We are thrilled to have had such a great introduction to the world of His Dark Materials this week! Seeing Lyra, Lord Asriel, the Master, the Gyptians, and of course Mrs. Coulter made us so happy! Plus: Pan and Stelmaria and that darn monkey daemon! Of course, this is S01E01 “Lyra’s Jordan”! It aired on November 4, 2019 on HBO, was written by Jack Thorne and directed by Tom Hooper. We have a few choice news items for you this week, beginning with Deadline profiling co-showrunner Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter! Next up we have solid ratings debut numbers courtesy of Variety, and we close up with Refinery29 revealing that Daemons have their roots in mythology. Then we enter the new world! In the dead of night during the great flood, a man delivers an infant to what appears to be a college. The man is Lord Asriel, and the baby is Lyra Belacqua, his niece. Twelve years later, we see Lyra running along the rooftops of Jordan College in Oxford, England, and she appears to be a happy girl being raised by the scholars. Asriel ventures to the far north to take images of the sky. He returns to Jordan College to meet with the scholars to seek funding to continue his explorations into a substance called Dust. Before the meeting, Lyra sees the Master of Jordan College putting poison into a decanter of Tokaj, and she prevents Asriel from drinking it. Lyra hides while Asriel makes his presentation to the scholars, and she sees images of Dust and a city in the sky which Asriel believes is in another universe. Funding secured, Asriel leaves a tearful Lyra. A woman names Marissa Coulter visits Jordan College, and she takes an interest in Lyra. In London, two men in the Magisterium discuss Asriel’s activities. Meanwhile, children are disappearing, particularly in the river-faring Gyptian community led by John Faa. Mrs. Coulter offers to take Lyra on as an assistant, and Lyra insists her best friend Roger join her. Mrs. Coulter agrees, but Roger is kidnapped immediately after. Lyra leaves with Mrs. Coulter by airship for London. Roger is revealed to be trapped in a cage, screaming! After our episode breakdown, we get some terrific feedback from you guys.  Then for all the book readers we have our Bridge to the Stars segment, which is chock full of spoilers and speculation so spoilerphobes beware! We do love to hear your thoughts about His Dark Materials, so please send them in! You can email text or audio feedback to alethiometerpodcast@gmail.com or call us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @alethiometerpod. Please like us on our Facebook page The Alethiometer. Our homepage also has our show and links to info each week at www.thealethiometer.com. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in your favorite podcast app!

We are thrilled to have had such a great introduction to the world of His Dark Materials this week! Seeing Lyra, Lord Asriel, the Master, the Gyptians, and of course Mrs. Coulter made us so happy! Plus: Pan and Stelmaria and that darn monkey daemon! Of course, this is S01E01 “Lyra’s Jordan”! It aired on November 4, 2019 on HBO, was written by Jack Thorne and directed by Tom Hooper. We have a few choice news items for you this week, beginning with Deadline profiling co-showrunner <a href="https://deadline.com/2019/11/his-dark-materials-producer-bad-wolf-on-the-story-behind-the-big-budget-adaptation-current-state-of-the-global-drama-business-1202774395/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter</a>! Next up we have <a href="https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/tv-ratings-dark-materials-premiere-hbo-1203394302/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">solid ratings debut numbers</a> courtesy of Variety, and we close up with Refinery29 revealing that <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/what-is-a-daemon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daemons have their roots in mythology</a>. Then we enter the new world! In the dead of night during the great flood, a man delivers an infant to what appears to be a college. The man is Lord Asriel, and the baby is Lyra Belacqua, his niece. Twelve years later, we see Lyra running along the rooftops of Jordan College in Oxford, England, and she appears to be a happy girl being raised by the scholars. Asriel ventures to the far north to take images of the sky. He returns to Jordan College to meet with the scholars to seek funding to continue his explorations into a substance called Dust. Before the meeting, Lyra sees the Master of Jordan College putting poison into a decanter of Tokaj, and she prevents Asriel from drinking it. Lyra hides while Asriel makes his presentation to the scholars, and she sees images of Dust and a city in the sky which Asriel believes is in another universe. Funding secured, Asriel leaves a tearful Lyra. A woman names Marissa Coulter visits Jordan College, and she takes an interest in Lyra. In London, two men in the Magisterium discuss Asriel’s activities. Meanwhile, children are disappearing, particularly in the river-faring Gyptian community led by John Faa. Mrs. Coulter offers to take Lyra on as an assistant, and Lyra insists her best friend Roger join her. Mrs. Coulter agrees, but Roger is kidnapped immediately after. Lyra leaves with Mrs. Coulter by airship for London. Roger is revealed to be trapped in a cage, screaming! After our episode breakdown, we get some terrific feedback from you guys.  Then for all the book readers we have our Bridge to the Stars segment, which is chock full of spoilers and speculation so spoilerphobes beware! We do love to hear your thoughts about His Dark Materials, so please send them in! You can email text or audio feedback to alethiometerpodcast@gmail.com or call us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @alethiometerpod. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thealethiometer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Alethiometer</a>. Our homepage also has our show and links to info each week at <a href="http://www.thealethiometer.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thealethiometer.com</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in your favorite podcast app!

BONUS: Lyra’s Jordan

Welcome to Lyra’s world! We are Sara and Chip, hosts of the podcast Watching The Americans,  which explored the world of Soviet spycraft in the 1980s on FX’s “The Americans”. Now we are turning to another place and time, that of our heroine Lyra Belacqua, and the adventures that lie ahead for her in the HBO/BBC series “His Dark Materials”.  Every week our annotated podcast will do a deep dive into this strange new world, including scene breakdowns, extensive commentary on dialogue, plot, and characters. We will share news about the show, and point out some of the cool differences in Lyra’s world from ours. Plus we’ll have a segment for book readers that discusses similarities and differences from books to show, and speculation on future events.  This week’s introduction tells you a bit about us, our backgrounds and experiences in podcasting, and our love of Philip Pullman’s wonderful books that are the basis of the show. We love to hear your thoughts about His Dark Materials, so please send them in! You can email text or audio feedback to alethiometerpodcast@gmail.com or call us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @alethiometerpod. Please like us on our Facebook page The Alethiometer. Our homepage also has our show and links to info each week at www.thealethiometer.com. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in your favorite podcast app!

Welcome to Lyra’s world! We are Sara and Chip, hosts of the podcast Watching The Americans,  which explored the world of Soviet spycraft in the 1980s on FX’s “The Americans”. Now we are turning to another place and time, that of our heroine Lyra Belacqua, and the adventures that lie ahead for her in the HBO/BBC series “His Dark Materials”. Every week our annotated podcast will do a deep dive into this strange new world, including scene breakdowns, extensive commentary on dialogue, plot, and characters. We will share news about the show, and point out some of the cool differences in Lyra’s world from ours. Plus we’ll have a segment for book readers that discusses similarities and differences from books to show, and speculation on future events. This week’s introduction tells you a bit about us, our backgrounds and experiences in podcasting, and our love of Philip Pullman’s wonderful books that are the basis of the show. We love to hear your thoughts about His Dark Materials, so please send them in! You can email text or audio feedback to alethiometerpodcast@gmail.com or call us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @alethiometerpod. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thealethiometer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Alethiometer</a>. Our homepage also has our show and links to info each week at <a href="http://www.thealethiometer.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thealethiometer.com</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in your favorite podcast app!

BONUS: Welcome to The Alethiometer: A His Dark Materials Podcast

Tovarishchi! After six amazing, incredible, and ultimately beautifully heartbreaking seasons, The Americans is done. There is so much richness in this show, and we want to take one last look at it all. To do so, we have our roundtable friends Kathleen (aka alternakat), Barb, Roland, &amp; Chris to join the fun! We reflect on the series, compare the pilot to the finale, and discuss everything from favorite characters and scenes to best disguises and wigs of all time! Even though The Americans is over, we would still love to hear your thoughts so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please check out our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes! As we move on, there may be more content to share like reviews of a series dvd or blu-ray set, special events, or even interviews to share. And when we find our new venture, we will announce on our social media and in our feed so stay subscribed to Watching the Americans!

Tovarishchi! After six amazing, incredible, and ultimately beautifully heartbreaking seasons, The Americans is done. There is so much richness in this show, and we want to take one last look at it all. To do so, we have our roundtable friends Kathleen (aka alternakat), Barb, Roland, &amp; Chris to join the fun! We reflect on the series, compare the pilot to the finale, and discuss everything from favorite characters and scenes to best disguises and wigs of all time! Even though The Americans is over, we would still love to hear your thoughts so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please check out our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes! As we move on, there may be more content to share like reviews of a series dvd or blu-ray set, special events, or even interviews to share. And when we find our new venture, we will announce on our social media and in our feed so stay subscribed to Watching the Americans!

WTA 130- Series Finale Roundtable!

The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 129 and contains our bonus feedback. Please check out Episode 127 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis, and Episode 128 for history, tech of yesteryear, and part one of feedback! You guys had so much to say that we had to add this bonus feedback episode! And this is it, all feedback, all the time! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 129 and contains our bonus feedback. Please check out Episode 127 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis, and Episode 128 for history, tech of yesteryear, and part one of feedback! You guys had so much to say that we had to add this bonus feedback episode! And this is it, all feedback, all the time! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

WTA 129- START Bonus Feedback

The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 128 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and part one of feedback. Please check out Episode 127 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis, and Episode 129 for bonus feedback! It’s our last time with history and tech for you! The Js don’t disappoint with the music montages beginning with Dire Straits’ ”Brothers in Arms”, and just when we thought that was the fitting last one, here comes the amazing train scene and U2 singing ”With or Without You”! Overcome with emotion, we get off the train with Paige in Rouses Point while Philip and Elizabeth ride the Amtrak to Canada! And our final Wig of the Week? It’s Paige ftw with that short hair! We then have so much feedback we have to split it in two! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 128 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and part one of feedback. Please check out Episode 127 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis, and Episode 129 for bonus feedback! It’s our last time with history and tech for you! The Js don’t disappoint with the music montages beginning with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_in_Arms_(song)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dire Straits’ ”Brothers in Arms”</a>, and just when we thought that was the fitting last one, here comes the amazing train scene and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_or_Without_You" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">U2 singing ”With or Without You”</a>! Overcome with emotion, we get off the train with Paige in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouses_Point,_New_York" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rouses Point </a>while Philip and Elizabeth ride the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amtrak</a> to Canada! And our final Wig of the Week? It’s Paige ftw with that short hair! We then have so much feedback we have to split it in two! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

