Watching the Americans

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WTA 62- Season 4 Episode 12 A Roy Rogers in Franconia Jun 06, 2016

Show notes

Paige has summed everything going on this week with one perfect word: “great.” Not how she means it though! It was yet another amazing episode, with repercussions of murder, surprising encounters, and stupendous reveals! All that in The Americans in Season 4 Episode 12 “A Roy Rogers in Franconia” that aired June 1, 2016. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long.

This is Episode 62 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 63.

Pravda reveals lots of good news courtesy of eagle eyed listeners! @VirtueBinta found that Gothamist is reporting that the studio home of ‘The Americans’ may be doomed by the Gowanus Canal cleanup. Our friend Michael H. sent along a story from Deadline that Brandon J. Dirden will be a series regular in Seasons 5 and 6 and another from People announcing that Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys have welcomed their first child together!

Then it’s episode discussion time! We begin with the aftermath of the assault and death from last week as we arrive home with Paige and Elizabeth, who are comforted by Philip. Dennis follows leads and discovers a bug in the FBI mailbot. The FBI arrests the person collecting the device and intends to pursue the lead further. Oleg has been offered a position in Kenya with a newly-promoted Tatiana who makes an offhand remark about potentially killing many people. Oleg is troubled and calls home to his mother, and later when Stan gets a call from him. They meet and Oleg reveals there in an agent in the bioweapons program. The FBI doggedly pursues leads until they arrive at William as the likely culprit. William has second and third thoughts about giving the virus to the Centre and Gabriel convinces him to do so. Paige shares a kiss with Matthew and tells her parents information about Stan she got from Matthew. Her parents admonish her to stop and let it go. They tell her they are obtaining a weapon for the Motherland, and she says “great.”

Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 61- Rob Yang Interview Jun 03, 2016

Show notes

Sometimes a new actor joins a show and makes an immediate impact! Rob Yang has done just that as Don Seong, the target of Elizabeth and the KGB in Season 4 of The Americans! Rob joins us from the West Coast and talks about being a fan of the show, getting the role of Don, and his experiences on the set. We highlight in particular the episodes “The Day After” and “Dinner for Seven”. Rob also tells us about moving from the world of high finance to comedy and then acting, and a special project he has put up on YouTube. Plus he also answers many of your questions!

We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 60- Suzy Jane Hunt Interview Jun 01, 2016

Show notes

It took a couple of seasons to finally see Alice shine, and man was the wait worth it! We get to talk to her alter ego aka Suzy Jane Hunt about her role on The Americans, in particular the most recent episodes “Dinner for Seven” and her standout episode “Munchkins”. Suzy joins us from a really hot undisclosed location and chats about her role on the show, the evolution of her character, what’s really going on in Alice’s head, fun times on the set, and of course, what’s Alice and Pastor Tim’s last name! Plus she answers many of your questions! And who was Moonbeam anyway?

WTA 59- Feedback for Dinner for Seven May 31, 2016

Show notes

Hey Paige, that thing we told you about not hurting people? Well, about that…Were you not floored this week, again? We sure were, what with that big dinner at the Jennings house to Patty’s “demise” and poor Don and Young Hee. Plus, Alice and Pastor Tim! What a showing by The Americans in Season 4 Episode 11 “Dinner for Seven” that aired May 25, 2016. It was written by Joshua Brand and directed by Nicole Kassell.

This is Episode 59 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 58 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis.

Just a little bit of history and tech this week. We head to the cineplex to check out the really cool movie Silver Streak and nosh on some delicious Pierogis during the main feature. Thank goodness for the state of the art sneaker tech in our awesome new Nikes! Philip is sporting a dashing new Wig of the Week as Dour John! We then get to your awesome feedback and reactions to this slashingly riveting episode!

We do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

WTA 58- Season 4 Episode 11 Dinner for Seven May 30, 2016

Show notes

This is Episode 58 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 58.

Vremya or Pravda, we have all the exciting news this week! We have all heard the wonderful news about FX giving the go-ahead for 2 final seasons, and we saw it in Deadline’s ‘The Americans’ To End Run With Two-Season Final Renewal By FX, EPs Ink Deals, followed by The New York Times happy that ‘The Americans’ Finished? Thank You for Killing My Favorite Show, and we close with Vox revealing that the showrunners believe “we’re creating a world that feels true”.

Then we talk the episode up! The repercussions from last week are coming to bear. Pastor Tim apologizes to Philip and Elizabeth for Alice’s behavior during her visit while he was missing. There is later a humorous and awkward dinner at the Jennings with Pastor Tim & Alice and dinner crasher Stan. Elizabeth as Patty visits Don and tells him she is pregnant, and he insists that she have an abortion and offers to pay for it. She leaves while saying she will deal with it. Philip, Gabriel and the Librarian visit Don at work and tell him Patty has committed suicide and demand that he pay the costs for taking her body to California and for the funeral. Don and Philip go to the bank while Gabriel and the Librarian rifle Don’s office looking unsuccessfully for the codes to Level 4. Stan reveals to Philip that Gaad has been killed and that he believes the KGB did it. Stan later meets Oleg and tells him this will be their last meeting. Dennis makes a connection between the FBI Mailbot, a murder, and Gaad. Elizabeth visits Pastor Tim multiple times, at first working him and then later seeming to seek solace. As Elizabeth and Paige leave the church, they are approached by two thugs, one of whom tries to grab Paige. Bad move. Elizabeth dispatches him and kills the other after he tries using a switchblade on her. She and Paige leave in a hurry.

