The Americans TV Show Finale

[amcnj]

Was anyone watching the the tv show The Americans? If so, what did you think of the series finale? Were you OK with the way it concluded?

 

[ronandannette]

Was anyone watching the the tv show The Americans? If so, what did you think of the series finale? Were you OK with the way it concluded?

We watched every single episode over the years and LOVED the show. Personally, I wanted Philip to defect and Elizabeth to either be taken out by the Soviets or prosecuted for treason in the US. She was always the more ideological and ruthless of the two. I guess that would have been too conventional and predictable an ending though. I wonder if Philip planned to look up Martha?

 

[abdmom]

I watched the first 3 seasons, but found I couldn't stomach the violence so skipped seasons 4 and 5. I tried to watch all of the last season though. I thought the last episode was good. I was kind of sad that Stan didn't take them in. I liked the plot points with Paige and Henry.

 

[low-key]

Loved this show, I thought every season got better. And coming into the end, you knew things had to change, they could not remain the same. I wa sok with the ending, wrapped up a lot but still had 3 things I needed closure on .

1. Was Stans wife a spy
2. Paige is wanted, how is she gonna survive
3. And I wish they had some closure on Martha

they need to do a movie, and have it takes place today, and have them all get together for a reunion

 

[marybet]

Loved this show, I thought every season got better. And coming into the end, you knew things had to change, they could not remain the same. I wa sok with the ending, wrapped up a lot but still had 3 things I needed closure on .

1. Was Stans wife a spy
2. Paige is wanted, how is she gonna survive
3. And I wish they had some closure on Martha

they need to do a movie, and have it takes place today, and have them all get together for a reunion

I agree with all three points, they had an hour and a half so plenty of time for a little more content. I could have done with less moody driving down the road music and a little more action. Maybe we'll get a Paige spin-off, although since the FBI knows who she is I doubt it. I'll miss this show.

 

[low-key]

I agree with all three points, they had an hour and a half so plenty of time for a little more content. I could have done with less moody driving down the road music and a little more action. Maybe we'll get a Paige spin-off, although since the FBI knows who she is I doubt it. I'll miss this show.

the most satisfying part was when Stan went to take care of Henry

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I've watched and I think the finale was very well written. I was haunted by it and have been thinking of it off and on for days, but I don't know anyone IRL that watches it to talk to! It wasn't super action packed but it affected me more emotionally than any other episode. Haunted is the best word I can use to describe the feeling I was left with.

I assume Paige is living the life of the person in her passport. I do wonder how she will survive and what she'll do. Of all of them, she is the one left alone the most. Elizabeth and Philip have each other, Henry has Stan, but Paige is alone.

I was left wondering if Stan's GF/wife (did they get married?) is a spy and that bugged me not to have answered.

 

[ronandannette]

I've watched and I think the finale was very well written. I was haunted by it and have been thinking of it off and on for days, but I don't know anyone IRL that watches it to talk to! It wasn't super action packed but it affected me more emotionally than any other episode. Haunted is the best word I can use to describe the feeling I was left with.

I assume Paige is living the life of the person in her passport. I do wonder how she will survive and what she'll do. Of all of them, she is the one left alone the most. Elizabeth and Philip have each other, Henry has Stan, but Paige is alone.

I was left wondering if Stan's GF/wife (did they get married?) is a spy and that bugged me not to have answered.

I'm going with the assumption that she was not. They were saying all kinds of crazy stuff in that scene just to mess with his head and keep him from a) shooting and/or b) apprehending them. It worked. Stan letting them go was an incredible disappointment to me but then again, I was hoping for a far more decisive and less surreal ending.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I'm going with the assumption that she was not. They were saying all kinds of crazy stuff in that scene just to mess with his head and keep him from a) shooting and/or b) apprehending them. It worked. Stan letting them go was an incredible disappointment to me but then again, I was hoping for a far more decisive and less surreal ending.

I don't think it was something Philip said to Stan to try and get away. He didn't say it until they were getting into the car and he and Elizabeth had expressed concern in the past about the girlfriend possibly being a spy. I think it was Philip trying to still be a friend to Stan, even though it was a comment that could be helpful and hurtful.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

Meh. I got turned off when Keri left her husband for Matthew. Yuck

 

[Christine]

I feel so-so about the ending. Not sure what I was hoping for though.

I always sort of knew that Henry would stay.
Paige was the bigger surprise. Hard to say what she will do. She could stay in Canada and live under the false identity, but I don't think she'll have the wits and savvy (and resources) to continue to pull that off. I like to think that she goes back to the States, hooks up with Stan (he won't 100% turn her in because he let her parents go) to turn herself in and tell them what she knows, and then is released. Maybe put into FBI backed witness protection program.

I always thought Stan's girlfriend Renee was part of the spy ring. Still do.

I felt the worst for Oleg, I think.

 

[GreatLakes]

I don't think it was something Philip said to Stan to try and get away. He didn't say it until they were getting into the car and he and Elizabeth had expressed concern in the past about the girlfriend possibly being a spy. I think it was Philip trying to still be a friend to Stan, even though it was a comment that could be helpful and hurtful.