WTA 128- START Feedback

The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 127 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episodes 128 and 129.  We have so many news items we could share, yet three really stood out. First up is Variety with a compelling oral history of the show. Next is The New Yorker’s recap of the finale that found it elegant, potent, and unforgettable. Finally Vulture breaks down the blistering vulnerability of finale’s garage scene. Then we pick right up from the end of last week. Philip and Elizabeth meet and go to get Paige. Meanwhile, Stan continues following his suspicions about them and ends up confronting the three of them in a garage near Paige’s place. After one of the most tense and wrenching scenes of the series, Stan lets them go. As they leave, Philip tells Stan that Renee may be a fellow Soviet spy. Dennis breaks Father Andrei. Philip and Elizabeth decide to leave Henry in the United States and ask Stan to take care of him. After an awkward farewell call to Henry, the Jennings trio don new disguises to flee to Canada on their way back to the USSR. Just before crossing the border, US Border Patrol agents fail to stop them. Seemingly past the danger, Elizabeth then Philip both see that Paige has left the train and them. With nowhere to go, Paige returns to Claudia’s empty apartment for a shot of vodka. Stan visits Henry and reveals the truth of his family. Philip and Elizabeth fly to Europe and then drive to the Soviet border. Arkady meets them and drives them to Moscow, where they get out and look at the Moscow River at night. Philip tells Elizabeth “feels strange” and she replies in Russian “we’ll get used to it.” Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 127 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episodes 128 and 129. We have so many news items we could share, yet three really stood out. First up is Variety with a compelling <a href="https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/the-americans-keri-russell-matthew-rhys-final-season-fx-1202734453/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">oral history of the show</a>. Next is The New Yorker’s <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-americans-finale-was-elegant-potent-and-unforgettable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recap of the finale that found it elegant, potent, and unforgettable</a>. Finally Vulture breaks down <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2018/05/the-americans-finale-parking-garage-scene.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the blistering vulnerability of finale’s garage scene</a>. Then we pick right up from the end of last week. Philip and Elizabeth meet and go to get Paige. Meanwhile, Stan continues following his suspicions about them and ends up confronting the three of them in a garage near Paige’s place. After one of the most tense and wrenching scenes of the series, Stan lets them go. As they leave, Philip tells Stan that Renee may be a fellow Soviet spy. Dennis breaks Father Andrei. Philip and Elizabeth decide to leave Henry in the United States and ask Stan to take care of him. After an awkward farewell call to Henry, the Jennings trio don new disguises to flee to Canada on their way back to the USSR. Just before crossing the border, US Border Patrol agents fail to stop them. Seemingly past the danger, Elizabeth then Philip both see that Paige has left the train and them. With nowhere to go, Paige returns to Claudia’s empty apartment for a shot of vodka. Stan visits Henry and reveals the truth of his family. Philip and Elizabeth fly to Europe and then drive to the Soviet border. Arkady meets them and drives them to Moscow, where they get out and look at the Moscow River at night. Philip tells Elizabeth “feels strange” and she replies in Russian “we’ll get used to it.” Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 127- Season 6 Episode 10 START

It was a gathering, a party (not communist exactly!), and a little bit of our The Americans community together at the end. The bitter and the sweet mingled as we ground our teeth, yelled out, and shed a few tears as the best show on TV came to its brilliant conclusion. Join us as the folks who could come to Raleigh introduce themselves, tell us their hopes for the show, and react immediately after the conclusion. Then we get back together the next morning and reflect on the episode after we could sleep on it. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

It was a gathering, a party (not communist exactly!), and a little bit of our The Americans community together at the end. The bitter and the sweet mingled as we ground our teeth, yelled out, and shed a few tears as the best show on TV came to its brilliant conclusion. Join us as the folks who could come to Raleigh introduce themselves, tell us their hopes for the show, and react immediately after the conclusion. Then we get back together the next morning and reflect on the episode after we could sleep on it. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 126- The Americans Series Finale Party and Aftermath Discussion!

Kelly AuCoin

What can we say about the awesomeness that is our friend Kelly AuCoin? He got us started as our very first interviewee and then connected us with other with people working on The Americans! So who better to be the last of our series? Kelly shares his thoughts about Pastor Tim’s appearance this week, his place overall in The Americans, and his thoughts about the series as a whole. He also answers your questions and comments, and he talks a bit about the great arc for Dollar Bill on Season 3 of Showtime’s “Billions”! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

What can we say about the awesomeness that is our friend Kelly AuCoin? He got us started as our very first interviewee and then connected us with other with people working on The Americans! So who better to be the last of our series? Kelly shares his thoughts about Pastor Tim’s appearance this week, his place overall in The Americans, and his thoughts about the series as a whole. He also answers your questions and comments, and he talks a bit about the great arc for Dollar Bill on Season 3 of Showtime’s “Billions”! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 125- Kelly AuCoin Interview

Elizabeth Feedback

Could we be any more tense than we were this week? Could we have yelled at the TV any more? Could Philip be The Flash in an alternate universe? Well, The Americans universe is imploding, more characters are dying, and we are freaked out and exhausted by the end of S06E09 “Jennings, Elizabeth”! The penultimate episode of the best show on television aired May 23, 2018, was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 124 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 123 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis.  As we wind down the show, we only have a couple of history and tech items for you.We taste some delicious Ukha with our good friend Claudia. Then we look over Stan’s shoulder as he works the FBI Automated Case Support system and finds another Philip Jennings! Can you believe it’s yet another tie for Wig of the Week? It’s Elizabeth’s big poofy do and Tatiana’s blonde locks (too bad they didn’t stay put for long!) Then you guys get to share all your terrific thoughts with us! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

Could we be any more tense than we were this week? Could we have yelled at the TV any more? Could Philip be The Flash in an alternate universe? Well, The Americans universe is imploding, more characters are dying, and we are freaked out and exhausted by the end of S06E09 “Jennings, Elizabeth”! The penultimate episode of the best show on television aired May 23, 2018, was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 124 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out <a href="http://www.watchingtheamericans.com/wta-123-season-6-episode-9-jennings-elizabeth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 123</a> to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. As we wind down the show, we only have a couple of history and tech items for you.We taste some delicious <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukha" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ukha</a> with our good friend Claudia. Then we look over Stan’s shoulder as he works the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Case_File" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FBI Automated Case Support</a> system and finds another Philip Jennings! Can you believe it’s yet another tie for Wig of the Week? It’s Elizabeth’s big poofy do and Tatiana’s blonde locks (too bad they didn’t stay put for long!) Then you guys get to share all your terrific thoughts with us! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

WTA 124- Jennings, Elizabeth Feedback

Could we be any more tense than we were this week? Could we have yelled at the TV any more? Could Philip be The Flash in an alternate universe? Well, The Americans universe is imploding, more characters are dying, and we are freaked out and exhausted by the end of S06E09 “Jennings, Elizabeth”! The penultimate episode of the best show on television aired May 23, 2018, was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 123 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 124.  Two news items await us! First up The Washington Post asks and answers what does a show about Soviet spies living in America tell us about parenting? Everything. Then we have one poignant farewell retrospective in Vanity Fair: an ode to The Americans’ most unlikely hero, the beloved FBI mailbot! We then begin the episode with the aftermath of “The Summit”, as Elizabeth begins shadowing Nesterenko, while Philip leaves a dead drop for Oleg. Oleg picks it up, but he is in turn picked up by the FBI and interrogated by Stan. Oleg asks Stan to help save Gorbachev, and Stan seems unmoved. Meanwhile, Stan’s spidey-sense leads him to tell Dennis about his suspicions and to dig deep to find out if his hunch about the Jennings being illegals is correct. He even contacts Pastor Tim, who reveals nothing. Elizabeth eventually saves Nesterenko from assassination…by Tatiana! She confronts Claudia and reveals that she is team Gorby, devastating the old operative. Then Paige confronts Elizabeth about her encounter with a drunken Jackson who ranted about the recent honeypot. She leaves the house, bitter and enraged by her mother’s lies. Philip meets with Father Andrei, who is reveals his rival Father Victor is meeting with the FBI. Philip runs from the watching FBI and in a coded message tells Elizabeth to flee!

Could we be any more tense than we were this week? Could we have yelled at the TV any more? Could Philip be The Flash in an alternate universe? Well, The Americans universe is imploding, more characters are dying, and we are freaked out and exhausted by the end of S06E09 “Jennings, Elizabeth”! The penultimate episode of the best show on television aired May 23, 2018, was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 123 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 124. Two news items await us! First up The Washington Post asks and answers <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2018/05/22/what-does-a-show-about-soviet-spies-living-in-america-tell-us-about-parenting-everything/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">what does a show about Soviet spies living in America tell us about parenting? Everything.</a> Then we have one poignant farewell retrospective in Vanity Fair: <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/the-americans-mail-robot-series-finale-joe-weisberg-joel-fields-cia-fbi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">an ode to The Americans’ most unlikely hero, the beloved FBI mailbot</a>! We then begin the episode with the aftermath of “The Summit”, as Elizabeth begins shadowing Nesterenko, while Philip leaves a dead drop for Oleg. Oleg picks it up, but he is in turn picked up by the FBI and interrogated by Stan. Oleg asks Stan to help save Gorbachev, and Stan seems unmoved. Meanwhile, Stan’s spidey-sense leads him to tell Dennis about his suspicions and to dig deep to find out if his hunch about the Jennings being illegals is correct. He even contacts Pastor Tim, who reveals nothing. Elizabeth eventually saves Nesterenko from assassination…by Tatiana! She confronts Claudia and reveals that she is team Gorby, devastating the old operative. Then Paige confronts Elizabeth about her encounter with a drunken Jackson who ranted about the recent honeypot. She leaves the house, bitter and enraged by her mother’s lies. Philip meets with Father Andrei, who is reveals his rival Father Victor is meeting with the FBI. Philip runs from the watching FBI and in a coded message tells Elizabeth to flee!

