We have come to the close of season 2 of "The Americans". Last years cliffhanger had Elizabeth close ot death from a gunshot wound. This year the main characters are safe (for now) but circumstances are changing very quickly.
In "Operation Chronicle" Elizabeth helps Jared escape. Larrick tracks them (thanks to a bug in Jared's backpack). Luckily the backpack is left in a trash can before they are caught.
The screws tighten on Stan. He finds Nina beaten and is given an ultimatum by Arkady. Either give the Soviets the Project Echo info or she will be sent back to the USSR and executed. Oleg gives Nina an envelope. He appears to know what is about to happen to her. Is the money to help her bribe her way out of danger?
Phillip and Elizabeth tell Paige they have to leave abruptly. Paige is suspicious of what "emergency" travel agents might have? She is also listening in on some their phone calls. She's upset that her mother doesnt have time to help her pack for her trip. Paige joins the nuclear arms protesters from church at the military base.
Martha bring some classified documents home to show "Clark" how unsecure the office really is. She also knows about his toupee but says she loves him anyway. She brings up having children but Clark doesnt want any (and remember Phillip already has two). This could lead to trouble for our newlyweds.
In the season finale "Echo" Fred is killed when he tries to gather intel from a top secret government facility. He is able to accomplish his mission though before dying. He was to wear specially designed shoes into the facility and then drop them off in a dumpster. The Soviets will later analyze them for traces of radar absorbent paint (with are part of the stealth project).
Stan is still contemplating what to do-- either give the Russians the Echo secrets to save Nina or divulge nothing which may lead to her execution. To be honest I wasnt sure what he was going to do. I was leaning towards saving Nina (since most of this season that to be more important to him than his allegiance to the government).
As it turns out, Stan did NOT give the Soviets anything. Instead Arkady shows Nina a note that reads "Tell Nina I'm sorry". Stan watches as she is driven away. Will Nina really be sent back for trial/execution? Or is this part of a longer game being played by Nina and/or Stan? Since this is a "spy show" I'll only believe she's dead when I see her body (and maybe not even then).
And in the biggest reveal of the season, we finally learn who killed Emmett and LeAnne (and it wasnt Larrick). It was... pause for suspense... Jared. Yes he killed his parents and sister because he was in love with Kate . Jared was also working for the KGB as a junior-spy-in-training. I really didnt see that coming? Did you? I'm not sure I'm buying his motives either. If you were a 17 year old would you kill your entire family for a government you've been taught to hate? I dont think so. Anyway both Jared and Larrick are killed. Too bad Larrick couldnt stay around longer. He's a great villain.
Granny / Claudia is back. Mother Russia wants Paige to join the junior spy program. Elizabeth seems to support the idea but Phillip does not. He meets Arkady at a newspaper stand and says if the KGB touches Paige, he and LIz will quit.
I cant see Paige defected that easily. She doesnt want to be anything like her parents. The junior spy program obviously didnt seem to work too well for Jared. Let's hope the Jennings dont suffer the same fate.
Favorite Quotes:
"One days its coming, you know it is"- Elizabeth to Phillip regarding what will happen to them and the kids.
“Paige is your daughter, but she’s not just yours. She belongs to the cause and to the world. We all do. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”- Claudia to the Jennings.
"What we do, it's for something greater than ourselves."- Elizabeth and Jared.
Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I definitely didnt see the big reveal. What will happen now that Paige is in the Soviet's cross hairs? Will she blow the Jenning's cover entirely? Comrads, see ya back here for season 3 to find out.
TV: Heavy On Sci Fi, Horror & Adventure; Light On Reality
No comments: