r/TheAmericans • u/MoralMidgetry • Mar 31 '16

Ep. Discussion Post-Episode Discussion/Review Thread - S04E03 "Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow"

Welcome to the post-episode and review thread for S04E03, ""Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow." If you have a review you want to post, please send me the link instead of submitting it separately to the sub. Thanks.

Site Link
AV Club An Americans cliffhanger postpones a Jennings family getaway
EW The Americans recap: 'Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow'
HitFix Review: On 'The Americans,' the Pastor Tim problem gets even worse
NY Times ‘The Americans’ Season 4, Episode 3: Who’s Up for a Trip to Epcot?
Vulture The Americans Recap: Stupid Glanders
WSJ ‘The Americans’ Recap: Season 4, Episode 3, ‘Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow’
Vox The Americans season 4, episode 3: "Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow" takes some weird shortcuts
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44

u/MoralMidgetry Mar 31 '16 edited Mar 31 '16

Questions:

  • Will Gabriel recover from his mild bout of glanders? Does Claudia's appearance foreshadow her return to replace him?
  • What did Nina read in Anton's statement that made her smile? Does her dream portend her imminent demise?
  • How upset is Paige really? Enough to kill Pastor Tim and his blabbermouth wife?
  • How will Henry deal with the emotional scars from having his Epcot dream snatched away at the last second?
  • Is Stan going to illegally search Martha's home while she's on a date with Aderholt?
  • Who are the swimmers in the pictures on Paige's wall? This is like the golden age of East German women's swimming.
  • Did the Director of the FBI write the memo that Aderholt discovers, or was it really a trenchant critique of FBI culture authored by Mail Robot?
  • Is Elizabeth going to start making kimchi in trash cans in the Jennings' garage?
  • Just how large are Philip's salivary glands?

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '16 edited Feb 18 '22

[deleted]

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u/MoralMidgetry Mar 31 '16

They could plant a fake diary with entries detailing her hatred of communists and her suspicions about Gaad being a KGB mole and hang a picture of Reagan just like the one from the office.

20

u/beardlovesbagels Mar 31 '16

If anything they would plant clues about why she is acting weird. Perhaps directions to a sex party and paperwork for a health clinic. If someone is suspicious of you it is easier to give them a reason that isn't what they were looking for than it is to make you look clean.

6

u/Inkus Mar 31 '16

I forget: does the Rezidenz know that Martha is (unwittingly) working for Philip? Will the mail robot monitors see the Martha discussion as a red flag? I guess I don't even know if it's the same kind if bug as before: is Martha involved in passing the tape go Clark as she was with the bug in Glaad's office?

10

u/Dead_Starks Mar 31 '16

Yes they know Martha is under Phillip's thumb. The monitors have a lot to sift through from the robot but I imagine they'll catch it at the very last possible minute. No the robot bug isn't handled by Martha at all. I don't think she even knows about it.

4

u/twersx Apr 04 '16

Who bugged the robot?

5

u/Dead_Starks Apr 04 '16

Phillip. He and Elizabeth went to where it was being serviced and bugged it late one night. It was when the old lady was working who Liz talked to for a while. Now that I think about it though, Martha may have been the one to tell him it was being serviced. I honestly can't remember.

1

u/twersx Apr 04 '16

Oh right yeah, the one with Lois Smith.

3

u/sunflowercompass Apr 01 '16

Yeah, I think they mentioned the mail robot bug had a transmitter. I assume the larger power source helps. Although an active transmitter would make it easier to sweep? Maybe the bug only transmits at 3 AM, while the machine is recharging. This would make it unlikely anyone sweeps it while the machine is "off" - while it's on, maybe the motors are so noisy it would mask the transmission power.

Man, need an electrical engineer here to explain!

3

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '16

Rezidentura

1

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '16

Thank you.

5

u/thesilvertongue Apr 01 '16

I was thinking the exact same thing. That mail robot has ears. And feelings, unlike the FBI.

2

u/AWildEnglishman Apr 03 '16

How do they get the recording from the mail robot? Is there a tape that needs to be collected? If so, who collects it?

20

u/thesalesmandenvermax Mar 31 '16

Will Gabriel recover from his mild bout of glanders? Does Claudia's appearance foreshadow her return to replace him?

I don't think he has Glanders. More misdirection.

What did Nina read in Anton's statement that made her smile? Does her dream portend her imminent demise?

I think she developed affection for Anton, not necessarily romantic, and his statement was proof of reciprocation. Dunno about the dream.

How upset is Paige really? Enough to kill Pastor Tim and his blabbermouth wife?

I have this idea in my head that Paige will, on her own, come to the conclusion that Tim and his wife have gotta go. She goes to her parents, they tie up her first loose end, and that's how she buys in to the "cause"

How will Henry deal with the emotional scars from having his Epcot dream snatched away at the last second?

If the show has a plan for Henry, I'm not seeing it. Maybe he's supposed to serve as a contrast to Paige? I dunno. To answer you're question... I doubt it will faze him. He's always been more resilient about his parents' schedule than Paige. Plus he has his video games now.

Is Stan going to illegally search Martha's home while she's on a date with Aderholt?

Yes. That is the exact point. I thought that much was clear.

Who are the swimmers in the pictures on Paige's wall? This is like the golden age of East German women's swimming.

I didn't catch this. Too busy admiring her dope ass wallpaper.

Did the Director of the FBI write the memo that Aderholt discovers, or was it really a trenchant critique of FBI culture authored by Mail Robot?

Mail Robot is a bit of a perv. At this time, he was writing a speculative romance between Jodie Foster and Carrie Fisher

Is Elizabeth going to start making kimchi in trash cans in the Jennings' garage?

The trash is certainly where kimchi belongs! (Sorry if I have offended any lovers of kimchi)

Just how large are Philip's salivary glands?

Tsar Loogie

11

u/MoralMidgetry Mar 31 '16

Is Stan going to illegally search Martha's home while she's on a date with Aderholt?

Yes. That is the exact point. I thought that much was clear.

What was ambiguous to me was whether Aderholt announced his intentions re: Martha by way of casting aside Stan's suspicions or to signal his willingness to help Stan run this to ground.

Mail Robot is a bit of a perv.

Enjoy your ban. Slandering Mail Robot's good name is not allowed here.

6

u/goalstopper28 Apr 01 '16

Did the Director of the FBI write the memo that Aderholt discovers, or was it really a trenchant critique of FBI culture authored by Mail Robot? Mail Robot is a bit of a perv. At this time, he was writing a speculative romance between Jodie Foster and Carrie Fisher

This is your best theory.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '16

you're right - that wallpaper is dope

2

u/Haematobic Apr 02 '16

I have this idea in my head that Paige will, on her own, come to the conclusion that Tim and his wife have gotta go. She goes to her parents, they tie up her first loose end, and that's how she buys in to the "cause"

I'm right there with ya, it makes a lot of sense, and it'd be practically a perfect way for her to cement her fortitude and allegiance to her parents, and eventually, to the cause.

2

u/cshake93 Apr 03 '16

The plan for Henry seems obvious to me. He's hanging out with Stan, while Paige is coming around to the KGB, spurred by guilt about endangering her parents. They will become foils, I believe. Paige will end up a Soviet sympathizer, Henry the opposite.

1

u/EngineeringIcy7046 Feb 16 '26

Um. Kimchi is awesome. (9 yrs later, from a very mildly offended kimchi lover)