WTA 123- Season 6 Episode 9 Jennings, Elizabeth

Watching The Americans is a fan podcast dedicated to the FX show, The Americans.  Send us in your thoughts about each episode by calling 919-907-0542 or emailing watchingtheamericans@gmail.com

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Watching the Americans

At last we have new episodes of The Americans! Season 5 has begun and what a terrific debut! Hear all about it as we dive into Season 1 Episode 1 “Amber Waves” that aired March 7, 2017. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 73 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 74. Now that Russia has become such a big deal in the news in the real world, what better time to examine how things have evolved? Slate shows us Spies Then vs. Spies Now and How the Evolution of Technology Changed Espionage. Then The J’s talk with NPR On Writing the Cold War-Era Drama Amid New Russian Relations! We begin the episode with some high schoolers who are not Americans, Tuan and Pasha. We learn that Tuan is a Vietnamese spy working with Philip and Elizabeth’s newest cover, as airline pilot and stewardess the Eckerts. Through Tuan they meet with Morozovs, defectors from Russia who are connected to the Agriculture Ministry. Oleg returns to Moscow and begins his new job with an investigative branch of the KGB that will be looking into corruption in agriculture. Stan and Philip talk girls, while Elizabeth teaches Paige rudimentary self-defense. Henry was exposed to radiation that made him a monster. Gabe and Claudia take a moment. Gabe give Philip and Elizabeth one last encounter with poor William – exhumation for the Lassa virus in his body. In an extraordinary sequence, Philip and Elizabeth and goons including poor Hans sneak into Fort Detrick and silently dig up the body. Hans falls into the hole, cuts his hand where William cut his own, and is exposed to the virus. He says he’s fine. Elizabeth shoots him! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. 

At last we have new episodes of The Americans! Season 5 has begun and what a terrific debut! Hear all about it as we dive into Season 1 Episode 1 “Amber Waves” that aired March 7, 2017. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 73 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 74. Now that Russia has become such a big deal in the news in the real world, what better time to examine how things have evolved? Slate shows us <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/americanss5/2017/02/the_americans.html?utm_source=liftfacebook&amp;utm_campaign=fxamericans&amp;utm_medium=desktop&amp;utm_content=nl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spies Then vs. Spies Now and How the Evolution of Technology Changed Espionage</a>. Then The J’s talk with NPR <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/02/25/517262429/the-americans-showrunners-talk-writing-cold-war-era-drama-amid-new-u-s-russian-r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On Writing the Cold War-Era Drama Amid New Russian Relations</a>! We begin the episode with some high schoolers who are not Americans, Tuan and Pasha. We learn that Tuan is a Vietnamese spy working with Philip and Elizabeth’s newest cover, as airline pilot and stewardess the Eckerts. Through Tuan they meet with Morozovs, defectors from Russia who are connected to the Agriculture Ministry. Oleg returns to Moscow and begins his new job with an investigative branch of the KGB that will be looking into corruption in agriculture. Stan and Philip talk girls, while Elizabeth teaches Paige rudimentary self-defense. Henry was exposed to radiation that made him a monster. Gabe and Claudia take a moment. Gabe give Philip and Elizabeth one last encounter with poor William – exhumation for the Lassa virus in his body. In an extraordinary sequence, Philip and Elizabeth and goons including poor Hans sneak into Fort Detrick and silently dig up the body. Hans falls into the hole, cuts his hand where William cut his own, and is exposed to the virus. He says he’s fine. Elizabeth shoots him! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans.

WTA 73- Season 5 Episode 1 Amber Waves

As this has been the best season yet of the Best Show on TelevisionTM we expected more of the finale than ever before! Did it deliver the goods? You will find out our thoughts on The Americans thrilling Season 4 Episode 13 “Persona Non Grata” that aired June 8, 2016. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 64 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 65. Pravda is reporting the following… What’s Alan Watching? Well, it’s ‘The Americans’ bosses stating ‘We hope they’ll still trust us two years from now’! Then NPR tells us how ‘The Americans’ solved the eternal TV problem of the surly teen, and we have two from The New York Times: the Season 4 finale and what lies ahead plus a chat with Dylan Baker on the finale and his character’s monologue, and we set you up for the long cold wait ahead of us with Vulture’s fan fic that takes us inside the mind of Henry Jennings! As season finales go, this was a real slow burn of The Americans! William prepares to make a drop of the lassa virus and goes to meet Philip in the park. Stan, Dennis, and a swarm of FBI are waiting, follow him, and move to take him before the drop. Cornered, William breaks the vial and exposes himself to the deadly pathogen. He is taken to a containment facility at the USAMRIID and left in isolation to die. Stan and Dennis sit outside, asking him questions as they watch his demise. In a delirium, William reveals a few details about Philip and Elizabeth without naming them. Since William has been taken by the US, Gabriel tells Philip and Elizabeth they should pack, get the kids and prepare to return to the Motherland as heroes. Meanwhile, in Moscow Mischa, Philip’s son with Irina, has been detained for speaking out against the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. He is told if he remains quiet, he may leave. He does so and goes to his grandfather’s apartment where he finds his mother left him money and falsified passports and instructions to find his father, a travel agent in America. Arkady meets with Agent Wolfe and the assistant Attorney General and is told they know about his activities, accuse him of murdering Agent Gaad, and inform him he has been designated persona non grata and 48 hours to leave the country. Tatiana tells Oleg she will be staying with the rezidentura now that Arkady is leaving, and Oleg reveals he is returning to Moscow. Pastor Tim and Alice have their baby. Paige and Mattew watch the Super Bowl together, and Paige initiates a make-out session but they are interrupted by a returning Stan. Philip and Elizabeth return home unsure as to their next move. Philip goes over to get Paige, gets some good-natured ribbing by Stan about wedding plans for their kids, and as he walks her home forbids her from continuing with Matthew! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

As this has been the best season yet of the Best Show on TelevisionTM we expected more of the finale than ever before! Did it deliver the goods? You will find out our thoughts on The Americans thrilling Season 4 Episode 13 “Persona Non Grata” that aired June 8, 2016. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 64 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 65. Pravda is reporting the following… What’s Alan Watching? Well, it’s <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/americans-bosses-on-endgame-we-hope-theyll-still-trust-us-two-years-from-now" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">‘The Americans’ bosses stating ‘We hope they’ll still trust us two years from now’</a>! Then NPR tells us <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/06/09/481375494/how-the-americans-solved-the-eternal-tv-problem-of-the-surly-teen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">how ‘The Americans’ solved the eternal TV problem of the surly teen</a>, and we have two from The New York Times: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/08/arts/television/the-americans-season-4-finale-recap.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Season 4 finale and what lies ahead</a> plus <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/09/arts/television/dylan-baker-on-the-americans-finale.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a chat with Dylan Baker on the finale and his character’s monologue</a>, and we set you up for the long cold wait ahead of us with Vulture’s fan fic that takes us <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2016/06/the-americans-henry-jennings-fan-fiction.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">inside the mind of Henry Jennings</a>! As season finales go, this was a real slow burn of The Americans! William prepares to make a drop of the lassa virus and goes to meet Philip in the park. Stan, Dennis, and a swarm of FBI are waiting, follow him, and move to take him before the drop. Cornered, William breaks the vial and exposes himself to the deadly pathogen. He is taken to a containment facility at the USAMRIID and left in isolation to die. Stan and Dennis sit outside, asking him questions as they watch his demise. In a delirium, William reveals a few details about Philip and Elizabeth without naming them. Since William has been taken by the US, Gabriel tells Philip and Elizabeth they should pack, get the kids and prepare to return to the Motherland as heroes. Meanwhile, in Moscow Mischa, Philip’s son with Irina, has been detained for speaking out against the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. He is told if he remains quiet, he may leave. He does so and goes to his grandfather’s apartment where he finds his mother left him money and falsified passports and instructions to find his father, a travel agent in America. Arkady meets with Agent Wolfe and the assistant Attorney General and is told they know about his activities, accuse him of murdering Agent Gaad, and inform him he has been designated persona non grata and 48 hours to leave the country. Tatiana tells Oleg she will be staying with the rezidentura now that Arkady is leaving, and Oleg reveals he is returning to Moscow. Pastor Tim and Alice have their baby. Paige and Mattew watch the Super Bowl together, and Paige initiates a make-out session but they are interrupted by a returning Stan. Philip and Elizabeth return home unsure as to their next move. Philip goes over to get Paige, gets some good-natured ribbing by Stan about wedding plans for their kids, and as he walks her home forbids her from continuing with Matthew! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 64- Season 4 Episode 13 Persona Non Grata

The Americans is back for Season 3! We begin with an astounding debut, “EST Men,” written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date for the episode was January 28, 2015. The news connects with the show yet again! We have a story from the New York Times detailing three Russian secret agents recently uncovered by the government. We also have great news about ratings for the season opener! In our episode discussion, we see Elizabeth with a disgruntled CIA agent who gives her a list of CIA and FBI operatives helping the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. She is trailed by agent Gaad and loses the information during a fight. At the rezidentura, the Soviets watch a video of one of their soldiers being executed. Stan goes with Phillip to an EST meeting to try to save his marriage. He thinks it is stupid and tells Sandra so to bad effect. Phillip and Elizabeth visit their old handler Gabriel who wants to get them to bring Paige into the fold. Elizabeth tells him it’s moving along and enrages Phillip. Phillip contacts Annalise who has fallen in love with Yousaf from the Pakistani ISI. Annalise and Yousaf have a romantic encounter with a shocking outcome. In the history segment, we discuss South African Apartheid, the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan, Hershey’s Kisses, Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev, the TV show The Jeffersons, and the Kama Sutra. In our technology of yesteryear we look at the payphone, video rental shops, the adding machine, and carousel slide projectors. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

The Americans is back for Season 3! We begin with an astounding debut, “EST Men,” written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date for the episode was January 28, 2015. The news connects with the show yet again! We have a story from the New York Times detailing <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/nyregion/3-charged-with-working-as-agents-for-russia-in-new-york.html?_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">three Russian secret agents recently uncovered by the government</a>. We also have <a href="http://deadline.com/2015/01/the-americans-ratings-season-three-premiere-keri-russel-fx-1201362552/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">great news about ratings</a> for the season opener! In our episode discussion, we see Elizabeth with a disgruntled CIA agent who gives her a list of CIA and FBI operatives helping the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. She is trailed by agent Gaad and loses the information during a fight. At the rezidentura, the Soviets watch a video of one of their soldiers being executed. Stan goes with Phillip to an EST meeting to try to save his marriage. He thinks it is stupid and tells Sandra so to bad effect. Phillip and Elizabeth visit their old handler Gabriel who wants to get them to bring Paige into the fold. Elizabeth tells him it’s moving along and enrages Phillip. Phillip contacts Annalise who has fallen in love with Yousaf from the Pakistani ISI. Annalise and Yousaf have a romantic encounter with a shocking outcome. In the history segment, we discuss <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">South African Apartheid</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mujahideen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mujahedeen in Afghanistan</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hershey%27s_Kisses" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hershey’s Kisses</a>, Soviet Leader <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Brezhnev" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leonid Brezhnev</a>, the TV show <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jeffersons" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Jeffersons</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama_Sutra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Kama Sutra</a>. In our technology of yesteryear we look at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payphone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the payphone,</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_rental_shop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">video rental shops</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adding_machine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the adding machine</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel_slide_projector" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">carousel slide projectors</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 19-Season 3 Episode 1 EST Men

