"The Americans" series finale.....(potential spoilers)

[Grant Green]

Anyone else watching? I actually caught this show from the very first episode. Hard to believe it is ending, but I think the timing is good. Any additional seasons could risk the whole shark jumping thing.

It should be really interesting to see how they end it. Sure seems like it is going to be a desperate flee from the FBI for Phillip and Elizabeth. Looking forward to an unexpected turn.

 

[Lionguy32]

Great show. One of the few that stayed great until the end. I'm going to miss it.

 

[interrobang]

It is time for the show to end. This season has been ragged. They're forcing the whole "they're still a family first" angle by throwing a few Henry cameos in there and trying to make us think Paige can be a spy.


But, it has been a great show. It's just time for it to end. And I hope it goes out with a bang.

 

[Lion Lineage]

Great show. Have watched from the beginning too and will definitely be watching tonight. In a sense, though, the whole premise of the show is a “jumping of the shark, comrades.” The illegals didn’t actually break into places and steal classified information. They picked up classified info during “brush passes” or at “dead drops” - like what Philip does when he communicates with Oleg. The illegals were KGB agents, and like their CIA counterparts they recruited spies to steal the info., like Martha. Too much time, money, and effort were put into placing the illegals to risk them being caught during a burglary. And they didn’t run around assassinating US citizens, although they did go after, and still do go after, “traitors”.

BTW, the show was inspired by a real “illegal” Canadian (well...Russian) couple:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...our-parents-were-russian-spies-tim-alex-foley

 

[Lion Lineage]

Well, would have liked a little epilogue after the fall of the Soviet Union. It would have been nice to see Elizabeth and Philip meeting Paige and Henry in East Germany once travel restrictions were loosened up. Or maybe in Russia even. Seems like a lot of time was spent on the trip back to Russia.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

was last night the finale?
I have enjoyed the show and didn't realize there would only be 10 episodes this season.

 

[cjrugger]

Yeah that was, terrible

 

[olelion]

My one big criticism of the show? Bad, and I mean bad.......wigs.

 

[Lion Lineage]

Yeah that was, terrible

I didn’t think it was terrible. It was going to end one of two ways: Philip and Elizabeth get caught or they get away. I thought there might be an outside chance only one of them would get caught, but if one is caught the other one’s cover is blown too and would probably be caught next.

I’m not sure how I feel about Stan letting them get away. After that ra-ra speech at Thanksgiving I don’t see how it’s keeping in character for him to let foreign intelligence agents go, especially when he suspects them of murdering American citizens as well as foreign nationals. And don’t forget how furious Stan was when his old boss was murdered while on vacation. I get it that Philip is his friend, but he basically deceived Stan for years. Maybe Stan sees a bit of himself in Philip - both serving their country. But for a dedicated FBI agent that has devoted most of his career to fighting the Soviets, and who has had colleagues killed by the Soviets, it seemed kinda weak.

 

[Grant Green]

I didn’t think it was terrible. It was going to end one of two ways: Philip and Elizabeth get caught or they get away. I thought there might be an outside chance only one of them would get caught, but if one is caught the other one’s cover is blown too and would probably be caught next.

I’m not sure how I feel about Stan letting them get away. After that ra-ra speech at Thanksgiving I don’t see how it’s keeping in character for him to let foreign intelligence agents go, especially when he suspects them of murdering American citizens as well as foreign nationals. And don’t forget how furious Stan was when his old boss was murdered while on vacation. I get it that Philip is his friend, but he basically deceived Stan for years. Maybe Stan sees a bit of himself in Philip - both serving their country. But for a dedicated FBI agent that has devoted most of his career to fighting the Soviets, and who has had colleagues killed by the Soviets, it seemed kinda weak.

Agree. It wasn't terrible, but it fell short of my expectations.

Yeah, the scene with Stan was odd. Phillip's speech really didn't seem convincing enough to just let them go. This was the moment that the audience had waited for and it was kind of weak.

On one hand, I like your suggestion of the epilogue meeting with the kids. Would have been a better feel-good ending. On the other hand, a huge theme of the show is how the Russian spies deal with having American kids, so it's fitting that their decisions cause them to never see the kids again. They ruined a lot of lives over the years and that seems like a just punishment.

