The Americans: START tearfully ends the series

The final episode of The Americans is here, and it’s heartbreaking. Philip and Elizabeth’s run has come to an end, and so has an incredible show.

All that’s left for The Americans is to figure out a resolution. Will the Jennings family stay in America or bail to Russia? Can they live in either country safely? What will become of their split family structure, seeing as how one child doesn’t fully grasp all the implications, and the other one is completely unaware?

Similarly, what to make of the FBI and their exhaustive chase of the Russian spies? Are they spinning wheels, or are they getting closer to their target? Will Beeman’s (Noah Emmerich) hunch prove to be correct? Can he act on it before it’s too late?

Decisions has been made.

It’s time to leave.

Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) are facing the ultimate realization of their decision. Philip is taking unnecessary deep breaths. Elizabeth is compulsively looking over her shoulder.

When they meet up in an abandoned building, their first argument takes place. Elizabeth wants to get Henry and go, but Philip thinks the family should leave him in America without a family. How in the world did they not already talk about this? Elizabeth seems to accept Philip’s logic, but one would think this a conversation they’ve had hundreds of times. Most couples talk multiple times before making a grocery run, and these two have never fully broken down the what ifs of their potential discovery?

Father Andrei stalls.

Agent Aderholt (Brandon J. Dirden) presses Father Andrei about the man he met. There are grainy, black-and-white photos that don’t tell enough. If Stan were to see them, however, he’d have a pretty good guess. The profile view definitely looks like Philip. Without Stan’s expertise, Aderholt presses forward with threats of placing this entire issue on the Russian Orthodox Church in America. It’s amazing that The Americans has made it to the final episode of the final season, and there is finally a moment for Aderholt to shine. His interrogation is truly inspiring, as he parallels his national obligation to Father Andrei’s church obligation.

Eventually, Father Andrei buckles, and willingly describes them (he saw them without disguise at their wedding).

Stan makes his move.

Stan has also made up his mind they are the Russian spies. A call to the travel agency and their home produces no results, and convinces him even more. Nonetheless, he goes on a stakeout of a garage. After a few minutes at the stake-out he bails to investigate and spy outside Paige’s (Holly Taylor) apartment. A short moment later, he sees a man and woman covered up, walking towards Paige’s door.

Inside, Philip and Elizabeth have a brief argument with Paige about leaving Henry. They compel her to pack a bag and leave with them. As the trio leaves, Stan rushes to catch up with them in the underground parking garage. Moments later he calls Philip a “f**king piece of s**t” while pulling a gun on them.

The four talk about the situation, and it is almost sad. Stan was Philip’s best friend. Philip was Stan’s best friend. Eventually, Philip cops to the entire thing. He fights back tears, swallows hard, and informs Stan about the entire inner-conflict between the KGB and pro-Gorbachev Russians. This shocks Stan because it matches what Oleg told him. It’s clear he’s internalizing the entire message, and considering how it affects global politics.

The Fast and the Furious

To top it all off, they basically ask Stan to take care of Henry when they’re gone. Then Stan lets them drive away in the stolen car. I CALLED IT! It’s unbelievably shocking. Stan is simultaneously saving the world and potentially destroying his career.

Also, before the Jenningsovs depart, Philip lets Stan know Renee (Laurie Holden) might be Russian. (Called it!)

The final goodbye to Henry is depressing.

Anyone watching The Americans who didn’t choke up a bit while watching the final call to Henry is inhuman. It’s soul-crushing. When there is death, people often come to realize time is finite. They consider their last interactions and words with the deceased. Then mourn because the chance no longer exists. In many ways, their call with Henry feels like the last call before a family member dies. Only Henry doesn’t realize the immediacy. It’s just another phone call with his lame parents, and the ping-pong tournament is more pressing.

Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” plays in the background during this entire scene. The Americans has always made music an amazing part of the show. This time is no different. The lyric “We’re fools to make war on our brothers in arms” echoes as the family makes the most difficult decision of their lives, and can only blame themselves and the war between super-powers.

Arkady delivers news to Igor Burov.

Oleg’s father Igor (Boris Lee Krutonog) learns of his son’s incarceration from Arkady (Lev Gorn). Igor panics and says he’s going to tell Gorbachev, but Arkady lets him know it’s pointless since Oleg wasn’t there on official KGB business. There will be no trades, and Oleg will be in prison for a long time. Another family who probably thinks they are fools to make war on brothers in arms.

Aderholt delivers news to Beeman.

Aderholt shows Stan the photos (sketches from Father Andrei). Stan pretends to be surprised. Lies about nobody being at Paige’s apartment. “I’m gonna kill’em.” Aderholt has men on house, travel agency, Paige’s apartment, Henry’s school

For Stan to pull the wool over Aderholt’s eyes, one has to wonder if he would have been a better undercover agent than an investigative agent.

With or without you

The Americans has always been about what Philip and Elizabeth could do together, and how difficult their life has been separate. As U2’s “With or Without You” poignantly encapsulates the tone and emotion for everyone involved (another genius musical choice), Philip and Elizabeth have a brief, candid conversation.

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Philip says maybe he should stay. He could try to secretively visit Henry every once in a while, for a few years, just to explain some things. Again, this is something they haven’t discussed before?!

The conversation ends without definitive answer, as many such conversations do. Neither wants to make that final call. Philip picks up the most American of American food, McDonald’s, and it’s almost their goodbye gesture to their host country.

Is she or isn’t she?

Beeman walks like a zombie into his house, still dumbstruck about the night’s activities. He looks at Renee sleeping in the bed, pauses, and tucks her in as the U2’s song reinforces his decision. The next morning Stan’s with several other agents at the Jennings home and he’s still in a haze. He despondently walks home where Renee provides a comforting hug. He barely shows affection, like he believes Philip more than Renee.

The Jenningsovs

P&E make their way to Canada via train, pretending not to be together. They stop at Rouses Point, where law enforcement gets on to check everyone’s ID/passport. It’s a tense moment for Philip and Elizabeth, but their forgeries hold water. As the train pulls away, Elizabeth look out the window wistfully.

Paige got off the train! (CALLED IT! She goes back to Claudia’s, pounds some vodka, and is likely going to continue being a spy.)

P&E then travel via plane and car to a neighboring country, where they have ample opportunity to ponder their decision. They approach the gate into Russia, and Elizabeth stalls. She doesn’t pull to the gate until Philip looks at her (Is she second guessing more than Philip?). A brief conversation later, a call placed by the guard, and they’ve reached the finish line of the saddest race to safety ever.

Arkady Ivonovich picks them up shortly thereafter and serves as their chauffeur. They stop at a bridge overlooking a city skyline. P&E overlook the city nightlights, talk about the what-ifs of never becoming spies, and Elizabeth says: “Maybe we would have met on a bus?” Philip’s voice quivers as he says the kids will be alright, “They’re not kids anymore. We raised them.”

Next: Elizabeth finally sees the light and joins Philip

The Americans will be remembered as one of the most intense dramas ever on television, and only ends because the Cold War did, too. As Philip and Elizabeth stare off into the Russian distance, Elizabeth says “We’ll get used to it.” In many ways, it’s how we all feel when considering the fact there will be no more episodes of The Americans. We’ll get used to it.