Abassin Zadran

Poor Martha and Paige! It’s their time to shine in The Americans’ Season 3 Episode 12 “I Am Abassin Zadran” written by Peter Ackerman &amp; Stuart Zicherman and directed by Christopher Misiano. The original air date was April 15, 2015. Paige continues to angrily question her parents about her history and place in the world. She escapes by going to Pastor Tim and Alice’s house, and Philip and Elizabeth take her back home. Stan makes an unexpected visit to Martha. He later confronts Aderholt about his insinuations and accusations. Lisa’s husband Maurice inserts himself into her undercover work for Michelle. Oleg and Tatiana attempt to persuade Arkady to continue Operation Zephyr in the FBI using the Mailbot. Philip and Elizabeth meet Mujahideen leader Abassin Zadran and goad him into attacking his fellow leaders. Claudia returns and Gabriel meets with her to discuss the Jennings. Martha is picked up by Hans who takes her to meet Clark. She shares her panic with Clark who tries to reassure and calm her. Martha continues to unravel, calls home, and prepares to go there. Clark arrives and stops her by revealing more of himself by removing his toupee. He is not bald! Two fun news items await us! First is a great interview with fan favorite Margo Martindale who gets candid in the Hollywood Reporter about her role as Claudia and what may be in store next season. Then we take a look at the latest and greatest review from Alan Sepinwall from Hitfix and his What’s Alan Watching review of this episode. Alan writes some of the best stuff out there so do check it out! Lots of history and one bit of tech are here this week! We start by saying farewell to Hawkeye and the gang on the last episode of M*A*S*H called “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”, then take a break to read about feudal Japan in Shōgun while we nosh on a delicious Kolach. Next we journey with Gabriel to Sergach and catch a showing of the great dark film King of Comedy. Finally, we wind down and we mean down with Ultravox’s “Vienna”, played of course on our vintage clock radio. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Poor Martha and Paige! It’s their time to shine in The Americans’ Season 3 Episode 12 “I Am Abassin Zadran” written by Peter Ackerman &amp; Stuart Zicherman and directed by Christopher Misiano. The original air date was April 15, 2015. Paige continues to angrily question her parents about her history and place in the world. She escapes by going to Pastor Tim and Alice’s house, and Philip and Elizabeth take her back home. Stan makes an unexpected visit to Martha. He later confronts Aderholt about his insinuations and accusations. Lisa’s husband Maurice inserts himself into her undercover work for Michelle. Oleg and Tatiana attempt to persuade Arkady to continue Operation Zephyr in the FBI using the Mailbot. Philip and Elizabeth meet Mujahideen leader Abassin Zadran and goad him into attacking his fellow leaders. Claudia returns and Gabriel meets with her to discuss the Jennings. Martha is picked up by Hans who takes her to meet Clark. She shares her panic with Clark who tries to reassure and calm her. Martha continues to unravel, calls home, and prepares to go there. Clark arrives and stops her by revealing more of himself by removing his toupee. He is not bald! Two fun news items await us! First is a great interview with fan favorite Margo Martindale who <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/margo-martindale-americans-return-789017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gets candid in the Hollywood Reporter</a> about her role as Claudia and what may be in store next season. Then we take a look at the latest and greatest review from Alan Sepinwall from Hitfix and his <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/review-the-americans-i-am-abassin-zadran-philips-wigs-dont-come-off" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What’s Alan Watching review of this episode</a>. Alan writes some of the best stuff out there so do check it out! Lots of history and one bit of tech are here this week! We start by saying farewell to Hawkeye and the gang on the last episode of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodbye,_Farewell_and_Amen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">M*A*S*H called “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”</a>, then take a break to read about feudal Japan in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shōgun_(novel)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shōgun</a> while we nosh on a delicious <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolach" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kolach</a>. Next we journey with Gabriel to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergach" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sergach</a> and catch a showing of the great dark film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Comedy_(1983_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">King of Comedy</a>. Finally, we wind down and we mean down with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_(Ultravox_song)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultravox’s “Vienna”</a>, played of course on our vintage <a href="http://blog.onlineclock.net/clock-radio-history/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clock radio</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 32-Season 3 Episode 12 I Am Abassin Zadran

Gabe leaving? Mischa gone? Stan and Dennis with a win? Detective Oleg? Paige and Marx and…Gabe? Minds are blown all across America with The Americans Season 5 Episode 6 entitled “Crossbreed”! It aired April 11, 2017, was written by Stephen Schiff, and was directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 83 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 84. Interviews and lists top the news this week! First up Screener TV believes that Paige is going to be a great spy and they can prove it. Then The Observer talks with Noah Emmerich on Russia, rain and directing his co-stars, and we close up with Uproxx’s cool Anxiety report examining doing Tai Chi with doofuses! We then get right into this week’s fun! Gabriel and Elizabeth discuss the findings in Topeka – the Centre wants that wheat! Elizabeth has more intimate time with Ben and learns Tai Chi is fun after all the sex. Mischa has a quick sad trip on Aeroflot home. Claudia and Gabriel chat, and we learn Mischa will get his old job back. Gabe later goes to the Lincoln Memorial and thinks. Oleg and Ruslan interrogate the food procurer from last week, and he tells them they don’t know who they are dealing with. Henry and Stan share a meal and some talk about girls. Stan and Dennis may finally have success with recruiting a Soviet spy. Elizabeth in disguise sees a shrink and we aren’t sure why. A Mary Kay lady comes to the house and Elizabeth brushes her off in front of Paige. Elizabeth later goes to Young Hee’s house and sees another family living there. Gabe announces to Philip and Elizabeth he is going home for good. He later tells Philip that Philip’s father wasn’t a logger, but a prison guard. Elizabeth see Paige reading Marx, and Paige says she agrees with a lot of what he said. As Peter Gabriel’s “Lay Your Hands on Me” plays, we see Oleg burn the CIA map and blackmail tape, and Philip, Elizabeth, and Paige go to an apartment building to meet…Gabe! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Gabe leaving? Mischa gone? Stan and Dennis with a win? Detective Oleg? Paige and Marx and…Gabe? Minds are blown all across America with The Americans Season 5 Episode 6 entitled “Crossbreed”! It aired April 11, 2017, was written by Stephen Schiff, and was directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 83 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 84. Interviews and lists top the news this week! First up Screener TV believes that <a href="http://screenertv.com/television/paige-is-going-to-be-a-great-spy-on-the-americans-we-can-prove-it/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paige is going to be a great spy and they can prove it</a>. Then The Observer talks with <a href="http://observer.com/2017/04/noah-emmerich-interview-the-americans-russia-spies/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Noah Emmerich on Russia, rain and directing his co-stars</a>, and we close up with Uproxx’s cool <a href="http://uproxx.com/tv/americans-anxiety-report-tai-chi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anxiety report examining doing Tai Chi with doofuses</a>! We then get right into this week’s fun! Gabriel and Elizabeth discuss the findings in Topeka – the Centre wants that wheat! Elizabeth has more intimate time with Ben and learns Tai Chi is fun after all the sex. Mischa has a quick sad trip on Aeroflot home. Claudia and Gabriel chat, and we learn Mischa will get his old job back. Gabe later goes to the Lincoln Memorial and thinks. Oleg and Ruslan interrogate the food procurer from last week, and he tells them they don’t know who they are dealing with. Henry and Stan share a meal and some talk about girls. Stan and Dennis may finally have success with recruiting a Soviet spy. Elizabeth in disguise sees a shrink and we aren’t sure why. A Mary Kay lady comes to the house and Elizabeth brushes her off in front of Paige. Elizabeth later goes to Young Hee’s house and sees another family living there. Gabe announces to Philip and Elizabeth he is going home for good. He later tells Philip that Philip’s father wasn’t a logger, but a prison guard. Elizabeth see Paige reading Marx, and Paige says she agrees with a lot of what he said. As Peter Gabriel’s “Lay Your Hands on Me” plays, we see Oleg burn the CIA map and blackmail tape, and Philip, Elizabeth, and Paige go to an apartment building to meet…Gabe! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 83- Season 5 Episode 6 Crossbreed

Well, we totally didn’t see much of this coming on The Americans this week! From Alice’s rage to poor Agent Gaad, we were absolutely flabbergasted! It’s Season 4 Episode 10, and it aired May 18, 2016. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Steph Green. This is Episode 56 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 57. Newstime courtesy of Vremya this week! We begin with The New York Times’ interview with Richard Thomas on Agent Gaad’s Fate, John-Boy and Jimmy Carter, followed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 5 reasons to give ‘The Americans’ a try. Next up is Inverse with Philip and Elizabeth’s Most Brutal Moments on ‘The Americans’, then we wind up with Deadline’s chat with Frank Langella on Broadway’s ‘The Father’, ‘The Americans’ &amp; HBO’s ‘All The Way’. Then it’s time to say goodbye to yet another main character, Agent Gaad, as more shock and death await us this week! Tensions build between Young Hee and Don as he is overwhelmed with guilt after Patty’s honeypot trap. Pastor Tim disappears while on a relief mission in Ethiopia. His wife Alice confronts Philip and Elizabeth demanding their help and threatening to expose them if they don’t find and safely return PT. Paige once more confronts her parents about their mission and futures. She seeks solace from Alice, who tries to give it but is overcome and Paige must console her instead. Stan and Dennis meet the new boss, definitely not the same as the old boss! They must mind their margins. They later meet with Martha’s father and they assure him they are still looking for her. Oleg and Tatiana have a candid discussion about why she is in the US. In Thailand, retired Agent Gaad is approached by Russian thugs and he is mortally wounded trying to flee them. Arkady learns the news and is devastated. Paige later talks with Matthew who takes her to the church where she learns that Pastor Tim is safe and will return soon. Gabriel presses Elizabeth about getting access codes from Don for William, and he asks her if she would like him to see if the centre has another way in. She pauses for a long moment, and says “yes”! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Well, we totally didn’t see much of this coming on The Americans this week! From Alice’s rage to poor Agent Gaad, we were absolutely flabbergasted! It’s Season 4 Episode 10, and it aired May 18, 2016. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Steph Green. This is Episode 56 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 57. Newstime courtesy of Vremya this week! We begin with The New York Times’ <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/arts/television/richard-thomas-of-the-americans-on-agent-gaads-fate-john-boy-and-jimmy-carter.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">interview with Richard Thomas on Agent Gaad’s Fate, John-Boy and Jimmy Carter</a>, followed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s <a href="http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2016/05/18/5-reasons-to-give-fxs-the-americans-a-chance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5 reasons to give ‘The Americans’ a try</a>. Next up is Inverse with <a href="https://www.inverse.com/article/15967-ranking-philip-and-elizabeth-s-most-brutal-moments-on-the-americans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philip and Elizabeth’s Most Brutal Moments on ‘The Americans’</a>, then we wind up with Deadline’s <a href="http://deadline.com/2016/05/frank-langella-the-father-the-americans-all-the-way-deadline-q-and-a-1201758933/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chat with Frank Langella on Broadway’s ‘The Father’, ‘The Americans’ &amp; HBO’s ‘All The Way’</a>. Then it’s time to say goodbye to yet another main character, Agent Gaad, as more shock and death await us this week! Tensions build between Young Hee and Don as he is overwhelmed with guilt after Patty’s honeypot trap. Pastor Tim disappears while on a relief mission in Ethiopia. His wife Alice confronts Philip and Elizabeth demanding their help and threatening to expose them if they don’t find and safely return PT. Paige once more confronts her parents about their mission and futures. She seeks solace from Alice, who tries to give it but is overcome and Paige must console her instead. Stan and Dennis meet the new boss, definitely not the same as the old boss! They must mind their margins. They later meet with Martha’s father and they assure him they are still looking for her. Oleg and Tatiana have a candid discussion about why she is in the US. In Thailand, retired Agent Gaad is approached by Russian thugs and he is mortally wounded trying to flee them. Arkady learns the news and is devastated. Paige later talks with Matthew who takes her to the church where she learns that Pastor Tim is safe and will return soon. Gabriel presses Elizabeth about getting access codes from Don for William, and he asks her if she would like him to see if the centre has another way in. She pauses for a long moment, and says “yes”! Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 56- Season 4 Episode 10 Munchkins