 

[RandyL]

I watched the entire last season, but only sporadically watched earlier seasons.
Didnt Stan previously do something that was illegal or might even be considered traitorous?
This was all just too much for him to absorb standing there.
I think he let them go partly because he couldn’t stop them w/o shooting them, and simply couldn’t do that. If they would have obeyed his commands, he might have taken them in.

So, where does this leave Stan?
Paige has no where to go and no one to turn to. I think she would inevitably return to her brother, and Stan.
Henry would eventually find out Stan let his parents go.
And Stan would have to live also with the fear of that being discovered.
Hell, Stan might end up being the one in prison
And that doesnt even consider the impact of Renee.

Geez.... no wonder they left it all ambiguous.

No happy ending for anyone. Just misery all around.
Well, except Renee.

 

[Lion Lineage]

I watched the entire last season, but only sporadically watched earlier seasons.
Didnt Stan previously do something that was illegal or might even be considered traitorous?
This was all just too much for him to absorb standing there.
I think he let them go partly because he couldn’t stop them w/o shooting them, and simply couldn’t do that. If they would have obeyed his commands, he might have taken them in.

So, where does this leave Stan?
Paige has no where to go and no one to turn to. I think she would inevitably return to her brother, and Stan.
Henry would eventually find out Stan let his parents go.
And Stan would have to live also with the fear of that being discovered.
Hell, Stan might end up being the one in prison
And that doesnt even consider the impact of Renee.

Geez.... no wonder they left it all ambiguous.

No happy ending for anyone. Just misery all around.
Well, except Renee.

I think we need a Renee spin-off show (just kidding). Yeah, Stan got involved with Nina, the Russian girl he was “running”,...while he was married. And I think he may have disclosed sensitive info. to her (pillow talk), but I can’t quite recall. Didn’t Oleg have something on Stan too? Yeah, Stan’s character is a bit morally ambiguous.

At this point Paige and Stan are in the most danger. If it’s ever found out she assisted her parents in the operations, she could be charged with treason I’d imagine.

I would love to see Elizabeth’s face when the first McDonald’s opens in Red Square. “I don’t wan to be like them.” It would gut her and probably please Philip to no end. I always got the feeling he kind of liked being an American.

 

[Lion Lineage]

Agree. It wasn't terrible, but it fell short of my expectations.

Yeah, the scene with Stan was odd. Phillip's speech really didn't seem convincing enough to just let them go. This was the moment that the audience had waited for and it was kind of weak.

On one hand, I like your suggestion of the epilogue meeting with the kids. Would have been a better feel-good ending. On the other hand, a huge theme of the show is how the Russian spies deal with having American kids, so it's fitting that their decisions cause them to never see the kids again. They ruined a lot of lives over the years and that seems like a just punishment.

I imagine that at a minimum Paige would seek them out after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Probably Henry too. Hated the scence where Stan tells Henry - we assume - about his parents and Henry is shaking his head. LOL! Doesn’t seem like the right reaction.

 

[interrobang]

Just finished the finale. Wow they really mailed it in. No plot twists (I'd hardly call Paige staying a plot twist. You knew she would never leave). They continued to make Stan look like the dumbest and softest FBI agent ever. "OK see ya we're leaving" and that's it.


It would only make sense that Paige's return to Claudia's place was a hint that she was still in the game, and was going to seek out her own path of being a spy.

 

[wex18]

(I'd hardly call Paige staying a plot twist. You knew she would never leave).

I thought she would run away when they stopped at McDonald's. When she didn't, I figured she was staying, so I wasn't expecting her to leave at the border checkpoint.

The finale kept listing "violence," so I was expecting someone to get shot -- Phillip or Elizabeth or both. It turns out the only shooting was in the first minute when they were reviewing scenes from previous episodes.

 

[NJPSU]

I just finished the finale and I thought it was very satisfying. Philllip warning Stan about Renee as he got in the car left Stan paralyzed. It almost felt like Stan might eat his gun right there in the garage.

The scene with Paige standing by the tracks as the train pulls away was very well done and unexpected. I like the ambiguity of Paige’s future. Will she continue as a KGB agent or leave and try to lead life of a normal American teenager?

Great show, sad to see it end.

 

[RandyL]

I think Paige had been thoroughly disabused of the notion of being a spy; her mother whoring herself with that kid; seeing the family disintegrate, etc.
The reason she returned to Claudia's was simply that there was no where else to go, or anyone to turn to.
With Claudia gone, she would have to return to Henry, and Stan.
I was satisfied with the ending.

 

[BVSt.Paul]

I thought early in the final season that Phillip was going to get killed. He definitely wanted to be an American but would get caught up in one of Elizabeth’s missions and in an attempt to help her would be the fall guy. Irony.

Speaking of Elizabeth, I thought her killing spree in the early episodes of this season was over the top. I believe she snuffed someone in at least the first five episodes. I did like her transformation when she heard about the plot against Gorby.

Good ending with Paige. A agree with the earlier post that she had no where to go. I liked when she clocked that guy in the bar. She got moxie.

Stan did wuss out but maybe he didn’t turn in the Jennings because of any guilt he’d feel with Henry?

Maybe Henry defects to Russia and joins the Red Army hockey team. Spinoff? Renee could coach the women’s team.

 

[4INSBU]

I was very disappointed by the ending. It was such a great show. Yes, they did get a bit sloppy this season to tie things up - for example Phillip would have never told Stan they were actually going to Chicago, but some other city was the destination.

I don't know how I would have ended it, but two thoughts I had going in were 1) Phillip sacrifices himself for the rest of the family to get away, or 2) like someone else mentioned the kids stayed, P & E got away to Russia, but we see them all together many year later in some place like South America.

 

[BVSt.Paul]

I was very disappointed by the ending. It was such a great show. Yes, they did get a bit sloppy this season to tie things up - for example Phillip would have never told Stan they were actually going to Chicago, but some other city was the destination.

I don't know how I would have ended it, but two thoughts I had going in were 1) Phillip sacrifices himself for the rest of the family to get away, or 2) like someone else mentioned the kids stayed, P & E got away to Russia, but we see them all together many year later in some place like South America.

I believe Phillip told Stan that they had to go to Houston to assist the problem client. I like your reunion idea.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

I believe Phillip told Stan that they had to go to Houston to assist the problem client. I like your reunion idea.

they did tell Stan Houston, not Chicago.
also, did Philip tell Stan that Renee was Russian, or that he suspected she was Russian? I don't recall it ever being confirmed, but may have missed it (and I haven't watched the finale yet).

 

[Lion78]

Phillip and Elizabeth would have to get out of Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. The wrong team won for them to stay. They would probably have to leave pretty quickly after telling Gorbachev the plan to overthrow him. Her actions in stopping the assassination in the US would make her a target. The reunion would be with the minister in South America where Paige would end up.

 

[NJPSU]

they did tell Stan Houston, not Chicago.
also, did Philip tell Stan that Renee was Russian, or that he suspected she was Russian? I don't recall it ever being confirmed, but may have missed it (and I haven't watched the finale yet).

You haven't watched it yet and you are reading this thread? Are you nuts? J/K

 

[BOSCO2]

Phillip and Elizabeth would have to get out of Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. The wrong team won for them to stay. They would probably have to leave pretty quickly after telling Gorbachev the plan to overthrow him. Her actions in stopping the assassination in the US would make her a target. The reunion would be with the minister in South America where Paige would end up.

The KGB should've sent Putin after them. Can Liam Neeson do a Russian accent?

 

[Grant Green]

I re-watched the first episode of Season 1 last night. I had forgotten that Phillip wanted to sellout for millions and live in the US from the start. Also had forgotten that Stan was suspicious of something early on. Remember that he breaks into the garage to search Phillip's trunk. Interesting.

 

[YonkersLion]

Anyone else watching? I actually caught this show from the very first episode. Hard to believe it is ending, but I think the timing is good. Any additional seasons could risk the whole shark jumping thing.

