Alison Wright on The Americans — Page 2

I wonder if we will ever see her again on the show?

Pastor Tim's real hair is scarier than Phillip's ratty wig.



Cannot believe John Boy bought the farm.

Updated On: 5/27/16 at 08:45 AM

I love how the producers chose to film the time-jump episodes after the actor playing Henry had grown up a bit - like, ya know, teenage boys do. Their attention to detail is pretty damn impressive.



Yes, I find Pastor Tim a touch creepy, too (though, not as creepy as I did in earlier episodes) and, yes, it did feel like Elizabeth was perhaps flirting with him to get him on her side. Although, I don't think that rules out that she may have derived some personal benefit from their brief one-on-one chats, too. That's part of what makes the character, and Keri Russell's portrayal of her so fascinating. There's never just one simple answer with her. I don't think I've been this fascinated by a single character since Joan and Peggy on Mad Men.



Although I saw that final scene in the most recent ep coming the second they started filming Elizabeth and Paige walking alone down shadowy DC streets, I still absolutely loved it. This is the beginning of Paige going deeper and truly understanding what her parents do.

After Alison as Martha, I'm Team Phillip/Clark/Mischa all the way. The way his character is written and brought to life by Matthew Rhys cannot be given enough superlatives. I've been constantly intrigued by the way in which he's dealt with Martha, Elizabeth, Paige, and his handlers. His marriage to Elizabeth was arranged as well as the relationship with Martha. And I suspect that the mother of his first-born and Martha are the two great loves of his life. Clearly, he's dutiful to the end but on his terms.

Phillip has boundaries and he's more than willing to enforce them. That all began when he beat a kid to death who was bullying him while growing up in Russia. There's no way in hell he'll allow either of his relatively soft Americanized children to be recruited into the service that he had forced upon him. And despite following orders with respect to Martha, he came clean with her when it mattered and helped her book safe passage when either side could have easily terminated her.

Phillip/Clark/Mischa and Martha must be reunited somehow. Viewers anticipated that Stan and Nina's great romance would end badly. It was clear when their arc had run its course. But, many of us are holding out for a brief Phillip-Martha reunion even if she's become disaffected toward him.

It's that Phillip was forced to part ways with the one woman in his adult life who loved him unconditionally, Martha. She keeps him in touch with his humanity. Irina seemed manipulative and Elizabeth typically places duty above all else. After realizing that he was in too deep with Martha, Elizabeth graciously (or tactically) offered him an out of their arrangement. As good of as agent as she is, Elizabeth knew that Martha had reached Phillip in ways that she never could. The actress Keri Russell sold the hell out of that act of resignation. It remains to be seen just what emotional toll the separation from Martha will exact on Phillip. I'd encourage Pastor Tim to avoid pissing him off next season.

Updated On: 5/29/16 at 08:17 PM

That's the beauty of the series. So much of it is subject to the viewers' interpretation. Neither the writing nor the acting is heavy-handed. There are always several nuances that allow viewers to either live vicariously through their favorite character(s) or recall their personal narratives.

Updated On: 5/30/16 at 09:46 AM

...This is the beginning of Paige going deeper...

I cannot wait to see the plot twists that await Pious Paige. You just know she's going to have to choose sides.

I have a feeling that Alice will soon be knocking on the pearly gates.

Not sure I agree with that, Petra. Remember, it was Henry who saw Stan at the door and immediately invited him to join them and who said there was plenty of food. If Philip then admonished Henry for doing this and disinvited Stan it would have looked a lot more fishy - to both Stan and Henry.

2 words describe tonight's season finale: Holy Crap

It will be torture waiting an eternity for next season to start.

Updated On: 6/8/16 at 11:55 PM

What a great show, what a great season. My two favorite characters are gone and the show somehow gets better. I do not think there is another show I can say that about. Shondraland should take notes.

I completely agree. I have lowered my expectations with season finales though. They just are not as good as many of the episodes mid season. Same thing happened with The Good Wife.