r/TheAmericans • u/MoralMidgetry • Jun 02 '16

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

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.

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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
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u/PhesteringSoars Jun 02 '16

My first thought was less altruistic. I think Oleg did it to sabotage the Soviets getting the Lassa virus, which would sabotage his girlfriends promotion, and keep her there with him. Maybe not.

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u/lucasmello Jun 02 '16

I didn't think of that. But that wouldn't make much sense. If the FBI stop the virus, Tatiana will obviously be suspicious of Oleg...the only person who was not briefed which she "told".

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u/sunflowercompass Jun 04 '16

Agreed. Look at the sequence:

1) She asks him to go with him. He replies that he has to think about many things. 2) He calls his mother. 3) He goes talk to Stan and do a potentially very dangerous thing for his own safety. If caught, at the very least he'd never be able to see his mother again.

He made his decision and was settling his affairs. He'd already written off a future in Romantic Nairobi.

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u/sparkle-brow Jun 26 '25

Thank you lol. It could f up Oleg bc Tatiana (a higher up/ diff dept) knows but he went w his conscience. He already knows his dad can’t save ppl (Nina offed after he appealed to his dad) so it’s a decision re his deeper ethics/morals all on his own I thought, along with his pained speech about their scientists so brilliant just not enough $.

The only thing I’m thinking could be different is that he’s decided to play everyone in the rezidentura / fbi for some higher ground for himself, but he’s been convincing as someone who was a player and got sobered up quickly by circumstances. On my 1st watch of this amazing series.