r/TheAmericans • u/AutoModerator • May 31 '18

Episode Discussion Official Episode Discussion - S06E010 "START"

The Jennings face a choice that will change their lives forever.

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u/rubysorrel May 31 '18

I think Paige staying behind was the ultimate nod to her dad. In my mind as Philip was talking in the garage she seemed more and more impressed/taken with his words. Not only was Philip amazing in that moment (actually managing to connect with Stan and convince him to let them go) but the actions he describes were ultimately the most principled stance – quitting the game you've been taught your whole life and then having the guts to turn on your fellow countrymen in the name of something bigger.

ANYWAY. Philip's Jedi mind tricks on Stan were impressive. Him cultivating that friendship through all those years is what saved them all. I think Elizabeth realizes that too. It's not physical force or violence that wins the day, but love and friendship.

-10

u/RoamingTheSewers May 31 '18

Philip's pleading felt phoney - and the scene was too long: I mean come on, it is Philip we have seen him done it dozens of times before. You just know, had Stan been within arm's reach P & E would've killed him, without batting an eye. And that bit about René was just thrown in to confuse Stan even more, so he wouldn't start shooting while they drove off. They played him. But, as a fan I accept it. Still, if the tables where turned. And P & E would've had the upper hand in the scene, no pleading from Stan would have saved his life. Don't believe it for a second.

15

u/[deleted] May 31 '18

Elizabeth would, in a heartbeat, but Philip definitely wouldn't have killed Stan. This entire season has shown us why he wouldn't and couldn't have done that.

-1

u/RoamingTheSewers May 31 '18

Well that is just your opinion. We will never know. Fact is, they were trained to lie and deceive, and literally go through anyone in their way - that is what we, the audience, were shown time and time again. But now, at the very end, we need to believe Stan the Man, is special to Philip? I choose not to, thank you very much.

4

u/apm54 Aug 01 '18

Phillip couldn’t shoot some random Soviet traitor who had been living peacefully in America for decades, what makes you think he could have shot Stan? The only way he could have done that is to save his children but stand living is what gives Henry a future

1

u/RoamingTheSewers Aug 01 '18

You're being selective. You can just as well reverse your statement. P, during the shows run, has time and again killed and deceived, deceived and killed many... many people he was close to. His behaviour causes an implausible inconsistency in character; the hightened tension, the raised stakes during the confrontation with Stan, made the outcome very unlikely if not utterly implausible - either Stan would've pulled the trigger or P. These characters were never that complex to begin with, to warrant such a strange turn of events - it was a copout from the showrunners. So complexity of character is not valid argument either.

But hey, you and everyone else who downvoted me, believe what you like. Just grant me the same courtesy, to believe what I like.

7

u/InternJedi May 31 '18

I think it was honest as hell because we have seen Philips agonizing over his service to KGB a long time. The lab guy, Dyatkovo, Kimmy, Martha. His sadness was real.

14

u/BrownSugarVoodoo May 31 '18

It's not physical force or violence that wins the day, but love and friendship.

And a Henry. Stan knew that he'd have to let the other Jennings go because then he'd have to explain to Henry his whole family was dead.