The writers of The Americans proved me wrong. They did not turn Paige into an hysterical teenager.
Thank you writers.
I mean, she was upset. That makes sense, but she didn't lose her mind over it. I thought that was good. I did love the fact that Henry is beginning to suspect that something is going on though. That look he gives his dad as he walks back into Paige's room. The kid knows something is up, and not just about this incident.
I have to admit though, I wasn't so sure about Elizabeth and Phillip telling Paige she didn't have to spy on Stan's son. I was wondering if they were arguing a bit too much to convince Paige that she didn't have to and that it was all her idea. It would seem to be a good KGB technique to get Paige into the spy business by gently pushing her toward the job by encouraging tendencies she is already exhibiting. Then again, I fully believed their stance that she doesn't need to spy. She's a teenager. She blows things out of proportion and makes a big deal out of the wrong stuff. Yeah, Paige, you screwed up with Pastor Tim. You need to pacify him. That's not the same as setting out to gain intelligence. That's a whole other story.
However, that spying might really come in handy in the next 24 hours by saving her favorite parent.
I liked the scene between Elizabeth and Phillip in regards to what happened with the mugging. They went into simultaneous parent and KGB mode. First, Elizabeth is clearly flustered, because as a parent, her daughter was in clear danger. She also wasn't ready yet for Paige to see her in that light -- no where near that in fact. Plus, Paige seems to be in constant time-bomb mode. The emotion Keri Russell displays in the scene is great, as well as Matthew Rhys. Phillip receives her distress with his eyes and conveys his immediate understanding of the situation and all emotions involved. I thought that was pitch perfect from a KGB and parent standpoint.
Thank you writers.
I mean, she was upset. That makes sense, but she didn't lose her mind over it. I thought that was good. I did love the fact that Henry is beginning to suspect that something is going on though. That look he gives his dad as he walks back into Paige's room. The kid knows something is up, and not just about this incident.
I have to admit though, I wasn't so sure about Elizabeth and Phillip telling Paige she didn't have to spy on Stan's son. I was wondering if they were arguing a bit too much to convince Paige that she didn't have to and that it was all her idea. It would seem to be a good KGB technique to get Paige into the spy business by gently pushing her toward the job by encouraging tendencies she is already exhibiting. Then again, I fully believed their stance that she doesn't need to spy. She's a teenager. She blows things out of proportion and makes a big deal out of the wrong stuff. Yeah, Paige, you screwed up with Pastor Tim. You need to pacify him. That's not the same as setting out to gain intelligence. That's a whole other story.
However, that spying might really come in handy in the next 24 hours by saving her favorite parent.
I liked the scene between Elizabeth and Phillip in regards to what happened with the mugging. They went into simultaneous parent and KGB mode. First, Elizabeth is clearly flustered, because as a parent, her daughter was in clear danger. She also wasn't ready yet for Paige to see her in that light -- no where near that in fact. Plus, Paige seems to be in constant time-bomb mode. The emotion Keri Russell displays in the scene is great, as well as Matthew Rhys. Phillip receives her distress with his eyes and conveys his immediate understanding of the situation and all emotions involved. I thought that was pitch perfect from a KGB and parent standpoint.
I really liked the plot between Gabriel and William this week. What a magnificent job by Gabriel for handling his operative. In a sense, you want to be worried for William because he is entertaining the idea of going against what the center wants. However, that's exactly why there is the position that Gabriel holds. His entire role is to make sure the agents stay in line in circumstances like this. Gabriel does a great job of smoothing the situation over. You do get the impression that if William doesn't complete his task, and does get sent back to the USSR, William will be killed in the motherland.
As for the Oleg and Stan plot development this week -- fabulous. It makes sense that Oleg would do this, give information to Stan. Oleg has lost a brother in an unpopular war, his mother is distraught, Oleg questions the Soviet's ability to handle a weapon of that magnitude, and then there is Oleg's inner conflict of whether or not he would do the right thing (as in the nuclear missiles from a few episodes back) in this type of situation.
Stan's plot thread is believable to. The show did a good job of running down how that would play out. In a matter of a few minutes, they made it seem plausible that the FBI would be able to find William.
Well done.
So this week's episode really came down to everyone does their job. Elizabeth and Phillip parent their child as well as nudge her into the spy business. Stan comes closer to finding a KGB agent. Paige spies. William concedes. Gabriel is a stellar fixer.
Stan's plot thread is believable to. The show did a good job of running down how that would play out. In a matter of a few minutes, they made it seem plausible that the FBI would be able to find William.
Well done.
So this week's episode really came down to everyone does their job. Elizabeth and Phillip parent their child as well as nudge her into the spy business. Stan comes closer to finding a KGB agent. Paige spies. William concedes. Gabriel is a stellar fixer.
Until next time!
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com