Show notes
As this has been the best season yet of the Best Show on TelevisionTM we expected more of the finale than ever before! Did it deliver the goods? You will find out our thoughts on The Americans thrilling Season 4 Episode 13 “Persona Non Grata” that aired June 8, 2016. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long.
This is Episode 64 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 65.
Pravda is reporting the following… What’s Alan Watching? Well, it’s ‘The Americans’ bosses stating ‘We hope they’ll still trust us two years from now’! Then NPR tells us how ‘The Americans’ solved the eternal TV problem of the surly teen, and we have two from The New York Times: the Season 4 finale and what lies ahead plus a chat with Dylan Baker on the finale and his character’s monologue, and we set you up for the long cold wait ahead of us with Vulture’s fan fic that takes us inside the mind of Henry Jennings!
As season finales go, this was a real slow burn of The Americans! William prepares to make a drop of the lassa virus and goes to meet Philip in the park. Stan, Dennis, and a swarm of FBI are waiting, follow him, and move to take him before the drop. Cornered, William breaks the vial and exposes himself to the deadly pathogen. He is taken to a containment facility at the USAMRIID and left in isolation to die. Stan and Dennis sit outside, asking him questions as they watch his demise. In a delirium, William reveals a few details about Philip and Elizabeth without naming them. Since William has been taken by the US, Gabriel tells Philip and Elizabeth they should pack, get the kids and prepare to return to the Motherland as heroes.
Meanwhile, in Moscow Mischa, Philip’s son with Irina, has been detained for speaking out against the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. He is told if he remains quiet, he may leave. He does so and goes to his grandfather’s apartment where he finds his mother left him money and falsified passports and instructions to find his father, a travel agent in America. Arkady meets with Agent Wolfe and the assistant Attorney General and is told they know about his activities, accuse him of murdering Agent Gaad, and inform him he has been designated persona non grata and 48 hours to leave the country. Tatiana tells Oleg she will be staying with the rezidentura now that Arkady is leaving, and Oleg reveals he is returning to Moscow. Pastor Tim and Alice have their baby. Paige and Mattew watch the Super Bowl together, and Paige initiates a make-out session but they are interrupted by a returning Stan. Philip and Elizabeth return home unsure as to their next move. Philip goes over to get Paige, gets some good-natured ribbing by Stan about wedding plans for their kids, and as he walks her home forbids her from continuing with Matthew!
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