave reviews from all circles after the airing of the pilot this past Wednesday.  Unfortunately for me, I’ll rarely have a review of it posted in the few hours after it airs – I go to bed far too early to watch it live, or even do the TiVo catch up.  But, having finally found an hour or two to sit down and power through the oddly timed 69 minute pilot episode (spread out over an hour and thirty seven minutes of broadcast space), I am hooked.  As I referenced, I was hoping for weird familial relations, lots of 1980s references, and geopolitical breadcrumbs, and the pilot delivered.  There’s so much 80s and Americana intricately weaved in to a show about family and paranoia, but it never felt like I was being clubbed over the head with the setting or mood.  There’s certainly plenty to talk about, but first, I need to go investigate my gardener for being a Sandinista, because I have a funny feeling.

The Americans reviews

I’m going to try and write a response to each episode of FX’s upcoming show “The Americans” starring Keri Russell.  I want to challenge myself to put my dime-store analysis of the episodes to work.  I have begun to really enjoy quite a bit of what FX puts on, including “It’s Always Sunny,” “Archer,” “Sons of Anarchy,” and “Justified.” The former two are the comedies, but Sons of Anarchy and Justified are the two that are Tuesday Night dramatic showcases.  They are nuanced, layered, and long-form in their storytelling.  I am hoping that “The Americans” is similar to that.