The Americans Season 3 Episode 13 Review: Mother Russia (Season Finale)

This week's episode entitled "March 8, 1983" has Elizabeth visiting her dying mother. Paige is along for the trip. Elizabeth hopes this will further indoctrinate her. Elizabeth's attempts to turn Paige into a junior spy (per the government's request) has been central this season.The meeting was a powerful one. Keri Russell can really sell it. Just when we think Paige is with the program, she tells her mother that she cant keep lying. After returning home, she secretly calls Pastor Tim and whispers "they're Russians". Uh oh, Pastor Tim's a goner now for sure.

The Jennings Family Before All Hell Breaks Loose

We see Philip sneak up on the FBI/CIA IT guy and choke him. Philip makes his death look like a suicide by hanging Gene and leaving a suicide note on his 1980s PC. That was fun to see (the PC, not the murder). Hopefully the investigation into Gaad's bug will now be closed. I hadnt realized the IT profession was so dangerous. Mental Note: MUST CHANGE CAREERS IMMEDIATELY.

Will Someone Please Listen To Me?

Philip secretly goes to another EST meeting and runs into Sandra. They talk after the meeting. She suggests they be completely honest with each other. Philip is burdened by his life but being honest is out of the question. He would have to kill Sandra if she knew the truth. When Liz returns home, Lip tries to discuss the toll the job is taking on him. He "feels like shit all the time". She is distracted by TV footage of President Reagan calling the Soviet Union "the evil empire". This speech was giving on March 8, 1983 (hence the title of the episode). Elizabeth is super pissed and Philip feels more alone than ever.

Does This Mean No More Candy Bars?

In other news, Stan confesses to Gaad that Zinaida Preobrazhenskaya is really a spy. He has the cassette from Oleg as proof. Gadd doesnt take it as expected. Zinaida is apprehended and traded for a imprisoned CIA operative. Stan's plan to get Nina back into the US is a complete failure. Now Gaad wants Stan fired. Luckily he's saved by a higher up and even given a promotion. Things are still going to be tense around the office next year. Speaking of Nina,we see a brief glimpse of her and Anton. Nina confesses why she befriended him. Is she being honest? My guess is she's playing him (as is her usual pattern).

We didnt see much of Gabriel this episode but there was a scene with Phillip. The Jennings did not ask permission from the government for Elizabeth to see her mother. Gabriel is not happy and tells Philip to "grow up". However Gabriel still comes through for them and gets the dying woman to German to see her daughter.

Yes Martha, This Is How I Felt Too When I Didnt See You

What I was most disappointed about this episode was no Martha. How can you leave Martha out of the finale-- especially after focusing so much on her last week? For shame.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I would have given the finale 3 1/2 Monsters (because duh, NO MARTHA!) but I loved the scene with Elizabeth and her mother. We dont often see emotion from Liz often but when we do it's obvious she feels things deeply.

What's in store for the Jennings family in season 4? Will Elizabeth and Philip continue to lie to everyone around them? Will Phillip have a breakdown after too many years of murdering for Mother Russia? Will Paige become an ally or an enemy? If she turns on them will Paige's parents have to (God forbid) kill her? Will Henry ever get a clue about what's going on in his family?