Haven't had one of these threads in awhile. Its probably a little bit more than half way through the season. I have to say I Still love the show and the suspense/drama it supplies in specific scenes represent some of the best on TV. However the plot line of this season has been mediocre at best. They have been painfully slow with Paige thing I mean painfully slow. I understand it takes time to develop the plot but it's moving along at a glacial pace and what makes it worse is you know at this point they are heading to cliff hang it till next season. I think it's obvious that the creators of the show have mad a concerted effort this season to dehumanize the Russian cause. I think they felt the public was sort of rooting for them too much the first few seasons. Pushing Phillip on a 16 year old shows you how depraved they can be in the pursuit of their cause.
That scene last night with Elizabeth and the old woman was one of the best in the 3 years of the show. also Phillips rant on Gabriel at the end came out of nowhere, nobody can do the extremes like him. Stan still is excellent. I like the dynamic between him and Oleg what do you guys think about the defector? spy or no? Nina has become completely dark inside. Need more of her. Interesting how Oleg's dad is totally keeping him out of the loop on his plans with Nina.
They're definitely making sure the audience appreciates that P&E are not good people, you're right about that. Even though necklacing the SA guy last week wasn't their idea, they let it happen (and goddamn, between that and folding Annalise into the suitcase, this show goes beyond any other non-HBO show in the horrific violence department). I don't mind the slow pace because there's still plenty of tension, and if the previous two seasons are any guide, they will be an explosion of activity soon.
I think the defector is on the level. Stan's just cracking up as his life is falling apart. He is adrift, with his marriage clearly over now and the crippling guilt he carries for Nina. He wants so desperately to believe that Zinaida is a plant because it represents the only way he could possibly save Nina.
Gabriel is a great character. Love Frank Langella.
One thing bugged me last week - where the hell did the ANC guy get the gas can and tire? He just popped around the corner and came back with them. He ostensibly rode with P&E to this place, so you'd think they have noticed.
Nina seems like a distraction now, but I wonder if they have a plan to bring her back to the US next season and integrate her into the main plotline.
One thing that I think a lot of people don't appreciate is just how damaged Stan is. I think he still has PTSD and other issues from his time undercover and a lot of his bad decisions flow from that.
Also, that old lady was right, Elizabeth is just straight up evil.
There's no way this ends well for her. When it's over, she'll be in jail or dead, so why not play out the string for as long as it lasts?
I keep waiting for Philip's mere recognition of his transgressions evolves into a rejection of them, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen. The show hasn't done a great job establishing why Philip in particular would be so loyal to Communism that he's willing to destroy so many lives. Sure, he found out about his kid relatively late in the series, but it's not like he's committing his acts with the belief that they'll swing the Afghan conflict.
The most interesting thing about last night's episode is that it's the first time we've ever seen Elizabeth show any hesitation about carrying out her mission. Phillip's been cynical from the first episode, when he suggested defecting, but Elizabeth has always been a true believer. She's finally starting to waver now that she is starting to notice how easily ordinary people, people like her children, can get trapped into something evil. This is a woman who just a few weeks ago nonchalantly dropped a car on a poor random bastard just to create a job opening at Northrup Grumman, but now she's shedding tears about having to kill an innocent.
We already know from the preview a few weeks ago that Paige is going to confront her parents soon about all the things in their life that don't make sense. That is when things will start to get interesting.
They occasionally showed stuff like that in the past (Philip killing the kid in the Afghan restaurant, etc.) but they're hitting that note a lot more this year. These are truly vile people.
Also, I hope the real FBI is more competent than these mopes who can't get out of their own way. How do they not to a blanket bag check as soon as they found the bug while the guy with the metal detector sweeps the office?
Stan is a loose cannon and that was evident the moment he shot Vlad in season 1.