The Americans Season 4 Episodes 1-2 Reviews: We're In Trouble (Season Premiere)

After what seems like a very long wait (it's been almost a year) "The Americans" is back. Here's where we last left our favorite spies:

Paige now knows that her parents are KGB agents. That's a lot for a teenage girl to process. Will she turn them into the US government or join their ranks?
Martha finds out the truth about Clark (ie Phillip). Poor Martha!
Nina is in Russia trying to chat up a scientist in order to gain her freedom.
Next door neighbor and FBI agent Stan has been close to finding out the Jennings' true identities several times. Will they have to kill him?

Season 4 begins with Phillip still attending EST meetings. Stan thinks Phillip is secretly having an affair with ex-wife Sandra (who 's also into EST). Stan shoves Phillip around (not knowing he has the bio-hazardous "glanders" virus in his pocket). Gabriel inoculated Lip and Liz but the vaccine proves ineffective. Luckily, the vial does not break.

Phillip thinks back to his childhood as Mischa in the Soviet Union. He bashes a bully in the head with a rock. Yep, life in the USSR was rough. On a side note, how many people have Phillip and Elizabeth killed? @heisenberg27k says on IGN it's 15 for Phillip and 11 for Elizabeth (that we know of).

Paige confides in Pastor Tim about her parents. Tim wants everyone to come in for a little family therapy. That's a really bad idea. Tim then suggest Paige gather more evidence. Is Timmy some sort of US (or possibly Soviet) agent? Elizabeth has bugged the church so she can keep tabs the reverend. My guess is he'll be dead soon. The only problem is they can't kill Tim without Paige knowing.

Miracle against miracles, Martha is still ALIVE. I thought she was a goner for sure. Clark tells her Gene (the IT guy) will be found dead. He's being framed as the person who bugged Gaad's office. While Clark did this to protect her, Martha doesnt take the news well. She screams "I didnt agree to this. I dont want this." I'm still worried poor Martha isnt long for this world. Excellent work here by Alison Wright!

This week's episode is entitled "Pastor Tim" but he's interestingly nowhere to be seen. The Jennings are still trying to figure out what to do about him.

At the office, Stan watches Martha make copies of what might be unauthorized documents. Stan's not the sharpest tool in the shed but he's going to catch on sooner or later.

Elizabeth notices the changes in Phillip and asks to attend EST with him. "Feelings" might be something spies should avoid IMHO... but no one asked me.

Nina is allowed to meet with her husband. To be honest, I forgot she had one. She wants him to take a note to Anton's son (letting him know his father is still alive). That ends up NOT happening. Why is Nina trying to help Anton? Does she have a plan or is she just winging it?

Meanwhile the bio-weapon is still hidden in the Jennings house behind the dryer. It's dangerous stuff. William had already warned him "This is to meningitis what bubonic plague is to a runny nose." Phillip tries to get rid of ganders at the airport but instead has to strangle a guy in the back of the shuttle. Luckily, none of the other riders turn around or they would be goners too.

At the end of the episode Liz and Lip sit in their car trying to figure out what to do. They need to kill Tim or go on the lamb. Elizabeth says "we're in trouble". I'd have to agree.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). A great start to the new season. I cant wait to see what trouble the Jennings get into this year. My only criticism of the show is that FX still does not close caption it. That would make the show much more enjoyable to watch for me (and I'm sure others as well).