It should be really interesting to see how they end it. Sure seems like it is going to be a desperate flee from the FBI for Phillip and Elizabeth. Looking forward to an unexpected turn.

Brother in Arms by Dire Straits! Great song and very appropriate!!

 

[gslachta]

Great show. One of the few that stayed great until the end. I'm going to miss it.

Loved every bit of it. See a post Soviet Union special 2 hour show in a year or two with flash backs and the McDonald’s in Red Square. If there is money to be made it will be made.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

Terrible episode. The scene in the parking garage was a total waste with cheesy dialogue. It also made no sense. Right afterwards Stan goes back to work and finds out they are watching Paige's apartment, which is exactly where he saw them before confronting them in the parking garage. So why was he the only one there and what the heck was he planning to do?

Then, they stupidly talk themselves into calling Henry even though it is obviously a dumb idea. And then, the phone call scene is pointless . Then, you expect that something is going to happen at the McDonald's, like maybe Paige will find another pay phone and call Henry. Instead, it is a scene of Philip buying hamburgers and getting back in the car. Finallly, when they flee to Russia it is not at all clear where they landed or where they drove to that took an entire day. Nor is it clear why they would not be in even more danger there than in the U.S., and it would have made more sense to have them escape to some other country. The writers did a really bad job

 

[Lion Lineage]

Terrible episode. The scene in the parking garage was a total waste with cheesy dialogue. It also made no sense. Right afterwards Stan goes back to work and finds out they are watching Paige's apartment, which is exactly where he saw them before confronting them in the parking garage. So why was he the only one there and what the heck was he planning to do?

Then, they stupidly talk themselves into calling Henry even though it is obviously a dumb idea. And then, the phone call scene is pointless . Then, you expect that something is going to happen at the McDonald's, like maybe Paige will find another pay phone and call Henry. Instead, it is a scene of Philip buying hamburgers and getting back in the car. Finallly, when they flee to Russia it is not at all clear where they landed or where they drove to that took an entire day. Nor is it clear why they would not be in even more danger there than in the U.S., and it would have made more sense to have them escape to some other country. The writers did a really bad job

The scene in the McDonald’s was I think a metaphor for the life they were leaving behind. What is more American than McDonald’s? It’s their last American meal as “Americans.” Also, while Philip is leaving the restaurant he looks over at a table of a mother, father, and two children (if I remember correctly) eating together and he looks sad/contemplative as he looks away. He knows what they have to leave behind and that they’ll never have that again.

Stan knew they were watching Paige’s apartment. He’s the one that went there knowing that Elizabeth and Philip would show up there. Not sure how I feel about Stan letting them go. The writers didn’t have much time to go through quite an emotional arc. That decision probably should have taken an episode or two for Stan to decide what he was going to do.

I agree that the train ride and car ride scenes took too long. They could have saved some time and finished with a short epilogue after the Soviet Union fell.

I don’t think Philip and Elizabeth are in more danger in the Soviet Union. It appears that it was a small faction in the KGB that was trying to overthrow Gorbachev. So they’re working for the Party and the Soviet Govt. against the faction trying to launch a coup.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

I don’t think Philip and Elizabeth are in more danger in the Soviet Union. It appears that it was a small faction in the KGB that was trying to overthrow Gorbachev. So they’re working for the Party and the Soviet Govt. against the faction trying to launch a coup.

Yes but we know based on real life that he got overthrown.

 

[scottpsurules]

I just finished the finale and I thought it was very satisfying. Philllip warning Stan about Renee as he got in the car left Stan paralyzed. It almost felt like Stan might eat his gun right there in the garage.

The scene with Paige standing by the tracks as the train pulls away was very well done and unexpected. I like the ambiguity of Paige’s future. Will she continue as a KGB agent or leave and try to lead life of a normal American teenager?

Great show, sad to see it end.

I just watched and agree on all fronts. If it is is not the best series finale I have ever watched, it is close to it. Same as a good book, little sad it is over.

 

[Lion78]

The scene in the McDonald’s was I think a metaphor for the life they were leaving behind. What is more American than McDonald’s? It’s their last American meal as “Americans.” Also, while Philip is leaving the restaurant he looks over at a table of a mother, father, and two children (if I remember correctly) eating together and he looks sad/contemplative as he looks away. He knows what they have to leave behind and that they’ll never have that again.