Philip and Elisabeth were questioning it in the past season and I think even asked their handler about it. I think this was Philip trying to do the right thing and be a friend to Stan.

I loved this series and think the ending was great which isn't something you always get. My prediction was the Elisabeth would get killed and the other three would defect and go into witness protection but I think this ending was also good.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I feel so-so about the ending. Not sure what I was hoping for though.

I always sort of knew that Henry would stay.
Paige was the bigger surprise. Hard to say what she will do. She could stay in Canada and live under the false identity, but I don't think she'll have the wits and savvy (and resources) to continue to pull that off. I like to think that she goes back to the States, hooks up with Stan (he won't 100% turn her in because he let her parents go) to turn herself in and tell them what she knows, and then is released. Maybe put into FBI backed witness protection program.

I always thought Stan's girlfriend Renee was part of the spy ring. Still do.

I felt the worst for Oleg, I think.

Paige never went to Canada. She got off the train at the border stop and stayed in the US. She returned to the apartment where she and Elizabeth would meet the older Russian lady (can't think of her name now). The apartment was empty since she had left too. So it basically showed Paige all alone in the only place she had really made deep connections with her mother and yet knew she'd never see her again and would be alone for the future. I am sure she would be scared to contact Stan/Henry at least for a very long time. She really is all alone with not a lot of skills etc. She had some basic spying skills but not enough to get by alone. She can't just return as a student etc. and live a normal life. I see her finding a church somewhere and getting into missionary programs or something.

 

[Christine]

Paige never went to Canada. She got off the train at the border stop and stayed in the US. She returned to the apartment where she and Elizabeth would meet the older Russian lady (can't think of her name now). The apartment was empty since she had left too. So it basically showed Paige all alone in the only place she had really made deep connections with her mother and yet knew she'd never see her again and would be alone for the future. I am sure she would be scared to contact Stan/Henry at least for a very long time. She really is all alone with not a lot of skills etc. She had some basic spying skills but not enough to get by alone. She can't just return as a student etc. and live a normal life. I see her finding a church somewhere and getting into missionary programs or something.

Darn, I *knew* that. I guess I rephrased it wrong. I guess she could go to Canada with the ID she had, but yes, you're correct, she didn't actually go through entry since she got off the train.

I agree with you on her not being able to live a normal life; however, they will be looking for her and I don't think she has the skills to go underground. I guess I hoped she would just go back to Stan. Stan is the only one who knew that she "knew" since she was 16. He's already lied about seeing the Jennings and he let them go. Paige could find her way back to Stan and they could come up with a story that she fled with her parents and was lied to by them. She could probably get away with it. Once it all settles down, she then needs to leave a go with that pastor and his wife.

 

[amcnj]

I enjoyed the show, and the finale, though it did not end the way I would have preferred. It was a sad ending for many of the characters. So many lives now up in the air at best, ruined at worst. Stan may be done both professionally and in his new personal life, if only due to his own mental state/guilt/uncertainty. Philip and Elizabeth literally got away with murder, multiple times and some were very innocent people. While they don't know what will happen to them back in Russia, and lost their children, I am still not sure it was punishment enough for some of the things they did. Paige did choose this life and did choose to stay behind, so while I do wonder what will become of her, she at least chose her path. I guess one can debate if she was really ready to make such choices though. It would be interesting to see if she continues to follow in her mother's footsteps or decides she is done with that life. Henry is the innocent here, but at least he will have Stan to hopefully see him through whatever lies ahead for him. I guess it will help that he was more independent now, living away at school. And maybe his presence will help Stan cope with it all better too.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

I read a really good interview this morning by the shows Russian interpretor - I can't find it now to save my life but if I do, I'll link to it. His parents immigrated to America from Russia about the same time the show started so he had some interesting insights on what might lie ahead for Phillip and Elizabeth in Russia - like how marketable their english skills and knowledge of Americans would be once the Soviet Union falls (only a few years ahead for them). He also brought up, based on his parents feelings, how they may have to come to terms in a few years with the fact that they basically gave up their lives for nothing - the Soviet Union falls, capitalism rises, the Cold War ends, etc.

Anyway, it was really interesting and I'm putting way too much thought into television characters.

 

[amcnj]

I read a really good interview this morning by the shows Russian interpretor - I can't find it now to save my life but if I do, I'll link to it. His parents immigrated to America from Russia about the same time the show started so he had some interesting insights on what might lie ahead for Phillip and Elizabeth in Russia - like how marketable their english skills and knowledge of Americans would be once the Soviet Union falls (only a few years ahead for them). He also brought up, based on his parents feelings, how they may have to come to terms in a few years with the fact that they basically gave up their lives for nothing - the Soviet Union falls, capitalism rises, the Cold War ends, etc.

Anyway, it was really interesting and I'm putting way too much thought into television characters.

It’s nice to come upon a show occasionally that does make you think! And those were some interesting possibilities for Mr and Mrs Jennings back in Russia.