WTA 57- Feedback for Munchkins May 24, 2016

Show notes

Well, we totally didn’t see much of this coming on The Americans this week! From Alice’s rage to poor Agent Gaad, we were absolutely flabbergasted! It’s Season 4 Episode 10, and it aired May 18, 2016. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Steph Green.

This is Episode 57 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 56 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis.

Historic references abound this week! Make sure you look out for any Munchkins if you ever head to Siberia to visit Philip’s family in lovely Tobolsk, where you can probably find a copy of The Militant. It might have an article about the Eritrean Border to enlighten you. Once you get back to America you will be sure to get a Twinkie as you ponder Mr. Hanson’s words about Martha helping others during the Great Flood of 1951. Afterwards, head on home and use that All-American tech in the kitchen, making your dinner slowly with a Crock Pot and finish up with a nice cup of Maxim Freeze-Dried Coffee. And don’t miss Alice’s Wig of the Week! We then get to your awesome feedback and reactions to this garage door pounding episode!

WTA 56- Season 4 Episode 10 Munchkins May 23, 2016

Show notes

This is Episode 56 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 57.

Newstime courtesy of Vremya this week! We begin with The New York Times’ interview with Richard Thomas on Agent Gaad’s Fate, John-Boy and Jimmy Carter, followed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 5 reasons to give ‘The Americans’ a try. Next up is Inverse with Philip and Elizabeth’s Most Brutal Moments on ‘The Americans’, then we wind up with Deadline’s chat with Frank Langella on Broadway’s ‘The Father’, ‘The Americans’ & HBO’s ‘All The Way’.

Then it’s time to say goodbye to yet another main character, Agent Gaad, as more shock and death await us this week! Tensions build between Young Hee and Don as he is overwhelmed with guilt after Patty’s honeypot trap. Pastor Tim disappears while on a relief mission in Ethiopia. His wife Alice confronts Philip and Elizabeth demanding their help and threatening to expose them if they don’t find and safely return PT. Paige once more confronts her parents about their mission and futures. She seeks solace from Alice, who tries to give it but is overcome and Paige must console her instead. Stan and Dennis meet the new boss, definitely not the same as the old boss! They must mind their margins. They later meet with Martha’s father and they assure him they are still looking for her. Oleg and Tatiana have a candid discussion about why she is in the US. In Thailand, retired Agent Gaad is approached by Russian thugs and he is mortally wounded trying to flee them. Arkady learns the news and is devastated. Paige later talks with Matthew who takes her to the church where she learns that Pastor Tim is safe and will return soon. Gabriel presses Elizabeth about getting access codes from Don for William, and he asks her if she would like him to see if the centre has another way in. She pauses for a long moment, and says “yes”!

WTA 55- Feedback for The Day After May 17, 2016

Show notes

What could bring the Russians and Americans together for a couple of hours? Why, if it’s the Fall of 1983 it’s the TV movie “The Day After”, which is also the title of this week’s The Americans! This is Season 4 Episode 9, and it aired May 11, 2016. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Daniel Sackheim.

This is Episode 55 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 54 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis.

We have some new and some familiar items in history this week! We cower behind the couch as we watch The Day After, and if that wasn’t scary enough we worry about catching the Lassa Virus which is a sort of Hemorrhagic Fever. Fortunately, we can try to unwind with Yazoo’s terrific song “Winter Kills” and then study the lyrics to Major Tom (Coming Home) by Peter Schilling. Then it’s time to freak out a bit about the Soviet Oko Launch Detection System when we learn how close it came to destroying civilization! Then once we recover our composure it’s time to hear your thoughts and ideas in your terrific feedback!

And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 54- Season 4 Episode 9 The Day After May 16, 2016

Show notes

What could bring the Russians and Americans together for a couple of hours? Why, if it’s fall of 1983 it’s the TV movie “The Day After”, which is also the title of this week’s The Americans! This is Season 4 Episode 9, and it aired May 11, 2016. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Daniel Sackheim.

This is Episode 54 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 55.

In the Pravda newsroom we are following some juicy stories. The Hollywood Reporter reveals (and kinda demands) how the Television Academy can save itself by nominating ‘The Americans’ for Emmys’, and next Browbeat (the Slate Culture Blog) tells us that ’The Day After’ is still terrifying to watch. We then close with Flavorwire showing how ‘The Americans’ uses ’80s pop culture to reflect its characters’ psyches.

Next up is the terrific episode! Everyone in the episode is shown watching the ABC TV movie “The Day After”, which underscores how precarious the cold war remains in 1983. Stan and Philip are friends again and play racquetball together. Pastor Tim wonders how Paige is doing and asks Philip for a family meeting after he returns from a mission to Ethiopia. Paige finally has a smile on her face as Philip begins teaching her to drive, first with the tank, second with the much cooler Camaro! William signals Philip and reveals a new variant of the Lassa virus. He questions Philip whether or not to tell the Centre, and Philip subsequently asks Elizabeth the same thing. They decide to do so and proceed with Young Hee and Don to get William higher access in the lab. To be able to blackmail Don, Elizabeth drugs him and puts him in a compromising position, leading him to believe he slept with her. Elizabeth is destroying more lives and actually seems troubled this time.

WTA 53- Alison Wright Interview May 11, 2016

Show notes

Season 4 of The Americans has had the most intense story yet, and Martha Hanson is at the center of it all! So it’s a perfect time to talk with the incomparable Alison Wright about her amazing performance that has won raves from critics and fans alike. We go over Season 4 and Martha’s choices so far, discuss her role in HBO’s “Confirmation”, and then she answers some of your awesome questions!

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