I only recently discovered The Americans thanks to the New York Times’ list of the top 100 shows of the 21st century. After seeing so many people celebrate its inclusion on Twitter and be sort of, but probably jokingly, annoyed that it wasn't as high as they wanted, plus knowing Matthew Rhys' wonderful work on Widow's Bay, I decided to give the show a try.

Well, here I am, a few weeks later, having just closed the curtain on the series finale about fifteen minutes ago!

What a fucking finale. What a show! Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are perhaps the most complex characters I've ever had the privilege of following. They do some truly awful things; actions that, if any other character made them, would instantly make them an irredeemable villain. And yet never once did I lose faith (no matter how many times Elizabeth especially tested my patience, lol) that they would one day realize that family is the most important thing, that family is the revolution, not blindly following orders.

As Philip said near the end, "They tell us what to do, I know. That's how it works. But we do it. We do it."

Perhaps controversially, I found the spy stuff in this show to be the least interesting aspect of it all.

Which is fascinating to me! What I loved most was the family drama. How the job affected Philip and Elizabeth's relationship with each other, their kids, and Stan; the same goes for Stan and Sandra, and Oleg and Nina. The aftermath is what I craved. Any scene of those characters talking about what they went through, how it affected their psyche, their relationship with the other person, whatever. I lived for that stuff.

Philip's arc was incredibly moving for me. Of course, Elizabeth's was too, especially when we got to the paintings and that whole beautiful metaphor, but I see myself in Philip. His desire to bury his feelings, to sacrifice his happiness for others, those he loves, bottling it all, morals, ethics, and his own sanity be damned. I fucking loved his arc.

The ending was so beautiful. I knew Stan would never turn them in, yet that moment drew the most tears and heavy breathing from me. Paige staying behind is CRAZY, and the fact that we don't know her fate, if Rene is truly a spy, what Henry truly thinks, and even if Philip and Elizabeth will be welcomed home or not is so beautiful, annoying, poetic, and perfect. It's life, I think. This show is realistic as fuck.

Will that stop me from hopefully finding some good fan fic that takes place after season 6 to give my weak heart some closure? Probably not. But dammit, that was a good ending.

My favorite episode of the entire show, however, is still the one in season 3, I think, where Elizabeth stays with that old woman and talks about her life until she ODs on heart pills. That scene was fucking flawless.

I have many critiques of the show. I do not think it was perfect. I'd give it an 8.5/10 or a 4.35/5 depending on the scale. I could go into my issues, but I'll save that for my review on Serialized lol.

If anyone wants to yap about the show or get my thoughts on whatever, I'd be glad to chat!

I'm glad to join you, Comrades!

British guy here. I’ve just started watching this series. Absolute belter of a show!

Close to finishing series 2.

Really enjoying the slow burn character development.

I seem to be dipping more into this espionage genre. I’m also watching Spooks and Slow Horses. Also adored Deutschland 83/86/89 (but that’s far glossier)

Are there any other complete series which have the same feel anyone can recommend? I’m likely to finish the whole thing by the end of the month!

Once Phillip called Elizabeth and said they had been made why did they then run away with no disguises?!? Stan would have cornered them anyway but it made no sense to me that they went to pick up Paige in hats lol. After all that they didn't think that anyone would be watching her apartment? I found they started getting really sloppy in the final season but I guess that is the point as the whole thing starts to unravel. Curious to hear what others think!

1. It’s incredibly slipshod of Phillip to play street hockey out in the front driveway. If Americans knew anything about the Russians in the early 80s it was that they were hockey fans and serious players. It’s an actual subplot later in the series. Philip should have installed a basketball hoop and should be playing one on one with Henry.
   
2. Even if they did admit their hockey fandom, they should have been fanatical Capitals fans and merch wearers. But we see no posters in Henry’s room and we never hear them discuss the team.
   
3. The Washington football team (I won’t say the team’s name back then) was the best in the league in the early 80s. Phillip’s indifference to the team (he nonchalantly blows off watching the Super Bowl!) would have been a huge red flag no pun intended to Stan.