The Americans: Season 6, Episode 9 Review

THE AMERICANS: SEASON 6, EPISODE 9: JENNINGS, ELIZABETH

Is there anything I should know as an FBI agent about the Jennings family? Anything about them that concerns you? - Stan Beeman

What a terrific final season this has been for The Americans. If you recall back to my reviews down the stretch of Season 5, I stated it was the weakest year, by design, but that the finish would be special. I sit in front of this screen conflicted right now, not because that prediction is in ANY doubt whatsoever, but because I have the series finale in my hands and have access to watch it. But, how can I watch the end and then turn around and write a review of the penultimate without my thoughts being influenced? Sadly, I can't, so I'm writing this one a little earlier than usual. By the time you read this, I'll have all the answers.

But my lips will then remain sealed.

To this week's episode, as we focused in yet again on Elizabeth Jennings and the internal conflict between what she's been taught and indoctrinated to believe and the "eye test" in front of her. She realizes her side isn't fully in the right, and that at best, she's working for a group hoping to overthrow and oust Gorbachev, ensuring the status quo continues in the Soviet Union. Her feelings on communism as an experiment or an ideology may not have changed, but the manner and lengths to which her people are attempting to STOP any chance at working with the United States or trying to find common ground have increasingly bothered her.

Through mental flashbacks, we got a glimpse into the Elizabeth Jennings that lived in Russia and some of the things her handler and mentor taught her before the assignment that sent her to Washington D.C. "You must make the right choices over there. But the most important thing, we do not want you to lose who you are." That was the final instruction. So the question is, has she lost who she is, or has she found who she could be? In the Soviet Union as she grew up, "who you are" is merely a cog in a never ending, oppressive machine structured to enslave, with consequences of violence and rampant poverty.

All you need to do is examine the one-on-one conversation and verbal altercation between Elizabeth and Claudia, when the veil finally came down and Mrs. Jennings stood up for her individual thoughts. What did her grizzled veteran handler say? "You always reminded me of the women I fought with in the war, country over self. But now I see you never really understood what you were fighting for." Does Claudia? Elizabeth replies to her she's still fighting for her beliefs, but she was lied to, and Nesterenko was the tipping point. Claudia's only response is to call the treasonous act one of "indescribable" damage and then to question what's left for Elizabeth at this stage in her life? "What's left for you now? Your house? Your American kids? Philip?"

After Elizabeth leaves, Margo Martindale's Claudia goes back to eating her meal, but she gives one of those quick facial glances amidst contemplation that remind us of what a fantastic performer she is in The Americans and everything else she's done. It's at least feasible to see a hint of doubt in Claudia in that moment, as if she's not quite as certain as she once was either, and in her case, just as it was for Gabriel in the past, these two much older humans have given up any semblance of a normal life with true blessings for one dictated and controlled by people that may or may not care if anyone lives or dies.

For Elizabeth, not only is she dealing with her feelings, she's also coming to grips with the potential "indescribable damage" done to her own daughter. Paige accuses her, accurately, of being responsible for Jackson's condition at the party, and then digs deep into the now gushing wound. "Looking back, I've always known, mom. Every time. Every lie. My whole life. And I know now. No wonder dad can't stand to be in the same room with you." Mama doesn't fully explode, but she does raise her voice, and the tension breaks with the front door slamming as Paige storms out.

"Sex? What was sex? Nobody cared, including your father." Elizabeth has been trained to believe nothing matters above the mission. That's the responsibility that comes with the work. But, if you're a believer (as Paige was in stringent fashion at one time), you read that sexual sin is the most dangerous, because of what it does to the mind and soul. It corrupts, deteriorates, and clouds the brain of its conscience. The intimacy between Philip and Elizabeth was built on a mound of sand, rather than rock, at least in many cases. The foundation was shaky, and there was always an undercurrent of jealousy or distrust.

But, country before self.

Stan Beeman doesn't have what he needs just yet, but the evidence is beginning to add up. He shows photos of first Elizabeth and then both Jenningses to a few witnesses, including the now detained Oleg Burov. He doesn't get the response he requires, and he also can't get it from Dollar Bill...pardon me...from Pastor Tim in Buenos Aires. But, he doesn't get flat denials of his hunch either. It's rarely that easy on television, and we've still got one more lengthy episode to get through first.

