In Memoriam 2016: Honoring Television’s Fallen Characters

Nina Krilova, The Americans 

Season 1 – Season 4

Time of Death: “Chloramphenicol,” Season 4, Episode 4

Cause of Death: Shot execution style.

Sent back to prison for being caught trying to pass a note to the son of Anton Baklanov (Michael Aronov), Nina was marched downstairs to be told that her appeal had been denied and that her death sentence would be carried out shortly. What she did’t know was that shortly meant immediately, as a guard shot her in the back of the head and she was killed instantly. The episode ended with the audience watching her body be carried away. 

Nina will be missed, but she died as she lived: a strong woman who wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. Yet how will her ex-lovers Stan (Noah Emmerich) and Oleg (Costa Ronin) fare without her? And who will replace her as the strong female voice at the Rezidentura? It hasn’t been Tatiana, who doesn’t have the personality or impetuousness that made Nina such a memorable character. She didn’t just break Stan and Oleg’s hearts; she broke ours, too.

–Brittany Frederick, Staff Writer

Next: Abbie Mills, Sleepy Hollow