‘The Americans’ recap: Everybody needs a vacation, even KGB spies
Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) need a vacation – desperately – to ease the strain of their incredibly stressful lives.
For not only do they serve as KGB officers whose assignments could get them killed, they’re struggling to keep their arranged marriage intact, raise two teenagers, operate a travel agency and appear innocuous to a nosy FBI agent living next door.
Then there are the numerous murders this spy couple commits on behalf of the Soviet Union. Since Philip and Elizabeth aren’t sociopaths, their consciences are increasingly burdened by doubt and remorse.
These tensions boil over in “The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears,” Episode 408 of “The Americans” on FX.
The episode begins with Philip bidding a sad goodbye to his other wife, fugitive FBI secretary Martha Hanson (Alison Wright). She committed treason for love, not political ideology, and now she’s flying to Cuba and eventually Russia where a bleak future awaits.
“Don’t be alone,” Martha tearfully implores Philip, unaware he’s married to Elizabeth and living in the suburbs.
“You, too,” says Philip, who defied his KGB bosses by rushing Martha to a safe house when she was on the verge of arrest. By doing so, Philip partially atoned for wrecking Martha’s life.
Elizabeth also loses a valuable asset. She’s Lisa (Karen Pittman), an aerospace worker receiving Soviet money to reveal military technology secrets.
Pressure overwhelms Lisa, who goes on a drinking binge after her husband, Maurice (Thaddeus Daniels), steals the KGB cash and runs off to Florida with his new girlfriend.
“I need to make things right and you do too,” Lisa tells Elizabeth, insisting they must surrender to authorities. “If we go in there together, they will give us immunity.”
That’s obviously a no-go for Elizabeth, who adds to her homicide tally by smashing Lisa’s skull.
Elizabeth tries to deal with her mounting anxiety by attending an EST self-actualization seminar, like Philip does. She’s somewhat impressed with the content but cynical about the steep cost.
“They manipulate you to get at your wallet,” Elizabeth says dismissively. “I just think it’s very American, the whole thing.”
Then she sparks a terrible fight with Philip by belittling his tender feelings for Martha.
“At least she’s alive,” Elizabeth exclaims. “You didn’t have to send her out onto the street to get mowed down!”
That’s a reference to one of Elizabeth’s early recruits, Gregory Thomas (Derek Luke), a civil rights activist shot by police.
“Well,” Philip retorts, “I’m sorry the man you loved died and you’re stuck with me!”
“I am stuck with you because I took you back,” Elizabeth yells, still blaming Philip for fathering a child with another woman and lying about it.
When KGB handler Gabriel (Frank Langella) meets with his overworked, sleep-deprived spies, he’s stunned at the level of hostility.
“Things have to change,” Gabriel announces. “It’s been too much, too much for anyone.” Accordingly, there won’t be any new operations until tensions ease.
“This will be the closest you two ever come to a vacation,” Gabriel tells his surprised charges. “Take as long as you need.”
Enjoying a semblance of normalcy, Philip and Elizabeth watch TV with their kids, Paige (Holly Taylor) and Henry (Keidrich Sellati). It’s April 1983 and magician David Copperfield makes the Statue of Liberty seem to vanish during a live broadcast.
Copperfield’s spectacular illusion is meant to dramatize how Americans often take their freedom for granted and how quickly that freedom can disappear.
It’s a timely reminder for these Cold War spies, who are one botched operation away from spending the rest of their lives confined to prison cells.
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