Who knew that spreadsheets and lovemaking go together so great? Philip sure does now after Season 5 Episode 5 of The Americans entitled “Lotus 1-2-3”! It aired April 4, 2017, was written by Joshua Brand, and directed by Noah Emmerich. This is Episode 81 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 82. There was so much news we had to cull it this week! First up is Vulture admiring the activism of Elizabeth and Paige, followed by Thrillist asking that although The Americans revealed Martha’s fate, what’s next for her? Then we have The Detroit News showcasing a cool interview with Holly Taylor, and we close with a funny piece in The New Yorker (via @fam4fun and Nancy!) showing us some of the ways TV critics have tried to get someone to watch The Americans! It’s then time to dive right into the episode! It turns out Henry is a math whiz, and Philip and Elizabeth are clueless. They later show Henry the level of their cluelessness and make him unhappy. Oleg and Ruslan try to exploit the target of their investigation. Oleg is later treated to a surprise episode of the dating game by his parents, and wants none of it. He later goes to meet the CIA contact at the designated time, but the CIA is a no-show. Stan and Dennis show their displeasure about the busywork Wolfe has given them. Stan gets closer to Renee and spends time with her. Philip suspects Renee is a Soviet agent and begins tailing her. Paige and Matthew are having issues! Mischa tries to contact Philip, but Gabriel intervenes and prevents him from doing so. Philip as Gus has a date with target Deirdre, and he is able to honeypot her and learns the magic of spreadsheets. Elizabeth spends more time with her target Ben, and she too is intimate with him. She discovers that they have been wrong about their mission, in that the Americans are trying to help the world’s food production, not harm the USSR. Philip feels horrible about the murder in the lab. Elizabeth offers to take things on herself, and he insists “it’s us.” Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Who knew that spreadsheets and lovemaking go together so great? Philip sure does now after Season 5 Episode 5 of The Americans entitled “Lotus 1-2-3”! It aired April 4, 2017, was written by Joshua Brand, and directed by Noah Emmerich. This is Episode 81 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 82. There was so much news we had to cull it this week! First up is Vulture admiring <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2017/04/the-americans-activism-of-elizabeth-and-paige.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the activism of Elizabeth and Paige</a>, followed by Thrillist asking that although <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/martha-on-the-americans-fx-season-5-episode-3-spoilers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Americans revealed Martha’s fate, what’s next for her?</a> Then we have The Detroit News showcasing <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/television/2017/03/27/holly-taylor-shines-teen-daughter-fx-drama-americans/99707780/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a cool interview with Holly Taylor</a>, and we close with a funny piece in The New Yorker (via @fam4fun and Nancy!) showing us <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/some-of-the-ways-tv-critics-have-tried-to-get-me-to-watch-the-americans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">some of the ways TV critics have tried to get someone to watch The Americans</a>! It’s then time to dive right into the episode! It turns out Henry is a math whiz, and Philip and Elizabeth are clueless. They later show Henry the level of their cluelessness and make him unhappy. Oleg and Ruslan try to exploit the target of their investigation. Oleg is later treated to a surprise episode of the dating game by his parents, and wants none of it. He later goes to meet the CIA contact at the designated time, but the CIA is a no-show. Stan and Dennis show their displeasure about the busywork Wolfe has given them. Stan gets closer to Renee and spends time with her. Philip suspects Renee is a Soviet agent and begins tailing her. Paige and Matthew are having issues! Mischa tries to contact Philip, but Gabriel intervenes and prevents him from doing so. Philip as Gus has a date with target Deirdre, and he is able to honeypot her and learns the magic of spreadsheets. Elizabeth spends more time with her target Ben, and she too is intimate with him. She discovers that they have been wrong about their mission, in that the Americans are trying to help the world’s food production, not harm the USSR. Philip feels horrible about the murder in the lab. Elizabeth offers to take things on herself, and he insists “it’s us.” Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 81- Season 5 Episode 5 Lotus 1-2-3

Walter Taffet

Action returns and joins incredible character moments in a brilliantly directed episode of the latest episode of The Americans entitled ”Walter Taffet”. It was written by Lara Shapiro and directed by Noah Emmerich. The original air date for the episode was March 11, 2015. The action really ramps up this week! We begin with Philip listening to a shortwave radio broadcast about the situation in Afghanistan. He sees Elizabeth making notes about Paige for a report to the KGB and confronts her about it. He is more alone than he has ever been, ending up sharing bad pizza and bad beer at Stan’s house. Stan sees Sandra who asks him for a divorce, and he later has the chance to share some of his undercover past with his son Matthew. Adderholt questions Stan about Nina, and later in Gaad’s office Adderholt discovers the bug Martha planted in a pen. Walter Taffet arrives to investigate the source of the bug. Martha begins to unravel, trying to destroy the transmitter. She asks Clark to see his apartment and he takes her to it. Moscow sends a member of the African National Congress to aid in the kidnapping of the South Africans that Hans discovered. In a rare moment of openness, Elizabeth apologizes to Philip about Paige and he then reveals that he has a son in Afghanistan. Elizabeth and Philip orchestrate the taking of the South African agent and his college student source to the sounds of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” We found some interesting articles for you to check out. First was an interview with showrunners Weisberg &amp; Fields in Variety, followed by more good news in the ratings front via Headline Planet, and then a fascinating everything old is new again piece in The New York Times revealing that Putin has vanished, but rumors are popping up everywhere. Great stuff awaits you in history, beginning with Paige reading the history book From Reconstruction to the Present Day by the iconic modern historian Richard Hofstadter. Next up we meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, learn who shot JR, revel in the brilliant song The Chain by Fleetwood Mac , and eat some Campbell’s Chunky Soup. In tech of yesteryear we fire up our old Shortwave Radio, revisit the year 1982 in computers and try to avoid detection sweepers. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Action returns and joins incredible character moments in a brilliantly directed episode of the latest episode of The Americans entitled ”Walter Taffet”. It was written by Lara Shapiro and directed by Noah Emmerich. The original air date for the episode was March 11, 2015. The action really ramps up this week! We begin with Philip listening to a shortwave radio broadcast about the situation in Afghanistan. He sees Elizabeth making notes about Paige for a report to the KGB and confronts her about it. He is more alone than he has ever been, ending up sharing bad pizza and bad beer at Stan’s house. Stan sees Sandra who asks him for a divorce, and he later has the chance to share some of his undercover past with his son Matthew. Adderholt questions Stan about Nina, and later in Gaad’s office Adderholt discovers the bug Martha planted in a pen. Walter Taffet arrives to investigate the source of the bug. Martha begins to unravel, trying to destroy the transmitter. She asks Clark to see his apartment and he takes her to it. Moscow sends a member of the African National Congress to aid in the kidnapping of the South Africans that Hans discovered. In a rare moment of openness, Elizabeth apologizes to Philip about Paige and he then reveals that he has a son in Afghanistan. Elizabeth and Philip orchestrate the taking of the South African agent and his college student source to the sounds of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” We found some interesting articles for you to check out. First was an <a href="http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-americans-joe-weisberg-joel-fields-1201446540/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">interview with showrunners Weisberg &amp; Fields in Variety</a>, followed by more good news in the ratings front via <a href="http://headlineplanet.com/home/2015/03/12/ratings-fxs-the-americans-rises-in-demo-viewership-this-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Headline Planet</a>, and then a fascinating everything old is new again piece in The New York Times revealing that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/world/europe/russia-putin-seen-in-public.html?src=se&amp;_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Putin has vanished, but rumors are popping up everywhere</a>. Great stuff awaits you in history, beginning with Paige reading the history book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Issues-American-History-Vol/dp/0394708423" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From Reconstruction to the Present Day</a> by the iconic modern historian <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d7/Richard_Hofstadter.jpg/220px-Richard_Hofstadter.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Richard Hofstadter</a>. Next up we meet with Japanese Prime Minister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuhiro_Nakasone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yasuhiro Nakasone</a>, learn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_shot_J.R.%3F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">who shot JR</a>, revel in the brilliant song <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chain" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Chain by Fleetwood Mac </a>, and eat some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_Soup_Company" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Campbell’s Chunky Soup</a>. In tech of yesteryear we fire up our old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_radio" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shortwave Radio</a>, revisit the year <a href="http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/?year=1982" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1982 in computers</a> and try to avoid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_surveillance_counter-measures" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">detection sweepers</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 25-Season 3 Episode 7 Walter Taffet

Well, that was an AMAZING season of TV, wasn’t it? The Americans just gets better and richer each year, and Season 4 ranks as one of the best of any TV show in recent memory! It was so good we had to break it down with the big events and our thoughts on the characters and their story arcs. It was so big we had to ask our friend Kathleen aka alternakat to join the fun! And we do have one exciting bit of news via The Hollywood Reporter: the Television Critics Association has nominated The Americans for three awards, including best actor Keri Russell, Best Drama, and Best Program! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Well, that was an AMAZING season of TV, wasn’t it? The Americans just gets better and richer each year, and Season 4 ranks as one of the best of any TV show in recent memory! It was so good we had to break it down with the big events and our thoughts on the characters and their story arcs. It was so big we had to ask our friend Kathleen aka alternakat to join the fun! And we do have one exciting bit of news via The Hollywood Reporter: the Television Critics Association <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2016-tca-awards-nominations-905308" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">has nominated The Americans for three awards</a>, including best actor Keri Russell, Best Drama, and Best Program! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 66- The Americans Season 4 Review