Stan knew they were watching Paige’s apartment. He’s the one that went there knowing that Elizabeth and Philip would show up there. Not sure how I feel about Stan letting them go. The writers didn’t have much time to go through quite an emotional arc. That decision probably should have taken an episode or two for Stan to decide what he was going to do.

I agree that the train ride and car ride scenes took too long. They could have saved some time and finished with a short epilogue after the Soviet Union fell.

I don’t think Philip and Elizabeth are in more danger in the Soviet Union. It appears that it was a small faction in the KGB that was trying to overthrow Gorbachev. So they’re working for the Party and the Soviet Govt. against the faction trying to launch a coup.

The FBI watching Paige's apartment is long after the confrontation in the garage. FBI came too late to see anything.

They had to go to the Soviet Union to get the message to Gorbachev. They were the only two people not in FBI custody who could. I would doubt that they could go to another country and find a way to get the message back without risking if falling into the wrong hands.

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

Yes but we know based on real life that he got overthrown.

Several years later

 

[fairfaxlion2]

Several years later

Yeah. But they put themselves on the wrong side of it and made enemies of their own handler

I thought it was a dumb ending. It would have been more interesting if there was at least some resolution on Stan’s girlfriend. And more believable if they fled to somewhere more obscure

 

[interrobang]

The first McDonalds in Russia opened (1990) not too long after the time frame of when the Jennings went back to Russia (1987). Maybe they opened it?

 

[Lion Lineage]

The FBI watching Paige's apartment is long after the confrontation in the garage. FBI came too late to see anything.

They had to go to the Soviet Union to get the message to Gorbachev. They were the only two people not in FBI custody who could. I would doubt that they could go to another country and find a way to get the message back without risking if falling into the wrong hands.

Okay. I apparently conflated the two times he was watching Paige’s apartment. Thought there was only one time when he was with his FBI partner and he somehow managed to get into the garage to speak to Philip and Elizabeth without his partner seeing him. I recall Stan bringing his partner coffee and thought that was his excuse to get out of the stake out and confront them.

You’re right that at that time Philip and Elizabeth were the only two who could get the message of the coup to Russia, but knowing they’re Soviet agents and trained to lie..would he believe them? At that point everything he knew about them was a lie. I’m assuming you meant that that may have been the reason (or one of them) that Stan let them go.

 

[Lion Lineage]

The first McDonalds in Russia opened (1990) not too long after the time frame of when the Jennings went back to Russia (1987). Maybe they opened it?

LOL! Why not. They ran a travel agency in the US. Philip could stick Elizabeth at the register so in her capitalist uniform she would have to smile all day and say: Would you like fries with that?

Edit: BTW I think the first McDonald’s opened in Pushkin Square, not Red Square like I said earlier. Not that it matters, but there you have it.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

finally watched the finale ,and it was ok. I'd have been happy with another season or 2.
For those looking for an epilogue or a happy ending for Philip and Elizabeth, I don't think there is a happy ending for them Don't see them sticking together more than a few months if they manage to survive.

 

[scottpsurules]

Okay. I apparently conflated the two times he was watching Paige’s apartment. Thought there was only one time when he was with his FBI partner and he somehow managed to get into the garage to speak to Philip and Elizabeth without his partner seeing him. I recall Stan bringing his partner coffee and thought that was his excuse to get out of the stake out and confront them.

You’re right that at that time Philip and Elizabeth were the only two who could get the message of the coup to Russia, but knowing they’re Soviet agents and trained to lie..would he believe them? At that point everything he knew about them was a lie. I’m assuming you meant that that may have been the reason (or one of them) that Stan let them go.

More confusion. Stan and partner were not watching Paige;s apartment, they were watching a presumed safe house. No one was watching her place till later.

 

[Lion Lineage]

Ha. I recorded the finale. Will have to watch it again. That whole part of the episode is a blur - Stan and his partner watching the garage and then Stan watching Paige’s by himself.