The Americans

They are back!

And we are delighted. Easily one of the best shows in recent years is coming to an end, and from what we saw in the season opener, that ending is pretty much uncertain. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are still leading this spy drama very successfully, even though 5 years have past since the pilot was aired.

The Americans - Promotional Poster

Story

So, what is the allure of this brilliant series, you might ask? I'd like to say that it's simple, but if you think about it, it's really not. I would say, it is the perfect balance between the (lower) budget, GREAT actors and a REALLY good script. Of course, the production team must be great too, otherwise you couldn't get that genuine feel that many high budget series are lacking. Which, let's be honest, "The Americans" is not.

So, in this world of superhero series, it is really refreshing to have something down-to-earth. Except it is not down-to-earth. For our readers that are not familiar, the series is about an average middle class couple, with two children in '80s Washington, D.C.. Their secret is the fact that everything about them is fake. As a part of  Soviet Union secret plan to infiltrate USA, they are sent to live in Washington D.C.. They are running a travel agency as a cover and even their children, Paige (played by Holly Taylor) and Henry (Keidrich Sellati) are not aware of their parents' real identities.

And that is the problematic part of  the story. We had some news articles about infiltrated Soviet Union spies in the past, but in "The Americans" they are not just doing some boring surveillance job. We are talking here about some serious actions that, in my opinion, cannot go unnoticed. That includes lots of murders and really a LOT of  disguises. To be able to endure all that pressure and stress (not to talk about free time for, well, basically everything else in their lives) you would have to have super powers.

And yet, with all those flaws, "The Americans" still looks realistic and HIGHLY enjoyable. There are no signs of decline in quality, and all of the actors are still brilliant. We can only hope that the ending will be suitable for such a great run over the last five seasons.

Poor Martha

And  yes, we would LOVE a Martha (played by wonderful Alison Wright) spin-off in USSR. It's a real crime that she didn't get an Emmy for her performance.
#PoorMartha

Martha Jenkins in USSR