Adventures in dentistry await you in this week’s all-new The Americans entitled ”Open House”. It was written by Stuart Zicherman and directed by Thomas Schlamme. The original air date for the episode was February 11, 2015. After the ratings news bummer last time, there is reason to feel better via Deadline with the DVR numbers added in for last week’s show. We also get the ratings from this week from Headlineplanet. There are a couple of neat stories, one from Hitfix with a Keri Russell interview, another interview via Vulture with director Thomas Sclamme and the story behind The Americans’ excruciating, beautifully shot tooth-pulling scene, and we wind up with both TVLine eyeing the return of Claudia and the Dallas Morning News teasing Margo Martindale is returning to The Americans. Tonight’s episode starts with Philip at Gabriel’s apartment, playing a game of Scrabble. They discuss Paige’s future, with Philip arguing for her to choose her own path and Gabriel assuring that she will. Gabriel warns Philip about their recently selected CIA target Ted Paaswell being someone under observation and to be careful. Elizabeth and Philip remain very distant with one another while having another discussion about Paige. They later spy on Paaswell and plant a bug on an early cell phone he has. They follow him to listen to his conversations, and Elizabeth realizes they are being followed by the CIA. Philip escapes and gets Elizabeth help. After a harrowing chase, she returns home in severe pain and Philip takes action to relieve it. He revisits Gabriel who warns him off Paaswell for now, but Philip and Elizabeth tail him again and make a startling discovery. In our history segment, we learn econ with Sir John Richard Hicks and Evgeny Evgenievich Slutsky, see the cover of Time Magazine from November 22, 1982, get more econ via the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and try to unwind with a friendly game of Scrabble. In our technology of yesteryear we make a call with a Bag Phone and watch an old-timey TV Sign Off. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

Adventures in dentistry await you in this week’s all-new The Americans entitled ”Open House”. It was written by Stuart Zicherman and directed by Thomas Schlamme. The original air date for the episode was February 11, 2015. After the ratings news bummer last time, there is reason to feel better via Deadline with <a href="http://deadline.com/2013/02/tv-ratings-fx-the-americans-dvr-justified-keri-russell-428697/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the DVR numbers added in for last week’s show</a>. We also get <a href="http://headlineplanet.com/home/2015/02/12/ratings-americans-falls-adults-18-49-gains-viewership/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the ratings from this week</a> from Headlineplanet. There are a couple of neat stories, one from Hitfix with a <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/the-americans-star-keri-russell-this-whole-seasons-a-little-hard-for-me/single-page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keri Russell interview</a>, another interview via Vulture <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2015/02/americans-excruciating-tooth-pulling-scene.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">with director Thomas Sclamme and the story behind The Americans’ excruciating, beautifully shot tooth-pulling scene</a>, and we wind up with both TVLine eyeing <a href="http://tvline.com/2015/02/11/the-americans-season-3-margo-martindale-returns-claudia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the return of Claudia</a> and the Dallas Morning News teasing <a href="http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2015/02/its-official-texan-margo-martindale-tells-us-that-yes-she-is-returning-to-the-americans.html/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Margo Martindale is returning to The Americans</a>. Tonight’s episode starts with Philip at Gabriel’s apartment, playing a game of Scrabble. They discuss Paige’s future, with Philip arguing for her to choose her own path and Gabriel assuring that she will. Gabriel warns Philip about their recently selected CIA target Ted Paaswell being someone under observation and to be careful. Elizabeth and Philip remain very distant with one another while having another discussion about Paige. They later spy on Paaswell and plant a bug on an early cell phone he has. They follow him to listen to his conversations, and Elizabeth realizes they are being followed by the CIA. Philip escapes and gets Elizabeth help. After a harrowing chase, she returns home in severe pain and Philip takes action to relieve it. He revisits Gabriel who warns him off Paaswell for now, but Philip and Elizabeth tail him again and make a startling discovery. In our history segment, we learn econ with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hicks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sir John Richard Hicks</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_Slutsky" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Evgeny Evgenievich Slutsky</a>, see <a href="http://content.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601821122,00.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the cover</a> of Time Magazine from November 22, 1982, get more econ via the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Agreement_on_Tariffs_and_Trade" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade</a>, and try to unwind with a friendly game of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scrabble</a>. In our technology of yesteryear we make a call with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Bag_Phone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bag Phone</a> and watch an old-timey <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign-off" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TV Sign Off</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 21-Season 3 Episode 3 Open House

This week’s episode of The Americans has to rank as the best of the season, and one of the best of the whole series so far! It is Season 3 Episode 10 entitled ”Stingers” written by showrunners Joel Fields &amp; Joe Weisberg and directed by Larysa Kondracki. The original air date was April 1, 2015. To recap this week: Pastor Tim drops into the travel agency and has an interesting interaction with Philip. In a movie theater’s bathroom, Zinaida is shown to be leaving a message, confirming she is a double-agent. In Siberia, Anton tells Nina that he needs photographs to aid his work. Tatiana tells Arkady that someone is sabotaging their operation with agent “Willow”. After retrieving a tape from the briefcase belonging to Kimmy’s father, Philip and Elizabeth learn Pakistan’s ISI is sending someone to the U.S. to discuss America’s CIA involvement in Afghanistan. Elizabeth checks into a hotel to set up a contact for her plans to spy on the people coming to meet with the CIA. Henry and Stan bond over films and games.  Paige, at Pastor Tim’s urging, confronts her parents about their secrecy. They confess to being Russian spies but caution her about not telling anyone. This blows everyone’s mind! We lead off with the GREAT news from EW that The Americans is renewed for season 4! Then Vulture has an exposé exploring if The Americans and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are connected, and we visit the incredible view of the Soviet Hockey team’s later history in the recent documentary Red Army. There is so much history to cover this week, beginning with Adam and the Ants monster hit  “Stand and Deliver”, followed by the lucrative trade in Pirated Videos, one of which we saw this week: the movie Tron. We also see another movie, Tootsie, then play Strat-O-Matic while watching the soap opera General Hospital, and then regale ourselves with Eddie Murphy’s SNL classic Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood. In tech of yesteryear, we once again learn more about ancient telephones and what happened if you left a telephone off the hook which would lead to a permanent signal, and then we unwind by firing off a few Stinger Missiles. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

This week’s episode of The Americans has to rank as the best of the season, and one of the best of the whole series so far! It is Season 3 Episode 10 entitled ”Stingers” written by showrunners Joel Fields &amp; Joe Weisberg and directed by Larysa Kondracki. The original air date was April 1, 2015. To recap this week: Pastor Tim drops into the travel agency and has an interesting interaction with Philip. In a movie theater’s bathroom, Zinaida is shown to be leaving a message, confirming she is a double-agent. In Siberia, Anton tells Nina that he needs photographs to aid his work. Tatiana tells Arkady that someone is sabotaging their operation with agent “Willow”. After retrieving a tape from the briefcase belonging to Kimmy’s father, Philip and Elizabeth learn Pakistan’s ISI is sending someone to the U.S. to discuss America’s CIA involvement in Afghanistan. Elizabeth checks into a hotel to set up a contact for her plans to spy on the people coming to meet with the CIA. Henry and Stan bond over films and games.  Paige, at Pastor Tim’s urging, confronts her parents about their secrecy. They confess to being Russian spies but caution her about not telling anyone. This blows everyone’s mind! We lead off with the GREAT news from EW that <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/31/americans-renewed-season-4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Americans is renewed for season 4!</a> Then Vulture has an exposé exploring <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/americans-kimmy-schmidt-connected.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">if The Americans and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are connected</a>, and we visit the incredible view of the Soviet Hockey team’s later history in the recent documentary <a href="http://sonyclassics.com/redarmy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Red Army</a>. There is so much history to cover this week, beginning with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_and_Deliver_(Adam_and_the_Ants_song)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adam and the Ants monster hit  “Stand and Deliver”</a>, followed by the lucrative trade in <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5315327/video-piracy-was-big-business-in-1979" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pirated Videos</a>, one of which we saw this week: the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tron" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tron</a>. We also see another movie, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tootsie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tootsie</a>, then play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strat-O-Matic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Strat-O-Matic</a> while watching the soap opera <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Hospital" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">General Hospital</a>, and then regale ourselves with Eddie Murphy’s SNL classic <a href="http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/mr-robinsons-neighborhood/n9117" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood</a>. In tech of yesteryear, we once again learn more about ancient telephones and what happened if you left a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-hook_tone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">telephone off the hook</a> which would lead to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_signal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">permanent signal</a>, and then we unwind by firing off a few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIM-92_Stinger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stinger Missiles</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 28-Season 3 Episode 10 Stingers

Anton Baklanov

This week’s episode of The Americans allows us to breathe a bit after last week’s shocking revelation. A bit! It is Season 3 Episode 11 entitled ”One Day in the Life of Anton Baklanov” written by Stephen Schiff &amp; Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Andrew Bernstein. The original air date was April 8, 2015. In this episode, more and more pressure mounts as Martha expresses worry over her interview with agent Taffet. Paige continues the adjustment into her new reality. Gabriel informs Elizabeth that her mother is close to death, which prompts Phillip to lobby for a visit. As Elizabeth is making strides on one front, at the hotel; she’s hit with an untimely ultimatum from Lisa’s husband. Anton Baklanov slips further into Nina’s emotional grasp. We have a couple of items in the news for you. The Atlantic believes the long-anticipated revelation has reinvigorated The Americans, and Vox states that The Americans is on one of the best runs of episodes in TV drama history! Cool history and tech await us this week! We begin with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s compelling novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, then we take a look with Agent Gaad inside the FBI Vault – Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, and we lament the demise of the United States Football League with Oleg and Tatiana. In tech of yesteryear we swing a pulwar, and then we check into that hotel with its fancy EECO hotel management system. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

