Finally have a chance to catch up with this series on Amazon Prime. Just watched Episode 4. I probably should have seen it coming, but seeing Nina get killed like that was just brutal.
Annet Mahendru did a great job playing a very complex character. Very easy on the eyes as well. She'll be missed
That shot was totally unnecessary, but very much appreciated.
They're really turning Stan into a sad sack, aren't they?
They're really turning Stan into a sad sack, aren't they?
Somehow I think Stan is being played by the new woman. Maybe she's Soviet and it hasn't come out yet.
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strongest elements.
They're really turning Stan into a sad sack, aren't they?
Somehow I think Stan is being played by the new woman. Maybe she's Soviet and it hasn't come out yet.
Yeah, I got the same impression. A little too on the nose:
- She's into him, even though she's better looking
- She's into sports, loves beer
I mean, c'mon...
I guess we need to caveat with SEASON 5 SPOILERS BELOW..
Yeah, but she appeared before the Oleg thing, didn't she? I thought he had mentioned her to Phillip before the CIA approached him re: Oleg.
I also thought the most obvious argument to not burn Oleg was the one they overlooked, that by leaving him in place and not pressuring him, since he came to them with intel before, it was just as likely he might repeat the process on his own if he found something alarming.
One thing the show did again in the last episode that I've enjoyed is how the Russians have a ridiculously suspicious take on something fairly innocuous. They conclude that the US is somehow trying to weaponize insects to destroy the Soviet's food supply....because this one Soviet dissident works for the DoA and was sent to work at a greenhouse in the middle of nowhere. Of course, the place isn't guarded by more than a simple padlock and a basic greenhouse would hardly seem like a controlled environment for such research, but that's just the way they think. It's like when they took Al Haig's infamous "I'm in charge here" comment after Reagan's shooting to be a serious coup attempt.
I absolutely love this show. They are not in a hurry to make things happen but they take their time with strong dialog and great character development.
I for one am loving this Paige- Matthew love interest. It will be interesting to see where it goes. Personally, if I'm the parents, I could not trust that girl.
As for Stan, I applaud him being upset about what the CIA is wanting to do with Oleg. im upset too. I do not believe Stan got in touch with someone to warn Oleg though, so I'm thinking that may be a trap. Oleg is going to have to think this one out carefully.
I wonder how much extra Kerri gets paid to show off her great keister? Lol
I think they're trying to work through the kid to get at the dad. How, exactly, remains to be seen, but there's a few ways they could do it. They're after information, and they figure he's in position to give it to them.
Tuan doesn't quite make sense. He came from Vietnam as a young orphan among the boat people of the late '70s, yet he apparently became a committed Communist. Which is odd because, if you know anyone who was a boat person, they are some of the most bitter opponents of Communism there is. Somehow he then became a committed enough Communist to become a Soviet operative?
I imagine they're going to use the kid to spy on his father, or someone exert pressure on the father.
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what is going on with Tuan and Phillip and Elizabeth and the Russian immigrants. Not sure the end game. Are they trying to flip the kid? and does Tuan think he's working for the Americans?
Tuan doesn't quite make sense. He came from Vietnam as a young orphan among the boat people of the late '70s, yet he apparently became a committed Communist. Which is odd because, if you know anyone who was a boat person, they are some of the most bitter opponents of Communism there is. Somehow he then became a committed enough Communist to become a Soviet operative?
I imagine they're going to use the kid to spy on his father, or someone exert pressure on the father.
Never underestimate the ability to sway weak minded fools. Exhibit A, John Walker Lindh.
What's funny about the Soviet refugee family angle - the father's bitter rants about the shortages in the USSR mirror Philip's own remarks in the first or second episode of the series, when he hints at wanting to defect. "The food's pretty good here, and the power is always on"
I admit I don't hang on every word of the show so I definitely could be mistaken here, but I took Tuan to think he's working for Americans spying on Russians, and he doesn't realize he's working for Russians posing as Americans, and actually spying on Russians for Russia not America.
no one finds that strange?
I would have liked more back story with him and how they got connected.
I agree, the worst story line of the entire series.
Of course now they have completely ignored it even though they went from wire tapping them because of their concerns about them telling authorities of their true identities. It's not believable they would leave that big of a loose end that could so easily expose them.
True, or Born in the USA which I know you love, I think it came out in '84
Now, if we're talking suspension of disbelief, it's that the Army decides to bury a body contaminated with a highly contagious infectious disease in the backyard of Fort Meade (?), and a team of Russian spies just waltzes right in and digs it up.
Did the Army not have enough money for gasoline to burn the fucking guy?
I agree with jcn - no way they bury William rather than cremating him.
Maybe Paige is a slightly better actor, but I find the story line tedious.
I like the Paige story line. It's pretty realistic and it's some random thing off on the side. It's showing the damage that the Jennings' work is doing to their family.
I like the family aspect, but less on the kids side (the way they use Henry is great; less is more) and more of the friction between Philip and Elizabeth especially the struggle I found believable of them being "thrown' together into a marriage for the greater good of their homeland.
I don't find anything Paige does to be realistic, but how would I know. None of us knows what is realistic.
One thing the show did again in the last episode that I've enjoyed is how the Russians have a ridiculously suspicious take on something fairly innocuous. They conclude that the US is somehow trying to weaponize insects to destroy the Soviet's food supply....because this one Soviet dissident works for the DoA and was sent to work at a greenhouse in the middle of nowhere. Of course, the place isn't guarded by more than a simple padlock and a basic greenhouse would hardly seem like a controlled environment for such research, but that's just the way they think. It's like when they took Al Haig's infamous "I'm in charge here" comment after Reagan's shooting to be a serious coup attempt.
The scene at the gym gave me the feeling that they are playing Phillip. That's the first time I thought Stan may be on to them.
I wish they'd make Stan more dangerous again. In the first season, he was a fairly sharp guy - he cornered Nina and flipped her, and he was suspicious of Phillip and Elizabeth initially, plus he murdered Vlad. Since then they've made him kind of hapless. Aderholt seems to have a lot more on the ball than Stan these days.
Also, since Stan mentioned it, I wouldn't mind them finally finding out what happened with Gaad. Why were the Soviets trying to talk to him?
I can't put my finger on why or how that would work but it just came off that way to me. Maybe its just to get a second set of trained eyes on them and in conversation with them to help make a judgement maybe. It just really struck me that way for some reason.
I wish they'd make Stan more dangerous again. In the first season, he was a fairly sharp guy - he cornered Nina and flipped her, and he was suspicious of Phillip and Elizabeth initially, plus he murdered Vlad. Since then they've made him kind of hapless. Aderholt seems to have a lot more on the ball than Stan these days.
Also, since Stan mentioned it, I wouldn't mind them finally finding out what happened with Gaad. Why were the Soviets trying to talk to him?
I agree about Stan, he is a different person than early in the show.
That's why my dark horse theory has Paige spilling the truth to the boyfriend/son which leaves them no choice but to kill the son, which turns Stan into a man with a mission and notches up the tension and the dynamic between he, them and the show in general. Basically makes him more dangerous to them again similar to the original premise.