The Americans: Harvest provides no FBI yield, yet
The Americans inches closer to either tearing the Jennings family apart, or bringing them together in defection. Meanwhile, the FBI closes in.
As Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) have grown apart, there has been a growing issue in the family. It directly relates to the ultimate decision they’ll have to make. At face value, “Harvest” portends to be a way for The Americans to reunite Philip and Elizabeth as a master spy couple.
The Americans may finally provide a moment where the FBI starts to move forward with the Russian moves. “Harvest” is an episode that yields nothing for the FBI initially, but it may lead to the Jennings’ secret being discovered.
It’s really that serious at the travel agency?
So Philip tells Beeman (Emmerich) that Elizabeth has trouble with that, uh, client in Chicago. He needs to leave ASAP. On Thanksgiving night. Because that’s not fishy at all. It’s only been six seasons and Beeman’s FBI instincts finally kick in.
He tells Philip, “I can tell something is wrong. I’m good with these things.” You keep telling yourself that Stan.
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Even when he questions his former thoughts about his neighbors arriving home at 3 or 4 in the morning, he didn’t really say anything. But now, he says Philip can trust him.
Philip let’s him know the business is imploding, and it’s enough to sidetrack Stan. Then Philip goes in for the hug. Not the bro-hug, but a real one. The sentimental moment between daytime friends and nighttime enemies feels sincere.
Henry is oblivious. Still.
Since Mom and Dad are away, Beeman drives Henry back to school. Along the way, they discuss the travel agency, and the oddity of travel agents leaving for business at 3 a.m. in the morning, and on the night of Thanksgiving. Consequently, Beeman digs a bit more about the failing business, the hours his parents keep, and when Elizabeth and Paige went to visit “Aunt Helen.”
Chi-town!!
Philip arrives at Elizabeth’s hotel room, and there’s a good chance she has a smoking room. She’s a bit shocked he made the trip.
The situation is tense between the two, but Elizabeth feels better about the odds with Philip in town. They walk the extraction route, and lay out all the details of the plan. Indeed, they discuss static agents and trailing agents all over their Russian guy.
Grabbing the Russian doesn’t go well.
Elizabeth has concocted a simple plan. She has a truck, a bus, some Mexican workers in the street, and the code-phrase “Mother’s expecting you,” to extract their guy. It’s a lot like the setup in The Italian Job, minus the explosives.
A quick thinking agent realizes the ruse, however, and calls in backup. Gunfire is exchanged and the driver, Marilyn (Amy Tribbey), takes on center mass. Four out of six people are hit. Basically everyone except Philip and Elizabeth. Before the Russian agent dies, he relays messages to his mother (loves her), his father (hates him), and about censor schematics at an air base in France.
To cover their tracks, Philip and Elizabeth chop off the hands and head of their agent, leaving the other guy to rot in the bullet-ridden van. The FBI has nothing, and Adderholt is destroyed. Beeman, however, gets interested all the sudden.
Stan Beeman is on the case!!!
The failure gets under his skin or something. It arouses curiosity. Enough that he goes to the Jennings’ house, breaks in the back door, and absolutely scours every last inch. Suffice to say, he suspects they’re up to something. He does not, however, find the secret compartment behind the fuse box.
The noose is tightening, and Elizabeth sees it the most. Suddenly she’s concerned about Philip, worried Paige (Holly Taylor) doesn’t realize the required level of commitment, and even seems to wonder about a freer life. A subsequent discussion with Paige reaffirms Paige’s commitment, and her mother orders her to apply for an internship with the State Department.
Next: Philip betrays Elizabeth on Rififi
Who would have thought it would turn out like that!? After the mission goes astray, Stan has a brief moment of clarity. There are still missing pieces, particularly the head and hands Philip chopped off with an axe, but the FBI may finally be getting closer to The Americans. Elizabeth and Philip both appear to be having doubts. Next week is the summit, finally!
The Americans airs Wednesdays on FX.