This week’s episode of The Americans allows us to breathe a bit after last week’s shocking revelation. A bit! It is Season 3 Episode 11 entitled ”One Day in the Life of Anton Baklanov” written by Stephen Schiff &amp; Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Andrew Bernstein. The original air date was April 8, 2015. In this episode, more and more pressure mounts as Martha expresses worry over her interview with agent Taffet. Paige continues the adjustment into her new reality. Gabriel informs Elizabeth that her mother is close to death, which prompts Phillip to lobby for a visit. As Elizabeth is making strides on one front, at the hotel; she’s hit with an untimely ultimatum from Lisa’s husband. Anton Baklanov slips further into Nina’s emotional grasp. We have a couple of items in the news for you. The Atlantic believes <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/04/the-americans-feels-like-an-all-new-show-now/389949/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the long-anticipated revelation has reinvigorated The Americans</a>, and Vox states that <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/4/2/8335137/the-americans-stingers-recap-review" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Americans is on one of the best runs of episodes in TV drama history!</a> Cool history and tech await us this week! We begin with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s compelling novel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Day_in_the_Life_of_Ivan_Denisovich" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich</a>, then we take a look with Agent Gaad inside the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensitive_Compartmented_Information_Facility" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FBI Vault – Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility</a>, and we lament the demise of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Football_League" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">United States Football League</a> with Oleg and Tatiana. In tech of yesteryear we swing a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulwar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pulwar</a>, and then we check into that hotel with its fancy <a href="http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4012308.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EECO hotel management system</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 30-Season 3 Episode 11 One Day in the Life of Anton Baklanov

We thought last week was the most depressing episode yet of The Americans. Well, we were wrong! Nothing goes right this week, from travel agency finances and fancy school payments to sensor heists to trips to watch a World Series Game 6! And Philip can’t even get a snuggle from Elizabeth! Sadness abounds in The Americans Season 6 Episode 4 “Mr. and Mrs. Teacup” which aired April 18, 2018. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 114 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 113 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. Baseball is one historic sport and we dive deep starting with Glenn’s fave (he has the jacket!) the Yakult Swallows who as far as we know never played at The Metrodome in Minneapolis! Then we review the epic Game 6 of the 1987 World Series while drinking a refreshing Pilsner Urquell before Barb clues us in on the nefarious doings of DC Mayor Marion Barry, who as we know loved playing NERF football! We then proclaim Paige the winner of Wigs of the Week (without a wig!) before you guys tell us what you thought! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

We thought last week was the most depressing episode yet of The Americans. Well, we were wrong! Nothing goes right this week, from travel agency finances and fancy school payments to sensor heists to trips to watch a World Series Game 6! And Philip can’t even get a snuggle from Elizabeth! Sadness abounds in The Americans Season 6 Episode 4 “Mr. and Mrs. Teacup” which aired April 18, 2018. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 114 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 113 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. Baseball is one historic sport and we dive deep starting with Glenn’s fave (he has the jacket!) the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Yakult_Swallows" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yakult Swallows</a> who as far as we know never played at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_H._Humphrey_Metrodome" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Metrodome</a> in Minneapolis! Then we review the epic <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1987" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Game 6 of the 1987 World Series</a> while drinking a refreshing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilsner_Urquell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pilsner Urquell</a> before Barb clues us in on the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/10/04/dc-corruption-probe-circles-barry/9effd094-776f-4253-83b7-07200ad8c8db/?utm_term=.fdf00972b511" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nefarious doings of DC Mayor Marion Barry</a>, who as we know loved playing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NERF</a> football! We then proclaim Paige the winner of Wigs of the Week (without a wig!) before you guys tell us what you thought! And we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes or Stitcher!

WTA 114- Feedback for Mr. and Mrs. Teacup

And so it begins…the last Season of The Americans! What a debut for us this week – we jump back to the future three years and enter a world familiar yet changed. We check in with the gang – Stan &amp; Dennis, Oleg, and of course the Jennings. Plus we have surprising returns including Claudia and Arkady! And things aren’t looking so hot for Philip and Elizabeth who have diverged over the interim. It took a plus-sized show to set us up and we get one in The Americans Season 6 Episode 1 “Dead Hand” which aired March 28, 2018. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and was directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 106 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 107. There were so many stories out there that it was really hard to choose the news! We head to the Big Apple via The New York Times’ terrific interview with the artist who helped with a new storyline. Next up we have the always reliable Uproxx and Alan Sepinwall’s take as the show begins its ominous endgame, and we have a cool chat in (again) The New York Times as we find out if Holly Taylor will inherit the family business? Then we proceed to our usual annotated deep dive into the show. Elizabeth has been working alone for quite some time, and the strain is apparent. Paige has become a budding operative under Elizabeth’s and Claudia’s guidance. Philip is now very successful as a full-time civilian running the travel agency. And dancing! Henry has gone off to boarding school and is quite the hockey player. Arkady returns and convinces Oleg to help reform elements in the government, while Elizabeth is recruited to stop those same elements. And after five seasons of becoming closer, Philip and Elizabeth are now worlds apart. Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

And so it begins…the last Season of The Americans! What a debut for us this week – we jump back to the future three years and enter a world familiar yet changed. We check in with the gang – Stan &amp; Dennis, Oleg, and of course the Jennings. Plus we have surprising returns including Claudia and Arkady! And things aren’t looking so hot for Philip and Elizabeth who have diverged over the interim. It took a plus-sized show to set us up and we get one in The Americans Season 6 Episode 1 “Dead Hand” which aired March 28, 2018. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and was directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 106 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 107. There were so many stories out there that it was really hard to choose the news! We head to the Big Apple via The New York Times’ terrific <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/arts/television/the-americans-fx-final-season.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">interview with the artist who helped with a new storyline</a>. Next up we have the always reliable Uproxx and Alan Sepinwall’s take as the show<a href="https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/the-americans-recap-dead-hand-review-season-premiere-spoilers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> begins its ominous endgame</a>, and we have a cool chat in (again) The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/arts/television/the-americans-holly-taylor.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">as we find out if Holly Taylor will inherit the family business?</a> Then we proceed to our usual annotated deep dive into the show. Elizabeth has been working alone for quite some time, and the strain is apparent. Paige has become a budding operative under Elizabeth’s and Claudia’s guidance. Philip is now very successful as a full-time civilian running the travel agency. And dancing! Henry has gone off to boarding school and is quite the hockey player. Arkady returns and convinces Oleg to help reform elements in the government, while Elizabeth is recruited to stop those same elements. And after five seasons of becoming closer, Philip and Elizabeth are now worlds apart. Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 106- Season 6 Episode 1 Dead Hand

In this week’s Watching the Americans, we are amazed by the Season 2 finale of The Americans with Episode 13 “Echo.” This mind-blowing and very satisfying episode was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and it was directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date was May 21, 2014. In the news, we recap the uptick in the finale ratings and agree with The Wire’s “Wig of the Week” selection. We link to a gallery of Season 1 wigs and a story on screeninvasion.com on why The Americans is the best drama on TV. We also find out there is a great charity auction to raise money for the poor that has one prize we would love – a visit to the set of the Americans in Season 3! For the episode discussion, we see the payoffs for all the action in Season 2. Stan makes a decision while Nina’s fate hangs in the balance. Fred gets the paint for Stealth and pays a steep price for it. Larrick at last makes his move and sets up a classic confrontation with Philip and Elizabeth at the cabin. We learn the identity of the Conner family’s killer, and we see where Jared will end up. Paige takes part in a demonstration that could foreshadow her future. Finally, a familiar face returns and gives new shocking orders to Philip and Elizabeth, who must decide whether or not to follow them. In our history segment, we rock with Golden Earring and their classic 80s cut Twilight Zone, visit Cheyenne Mountain, and learn about Civil Disobedience/Nonviolent Protests. During tech of yesteryear we boot up a floppy disk, see an EMP grade hardened safe, and sport a Smith &amp; Wesson Ladysmith. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them by emailing text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or calling us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans.  And if you do enjoy the show, please rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

In this week’s Watching the Americans, we are amazed by the Season 2 finale of The Americans with Episode 13 “Echo.” This mind-blowing and very satisfying episode was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and it was directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date was May 21, 2014. In the news, we recap the <a href="http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-cable-ratings-nba-coverage-leads-night-catfish-true-life-american-pickers-deal-with-it-more/266513/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">uptick in the finale ratings</a> and agree with<a href="http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/05/the-americans-wig-of-the-week-finale-edition/371419/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Wire’s “Wig of the Week” selection.</a> We link to a <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/all-of-the-wigs-worn-on-the-americans-so-far.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gallery of Season 1 wigs</a> and a story on <a href="http://screeninvasion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">screeninvasion.com</a> on <a href="http://screeninvasion.com/2014/05/americans-season-2-best-drama-tv/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">why The Americans is the best drama on TV</a>. We also find out there is a great charity auction to raise money for the poor that has one prize we would love – <a href="https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/item.action?id=217709340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a visit to the set of the Americans in Season 3</a>! For the episode discussion, we see the payoffs for all the action in Season 2. Stan makes a decision while Nina’s fate hangs in the balance. Fred gets the paint for Stealth and pays a steep price for it. Larrick at last makes his move and sets up a classic confrontation with Philip and Elizabeth at the cabin. We learn the identity of the Conner family’s killer, and we see where Jared will end up. Paige takes part in a demonstration that could foreshadow her future. Finally, a familiar face returns and gives new shocking orders to Philip and Elizabeth, who must decide whether or not to follow them. In our history segment, we rock with Golden Earring and their classic 80s cut <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Zone_%28Golden_Earring_song%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twilight Zone</a>, visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne_Mountain_nuclear_bunker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cheyenne Mountain</a>, and learn about<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Civil Disobedience</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_resistance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonviolent Protests</a>. During tech of yesteryear we boot up a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">floppy disk</a>, see an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_hardening" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EMP grade hardened safe</a>, and sport a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Ladysmith" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smith &amp; Wesson Ladysmith</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them by emailing text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or calling us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans. </a> And if you do enjoy the show, please rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 14-Season 2 Episode 13 Echo

A crushing episode awaits you with this week’s all-new The Americans! ”Baggage” was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date for the episode was February 4, 2015. After a great start for the season, the ratings news was surprising and disappointing. We check them via Headline Planet.  In this episode, we see the return of Nina, alive and imprisoned at the notorious Leforto prison. From there the scene switches to right where “EST Men” ended up – the hotel where Yousaf met Annalise. Philip calls Elizabeth for help disposing of a body with bone-crunching results. Philip pressures Yousaf to arrange a meeting of CIA operatives involved in the Afghan conflict. Philip and Elizabeth follow Yousaf to his meeting at a bar and surveille. Oleg confronts Stan about Nina and Stan lives to walk away. He goes to Sandra’s new home to talk with her and she pushes him away. Oleg’s father, the Minister of Railways, visits Nina in prison. A woman defects from the USSR and Stan takes charge of her safety. The strain between Elizabeth and Phillip intensifies, and we get a flashback that helps explain why Elizabeth is so adamant about recruiting Paige. At the end of the episode, Elizabeth tells Phillip about her being approached by the KGB at 16 and her mother not hesitating to tell her to serve her country. In this week’s history segment, we explore Reaganomics, the Leforto Prison, The Soviet Ministry of the Means of Communication  aka Railroads, The Institute for US and Canadian Studies, and the Soviet newspaper Pravda. In our technology of yesteryear we sneak a peek at a KGB Spy Camera, vending machines, and the Oldsmobile Toronado. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate 

