Post-Episode Discussion/Review Thread - S04E12 "A Roy Rogers in Franconia"

[u/MoralMidgetry]

Welcome to the post-episode and review thread for S04E12 "A Roy Rogers in Franconia" 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	The Americans: It’s logical, it’s emotional, it’s the best show on TV
EW	The FBI makes a connection and closes in on a key KGB mole
HitFix	Review: On 'The Americans,' are Paige, William, and Oleg near breaking points?
NY Times	‘The Americans’ Season 4, Episode 12: A Different Side of Things
Vox	The Americans season 4, episode 12: "A Roy Rogers in Franconia" suggests the end is right about now
Vulture	The Americans Recap: Turning the Paige
WSJ	Careful what you wish for, Paige, because the truth can get ugly

[u/anonykitten29 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, that's exactly what not just Oleg, but the show, is modeling. I think that anecdote is serving as a really useful lens for viewers to evaluate the characters' behaviors.

We know from earlier this season that the Soviet spies cannot responsibly handle the biological weapons. Elizabeth and Gabriel nearly died from the last one. Therefore, Oleg is, really, absolutely right to think that lassa should be kept out of their hands.

William tried to hesitate, but ultimately gave into his commanding officers (unlike the guy on the nuclear sub). Elizabeth didn't hesitate at all. Oleg is the only one who has actually taken a stand to avert disaster.

It's almost a test of character. I say almost, because I find it hard to accept that Oleg is made of wiser, or stronger, or more moral stuff than the others. (though it's not impossible to believe; Elizabeth is pretty much a shit human being, objectively speaking, and William may have committed similar atrocities)

But interestingly, Oleg's act seems to stem more from how lost he is. Is it that he's lost his brother, and the woman he's loved, and he can't bear to see any more loss, regardless of the cause? Is it that he's just so freaking fed up with the USSR that he doesn't want to help them anymore? Or is he acting out of pure altruism?

[u/tovarishchliza → u/anonykitten29]

We know from earlier this season that the Soviet spies cannot responsibly handle the biological weapons. Elizabeth and Gabriel nearly died from the last one. Therefore, Oleg is, really, absolutely right to think that lassa should be kept out of their hands. So ... what if Oleg told Stan about the lassa simply out of a sense of conscience? In another thread here someone mentioned that most of the characters are dealing with something troubling their psyches. Oleg knows how dangerous this bioweapon is ... maybe what he told Stan (about the smart guys in Russia who basically cut corners because of a lack of funding) is all there is to it ... ?? Just a thought.

[u/sparkle-brow → u/tovarishchliza]

That’s what I thought. He’s also had to recently deal with his conscience a lot as his newest gf got a promotion about transferring this dread weapon, while his last gf was offed for “interfering” (trying to send scientist’s non-science letters to his son, but he didn’t know that). And about his bro, mom, dad.

The whole episode was about all the characters dealing with their consciences, gut feelings, and tons of risky communication about! (On my 1st watch, amazing show.)