The Americans: Jennings, Elizabeth finally joins her husband
The discord between Philip and Elizabeth Jennings has been brewing for quite some time on The Americans. She has finally joined her husband.
As The Americans winds down to the amazing finish, the ultimate decision of “Russia or America?” will have to be made by both Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell). Given the episode is titled, “Jennings, Elizabeth,” she makes the biggest decision there is.
While Philip made his decision quite some time ago, maybe as far back as season one, Elizabeth has yet to fully turn 180. Disobeying an order last week was a big step. Now it’s just a matter of a clean exit, and eluding the FBI before they ensnare “The Americans.”
How quickly Elizabeth has turned
It wasn’t too long ago on The Americans that Elizabeth was lamenting the ongoing changes in the USSR. She openly stated a desire to return to Russian roots, but it was most likely nostalgia. Nonetheless, she told Philip, “I don’t want to be like them!” Now, however, she’s openly flouting Claudia’s (Margo Martindale) commands. What’s more, she’s thwarting the objectives of other operatives in the field.
As disappointing it is to Claudia, Elizabeth breaks the news of her recent Nesterenko protective mission. She tracked Nesterenko down and followed him, only to stop future assassination attempts. In just a matter of weeks Elizabeth has gone from loyal automaton to using her brain. She’s had her Terminator moment and become self aware.
Was it really the right decision? Consider the end-game of either choice. If she stays loyal to Claudia, she eventually gets killed or captured, and her life is destroyed. At best she turns into an old Russian whore – Paige thinks it already happened, but that’s later – and works until the USSR crumbles. Conversely, she flips now, keeps her family intact, and basically looks over her shoulder for a Russian assassin the rest of her life. Tough call. Given recent speeches, however, it’s probably the right call.
Stan Beeman’s Thanksgiving speech returns
While the “Jennings, Elizabeth” episode had its fair share of flashbacks, particularly related to the concept of helping fellow countrymen – something I’m calling “Saving comrades for Stalingrad” – a more poignant flashback might have been Stan’s (Noah Emmerich) speech at Thanksgiving. As it pertains to hope and freedom he says, “We should all be willing to fight to hold on to them.”
Isn’t that precisely what a newly awakened Elizabeth is doing? Isn’t she fighting for hope and freedom? It’s that very same freedom of choice steering her decision-making, and protecting her comrade Nesterenko from a secondary assassin sent by Claudia and her superiors. Furthermore, suddenly realizing herself a puppet has probably made Elizabeth realize the freedom afforded to her family as a result of being pseudo-American.
The FBI is finally closing in
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Stan Beeman has been so close to the Jennings family for so long, and he’s been as clueless as Henry is about his parents’ secrets. He’s finally closing in, however, even if nobody believes him. Tracking the Russian priests ended up being a good move, and they actually chase after Philip. Unfortunately for them, Philip has his Terminator moment long ago, and is fully aware of the entire situation. A quick 200-meter dash, a wardrobe change, and a taxi ride later, and he ditches the FBI agents.
His subsequent call it Elizabeth is truly telling. He uses a pay phone to relay a message about things being topsy-turvy at the office, and she looks like she’s seen a ghost. “Topsy-turvy” is code, and she immediately dives for their “Go Bag” that contains clothes, money, weapons, passports, and everything else a frightened spy family may need. If there was any doubt at all in Elizabeth’s mind it’s now gone.
Why is Paige so upset?
So it turns out Paige likes the dude she slept with. One would hope so. When hanging out with her new beau, however, she hears of the foreign film nerd who got seduced and tricked by a hot, older woman. The complaint of one, the dream of millions. C’est la vie. For some unknown reason, this really makes Paige angry. Apparently she’s allowed to sleep with a guy for information (even though she says that’s not why she did it), but her mother isn’t. When Elizabeth denies the allegations, Paige calls her a whore. Given how easily Philip dispatched with Paige’s meager hand-to-hand skills, she might want to watch her tone a bit.
Nonetheless, the conflict feels forced. Maybe even a bit manufactured. After what she’s seen, Paige can’t be that naïve to think her mother hasn’t used sexuality to get her way. Hell, even if she weren’t a spy it’d be a pretty good bet. This feels like a setup for the final episode. Mom and Dad plan on getting Paige, but I’m guessing she’ll resist. She might even side with Claudia.
Next: The anti-climactic Summit led to betrayal
Will there be a clean getaway?
Going into the final episode of The Americans, there is a great chance Philip and Elizabeth make a clean get away. Claudia may throw some haterade on their escape plans with an anonymous call. Oleg Burov (Costa Ronin) may save himself and sacrifice the family. Last but not least, the FBI might just be a step ahead for a change.
The final episode of The Americans airs Wednesday night on FX.