A crushing episode awaits you with this week’s all-new The Americans! ”Baggage” was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date for the episode was February 4, 2015. After a great start for the season, the ratings news was surprising and disappointing. We check them via <a href="http://headlineplanet.com/home/2015/02/05/ratings-fxs-americans-sinks-viewership-low/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Headline Planet</a>. In this episode, we see the return of Nina, alive and imprisoned at the notorious Leforto prison. From there the scene switches to right where “EST Men” ended up – the hotel where Yousaf met Annalise. Philip calls Elizabeth for help disposing of a body with bone-crunching results. Philip pressures Yousaf to arrange a meeting of CIA operatives involved in the Afghan conflict. Philip and Elizabeth follow Yousaf to his meeting at a bar and surveille. Oleg confronts Stan about Nina and Stan lives to walk away. He goes to Sandra’s new home to talk with her and she pushes him away. Oleg’s father, the Minister of Railways, visits Nina in prison. A woman defects from the USSR and Stan takes charge of her safety. The strain between Elizabeth and Phillip intensifies, and we get a flashback that helps explain why Elizabeth is so adamant about recruiting Paige. At the end of the episode, Elizabeth tells Phillip about her being approached by the KGB at 16 and her mother not hesitating to tell her to serve her country. In this week’s history segment, we explore <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reaganomics</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefortovo_Prison" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leforto Prison</a>, The Soviet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_the_Means_of_Communication_(Soviet_Union)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ministry of the Means of Communication</a>  aka Railroads, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_US_and_Canadian_Studies" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Institute for US and Canadian Studies</a>, and the Soviet newspaper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pravda</a>. In our technology of yesteryear we sneak a peek at a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spy_camera" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KGB Spy Camera</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vending_machine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vending machines</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Toronado" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oldsmobile Toronado</a>. We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate

WTA 20-Season 3 Episode 2 Baggage

It’s all about the characters this week on the latest episode of The Americans entitled ”Born Again”. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Kevin Dowling. The original air date for the episode was March 4, 2015. Paige finally gets her baptism at the hands of Pastor Tim while Elizabeth and Philip look on. Philip is able to get a listening device planted in Isaac Breeland’s briefcase while deflecting Kimmy’s advances. Both Elizabeth and Philip try to tell Paige something to help her be prepared for what they know is coming, but she is only confused by the conversations. Stan and Tori have dinner at the Jennings’ and later share an intimate moment. After the death of an old friend, Stan sees Sandra and Matthew.   Nina is able to get a confession from Evi with the expected sad outcome. Gabriel meets with Philip and vaguely blackmails him into pursuing Kimmy sexually. He later meets with Elizabeth and pushes her buttons to get the results he needs. Elizabeth takes Paige to a gritty part of the city to discuss her role in “civil rights” and push her daughter to think there is more to do than just protest how things are. We have a lot of history to cover this week! We start with the concept of being Born Again, suffer through the early 1980s recession while consoling ourselves with Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn. Next we learn about Reagan Administration and the Anti-apartheid movement, South Africa’s National Intelligence Service, listen to some cool Pink Floyd and contemplate the made up Brands for TV and Movies. For the first time since we started, there wasn’t any tech of yesteryear that we hadn’t seen! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

It’s all about the characters this week on the latest episode of The Americans entitled ”Born Again”. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Kevin Dowling. The original air date for the episode was March 4, 2015. Paige finally gets her baptism at the hands of Pastor Tim while Elizabeth and Philip look on. Philip is able to get a listening device planted in Isaac Breeland’s briefcase while deflecting Kimmy’s advances. Both Elizabeth and Philip try to tell Paige something to help her be prepared for what they know is coming, but she is only confused by the conversations. Stan and Tori have dinner at the Jennings’ and later share an intimate moment. After the death of an old friend, Stan sees Sandra and Matthew.   Nina is able to get a confession from Evi with the expected sad outcome. Gabriel meets with Philip and vaguely blackmails him into pursuing Kimmy sexually. He later meets with Elizabeth and pushes her buttons to get the results he needs. Elizabeth takes Paige to a gritty part of the city to discuss her role in “civil rights” and push her daughter to think there is more to do than just protest how things are. We have a lot of history to cover this week! We start with the concept of being <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_again_(Christianity)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Born Again</a>, suffer through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_1980s_recession_in_the_United_States" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">early 1980s recession</a> while consoling ourselves with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Redenbacher%27s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn</a>. Next we learn about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructive_engagement" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reagan Administration and the Anti-apartheid movement</a>, South Africa’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Service_(South_Africa)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Intelligence Service</a>, listen to some cool <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pink Floyd</a> and contemplate the made up <a href="http://www.fastcocreate.com/1681915/when-a-name-brand-just-wont-do-hollywoods-best-fake-products" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brands for TV and Movies</a>. For the first time since we started, there wasn’t any tech of yesteryear that we hadn’t seen! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 24-Season 3 Episode 6 Born Again

In episode 3 of Watching the Americans we share our thoughts on The Americans season 2 episode 2 entitled, “Cardinal.” “Cardinal” aired on March 5, 2014, was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and was directed by Daniel Sackheim. We give a brief recap of “Cardinal”, talk about Oleg being a jerk, the KGB finding out that the FBI killed Vlad, and the events involving Emmet, Martha, Paige, and Fred. We also discuss the history of Nicaragua, Super Bowl XVI, the Contra war of the 1980’s, Bo Derek, and Ariel Sharon. Send in your thoughts about The Americans by emailing us watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or calling us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans

In episode 3 of Watching the Americans we share our thoughts on The Americans season 2 episode 2 entitled, “Cardinal.” “Cardinal” aired on March 5, 2014, was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and was directed by Daniel Sackheim. We give a brief recap of “Cardinal”, talk about Oleg being a jerk, the KGB finding out that the FBI killed Vlad, and the events involving Emmet, Martha, Paige, and Fred. We also discuss the history of Nicaragua, Super Bowl XVI, the Contra war of the 1980’s, Bo Derek, and Ariel Sharon. Send in your thoughts about The Americans by emailing us watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or calling us at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans

WTA 03-Season 2 Episode 2 Cardinal

This is probably the first time since the death of Nina that we were left completely speechless by an episode of The Americans! Things are really coming apart at the seams, in every sense in every relationship, from Gennadi and Sofia to Paige, Elizabeth and Philip. We got a surprising and bitter return of Tatiana confronting Oleg! And the turn in the Kimmy and Jim relationship was unbearable. Top that off with Philip making a stand and you have one of the most amazing episodes in six seasons! True horror and sadness are waiting for you in The Americans Season 6 Episode 5 “The Great Patriotic War” which aired April 25, 2018. It was written by Hilary Bettis and directed by Thomas Schlamme.  This is Episode 115 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 116.  We have a couple of great news items for you. First up Vulture examines the utter shock of Philip and Paige’s fight. Then it’s time for A/V Club to reveal how The Americans can be a great horror movie, too. Then we start the show with food delivery man Stan who also serves as best friend and marriage counselor. Paige continues to defy Elizabeth and shows a feral side that takes care of a couple of grabby frat boys, much to Elizabeth and Philip’s dismay. Erica continues to sicken and tries to impart some wisdom to the brick wall known as Elizabeth. Tatiana returns to confront Oleg about his actions years before and he learns she is the reason why the GRU was after him and his family. Claudia teaches Paige about the Soviets in World War II aka The Great Patriotic War and she and Elizabeth demonstrate proper vodka techniques to Paige, resulting in an almost humanizing first-time lovemaking discussion. Elizabeth completes her mission regarding Gennadi with horrific collateral damage involving Sofia and Illya. Most sadly, Elizabeth plays a honeypot on Philip, and she pushes him one step too far to make him take an extreme action with Kimmy. After Philip learns what happened to Gennadi and Sofia, he takes a final stand to save Kimmy. Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page Watching The Americans. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

This is probably the first time since the death of Nina that we were left completely speechless by an episode of The Americans! Things are really coming apart at the seams, in every sense in every relationship, from Gennadi and Sofia to Paige, Elizabeth and Philip. We got a surprising and bitter return of Tatiana confronting Oleg! And the turn in the Kimmy and Jim relationship was unbearable. Top that off with Philip making a stand and you have one of the most amazing episodes in six seasons! True horror and sadness are waiting for you in The Americans Season 6 Episode 5 “The Great Patriotic War” which aired April 25, 2018. It was written by Hilary Bettis and directed by Thomas Schlamme. This is Episode 115 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 116. We have a couple of great news items for you. First up Vulture examines <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/the-americans-season-6-philip-and-paige-fight-scene.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the utter shock of Philip and Paige’s fight</a>. Then it’s time for A/V Club to reveal how <a href="https://tv.avclub.com/the-americans-can-be-a-great-horror-movie-too-1825551368" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Americans can be a great horror movie, too</a>. Then we start the show with food delivery man Stan who also serves as best friend and marriage counselor. Paige continues to defy Elizabeth and shows a feral side that takes care of a couple of grabby frat boys, much to Elizabeth and Philip’s dismay. Erica continues to sicken and tries to impart some wisdom to the brick wall known as Elizabeth. Tatiana returns to confront Oleg about his actions years before and he learns she is the reason why the GRU was after him and his family. Claudia teaches Paige about the Soviets in World War II aka The Great Patriotic War and she and Elizabeth demonstrate proper vodka techniques to Paige, resulting in an almost humanizing first-time lovemaking discussion. Elizabeth completes her mission regarding Gennadi with horrific collateral damage involving Sofia and Illya. Most sadly, Elizabeth plays a honeypot on Philip, and she pushes him one step too far to make him take an extreme action with Kimmy. After Philip learns what happened to Gennadi and Sofia, he takes a final stand to save Kimmy. Remember that we do love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please keep sending them in! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow us on Twitter @WatchAmericans. Please like us on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watchingtheamericans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watching The Americans</a>. And if you do enjoy the show, kindly rate us or better yet rate and review us in iTunes!

WTA 115- Season 6 Episode 5 The Great Patriotic War

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