Oleg whispers to his sometimes ally, sometimes adversary why he's not able to say much to answer Stan's questions. "This is why I'm here. This is why I risked all of that. My wife. My baby. Even when he told me not to. Can you get that through your thick head?" He mentions how many family members and friends died in the war, and then asks the question that has become the crux of the show's final act:

DO YOU THINK IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO OUR LEADER IS?

Boom. Dynamite. To Claudia and the Centre, it absolutely does, but to Oleg, who has grown disillusioned and depressed, then to Philip, and now even extending to Elizabeth, it means even more than they ever imagined. And as for the FBI, Aderholt first laughs off the idea that Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are Russian spies, which led me in my notes to immediately write the following bullet point: "My prediction now is that Aderholt dies...unless he changes course." He might get clipped even if he does, and by the end of the episode, he's entertaining the concept a bit more.

He softly interrogates Father Victor, who drops the name "Father Andre," who just so happens to be scheduled to meet with Philip in the park. Leaving behind the minutia of the two clergymen battling for power and assuming the worst of each other, the purpose here is simply to place Philip Jennings in a spot where he's going to have to run for his life. More importantly than the freedom, ultimately, at least for the series, is that his identity is in the balance. He does escape, just barely, because he has to. Again, there's one more episode to finish, but Andre is on his way to the FBI and surveillance photos aren't far behind.

I want to give props to one of our readers, who suggested a potential final scene for the series that I think not only COULD happen, but would be an excellent way to tie things up. Renee has her interview with the FBI, thanks both to her boyfriend as well as his friend and colleague, Dennis Aderholt. As I've repeatedly said, we've spent too much time watching Laurie Holden's character position herself and grow closer to Stan for it to be a nothing sandwich. Thus, I quote from reader Drew Cundiff's email:





I never considered the Chinese (or other nation) angle, and even if that's further than Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields plan to go, it would certainly work. However, Renee talking to a handler and the show fading to black would be perfect, especially if we've seen Philip and Elizabeth exit stage left, whether by choice or by death. Kudos to Drew for this suggestion. It's another example of how much I get from you guys when you write to me at jmartclone@gmail.com. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading opinions, theories, criticisms, corrections, and getting your questions throughout my time writing at Outkick. I hope that never changes.

It continues to be fascinating to watch the Oleg Burov character existing as an altruistic force, Philip becoming the same, and now Elizabeth coming to grips with the mistakes of her side. Nothing has ever been cut and dry or black and white, at least as its been presented during the final season, because people do have minds. After living in the United States, seeing that version of life and what capitalism and the free market could allow, some of the antiquated notions of Marx and Lenin don't hold up as well. Everyone at times has been a shade of grey on The Americans, which reflects reality.

Yet, we still don't know how it's going to end. Elizabeth remembers the incident with the officer after the accident, in pain on the ground asking for her help. Her trainer tells her how she should have handled it. She was in the middle of an operation, so she didn't know if she should stop in the middle of the asphalt. In America, you let him die. In Moscow, "don't leave comrade to die on street."

Country over self.

But, in America in December of 1987, Elizabeth shoots Tatiana before her replacement can finish the Nesterenko job. She then quickly walks away, leaving a comrade to die in the street. Perhaps she listened and obeyed the instructions after all, at least portions of them. And, for the umpteenth time, Keri Russell is magic. Her performance this year had BETTER win the Emmy. It's long overdue.

Philip calls his wife to give her the distress signal, and tips her off to execute the red alert plan. "Hi, I was hoping to make it home for dinner, but things are very topsy turvy at the office." Elizabeth snaps into action, grabbing the stashed bag, cash, passports, weapons, and fake license plates. Then, she stops for a moment and thinks, choosing also to take along the two wedding rings from the secret ceremony, revealing her love for her husband, and also that neither of them may be coming back.

We're about to see these two on the lam.

The question is will one or both of them end up the sacrificial LAMBS for a cause that we've always known to be atrocious and misguided, and one they're just now realizing might be the same.

This was another tremendous episode of The Americans. The season has been incredible.

So, until next week. One more ride remains with the Jennings family.

I'm @JMartOutkick. MARTIN, JASON - NO RECORDS FOUND.