This episode focuses on the murder of General Zhukov (who was Elizabeth's mentor). We see several flashbacks of them in Moscow. Elizabeth does have a heart after all. To avenge his death, against orders, she plans to kill the CIA director responsible.Liz and Lip continue to sneak around in their fake costumes. Their disguises make me laugh for some reason. Phillip looked like a lumberjack. Elizabeth seduces Patterson into some fun in the bathroom. There she beats the crap out of him with a paper towel dispenser. I'm no expert on such things but shouldn't they train CIA/FBI/spies/etc that if they are approached by a strange woman offering free sex that it's too good to be true? Or does that sort of thing happen to them all the time? Cause it doesn't happen to me.
Anyway when they get CIA dude back to the warehouse, Elizabeth has a breakdown and can't kill him... so they let him go. That is a really, really bad idea. Now someone knows what they look like and that they're a male/female team. I'm beginning to think they're not very good spies.
Other thoughts:
- Phillip and the kids watching "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" was a good touch. He then tries to explain capitalism. "We don't buy their insurance We just watch their show."
- Sandra gets in a fight with Stan. It's about time she laid the hammer down on him. Great acting by Susan Misner! I was really feeling her pain and frustration.
- Martha surprises "Clark" with a visit from her parents. That Martha is a sneaky and desperate woman.
- I've said it before but I just love the Claudia/Granny character. I get excited every time she's in a scene. I can't wait to see what new BS she will produce. In the last scene Liz accuses Claudia of trying to get her to kill Patterson in order to ruin her career. Claudia says that's not true and that she loved Zhukov too. Then Elizabeth says "Victor was easy to love but you're not" and then later "things aren't going to go well for you, old lady." Haaa best lines of the whole show. Trust Granny at your own peril!
- I found myself questioning several times what exactly the Soviets are fighting for? They don't seem particularly convinced of their own ideology. In last week's episode when they're trying to convince Gregory to go to Moscow, they say you'll get used to it in a few years. Doesn't sound like a great destination to me.
- Other favorite quotes: "He isn’t particularly smart. He isn’t pretty. But I love him, because I take care of him. Every day. And he, in his way, is taking care of me. If you are taking care of something, Elizabeth, one day you will discover that you love this creature and your life will be empty without it"- Zhukov about his dog to Liz (but of course he was really talking about her marriage to Phillip).
Episode 11 "Covert War"
The CIA assassinate three KGB officials in Moscow, including Elizabeth's mentor Zhukov. Elizabeth decides to kill the CIA official who (according to Claudia) planned the operation, against KGB orders. She seduces him and, with Philip's help, abducts him, but when he is their prisoner in the deserted building she relents and lets him go. Afterward she visits Philip in his motel room to thank him and appears to be interested in a reconciliation, but leaves when she learns he has rented an apartment. She then confronts Claudia, accusing her of manipulating her into killing the CIA man against orders to destroy her career. Claudia says that she was Zhukov's lover and denies any ill will toward the Jennings; she is surprised that Elizabeth did not carry out the killing. Meanwhile, Sandra concludes that Stan is having an affair and leaves him; he goes to Nina and attempts to break off their affair but loses his resolve. The newly promoted Nina is given access to the material obtained by the bug in Weinberger's office. Martha surprises "Clark" by introducing him to her parents.
Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Anytime Granny is in an episode, I'm giving it higher ratings. I just love her snarkiness. I also enjoyed seeing a more human side to Liz. And those wigs/ disguises are so bad, they're great fun to watch.
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