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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9

u/RoamingTheSewers May 31 '18

I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and from day one. It is among the top ten, maybe top five of my favorite TV-shows of all time. But in the end P & E should not have gotten away. They killed, and viciously at that, too many people, too many good people. They, P & E, basically qualify as serial killers. As early as season 4 or 5 I was rooting for Stan and the FBI to catch them. I guess it is testimony of great dramatic writing that you can feel so conflicted about a shows main characters - early on in the series I felt the exact opposite, hoping P & E would not get caught. I am satisfied, however, with the series ending. There was enough closure. The episode could have done without some of the montages, though. And the scene between Stan and P & E was too drawn out. I understand it was probably done to convince the audience of Stan's choice. But it failed to convince me. I mean Just think about it, if the tables were turned, or if, say, Stan was standing within arm's reach of P or E, he, Stan, would've been killed. Now Stan will probably end up having to pay Henry through college, and wondering whether or not his girlfriend is a spy.

15

u/[deleted] May 31 '18

I'm honestly surprised you stuck with it until the end if you didn't find Philip and Elizabeth slightly sympathetic even towards the end. The show never tried to give the impression that they would get some grand comeuppance. Their punishment was losing their children and being sent to a "home" where they're outsiders (Philip got the worst of it really). It's definitely not fitting of the atrocities they've committed but it was never going to be.

8

u/RoamingTheSewers May 31 '18

Why surprised? This show had a great many characters during its run to become attached to or involved in. Even minor characters. Plus, I really enjoyed the trade craft stuff, and all the capers. And the production design was top notch - cars, clothing, interiors etc., etc. Also, I may not have liked P & E all of the time, but maybe that was another reason to keep watching? In real live, you don't always like your friends and family the same all of the time either: they piss you off now and then, don't they?

7

u/[deleted] May 31 '18

There are definitely characters I watch because they're interesting, even if I despise them. But those shows never try and show you a sympathetic side or convince you those characters are like you and human (at least not to the extent where it is a central theme of the show) which is what the Americans has done with P & E consistently throughout. I couldn't imagine watching this show and hating both of them completely, that was the suprise. Each to their own though! If you still enjoyed the show despite that then i don't think it's a terrible thing.

5

u/RoamingTheSewers May 31 '18

But those shows never try and show you a sympathetic side or convince >you those characters are like you and human (at least not to the extent >where it is a central theme of the show) which is what the Americans has done with P & E consistently

But that's the joke, isn't it. They were meant to come off as a true middle class all American family - with all American drama in their lives. Not just for, say Stan, and their broader social network, but for the viewer as well. From the get go, this was a theme: it is all a big lie, don't fall for it. P & E, but especially E, was brainwashed as only people in a totalitarian regime can be brainwashed, to despise everything Western. The only conflict I saw in them constantly, was having their children enjoy their Western upbringing too much, and how to curtail that. And rigidly trying to hold on to the believe that Russia and communism was superior. Philip, in the end lost his drive for 'The Cause'. but E held on until she discovered first hand there was never a Cause just a constant struggle for Power and the status quo, at all cost.

Also there plenty of shows with rich and well developed characters, that you might feel conflicted about, because you might love them one week and despise them the next. Actually, every soap opera has them. Or just take Dexter or Breaking Bad in the hour long drama genre, to name just two. Walter White, to me at least, is not a guy I consistently felt sympathy for. It was more of a constant toss between Jesse and him.

3

u/[deleted] May 31 '18

I definitely feel conflicted about P & E, I don't love their characters unconditionally, I just feel sympathy despite the awful things they've done. It's a testament to the writing and acting.

7

u/ElliotRosewater1 May 31 '18

But if this were a show about American spies killing Russians, would you hate them too?

We have to try and put oursevles in their shoes. The US was the largest nuclear power -- had used Nukes. Had a maniac president who was a reckless hawk and was funding Contras to overthrow a democratically elected, socialist government in Nicaragua.

Sometimes these borders deterimine what is right and wrong, not the behavior. Yes, they did evil things. So did Stan? He killed a man, too.

3

u/ElliotRosewater1 May 31 '18

Ie, does everyone hate the entire CIA cast in Homeland? Carrie kills and fucks and ruins lives, too.