"Pilot" Analysis: "The Americans"

Introduction

"The Americans" is a thrilling suspenseful and action-packed period spy drama/thriller television (TV) series that aired in the FX TV's network from January 30, 2013, to May 30, 2018. Joe Weisberg is the writer and the executive producer of the show, which is set in the 1980s at the height of the Cold War. It discretely depicts the ever-increasing espionage games and exploits the villain-hero sentiments around clandestine activities that pitted the Soviet Union and the United States at the time. The show recounts the story of its two protagonists, Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), who live as typical husband and wife in the Virginia outskirts of Washington, D.C. The couple has two children, Paige (Holly Taylor) and Henry (Keidrich Sellati). Like everyone else, Paige and Henry do not know that their parents are Soviet undercover agents living a KBG prearranged life. Thus, the show's twist is the irony that a seemingly perfect American family is a mere elaborate cover.

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Scene one of the "Pilot" opens in 1981 at a dimly lit nightclub in Washington D.C., where Elizabeth - who is blond and in a black dress - is on a mission to compromise a man who works in the Department of Justice. Elizabeth provocatively rolls her eyes, holding the man in a trance as he rambles on about something to do with the president. The man flashes his work ID and Elizabeth sensually runs her finger over his picture and whispers "so handsome" (00:01:09). The man continues that whatever he is telling her is sensitive and "could be dangerous" before they move into a room for sex (00:01:16). On the background, a heartbroken woman laments her lover's deception in a mournful song.

The appearance and mannerism of Elizabeth in this section exemplifies the classic spy narrative, where a beautiful woman seduces her target and extract information as her handlers have instructed. Additionally, the eerie music foreshadows the show will revolve around intricate ruses that later fall apart.

Scene two begins with the camera focused on Nikolai Timoshev as he gets off a Trailways bus and walks down the stairs into a run-down bus station followed by a few African-American people. It is dark and shadows dominate the landscape. Elizabeth and Philip are in the subsequent mission together - grabbing Timoshev who has defected to the US. The couple catches Timoshev and shove him into the car trunk. Philip drives to a dark alley and changes the license plates to Virginian's ones, before speeding towards the rendezvous point to hand over Timoshev to the KGB. Unfortunately, they miss the exchange and must take Timoshev with them to their home.

Scene three takes place at the FBI counterintelligence offices, where Timoshev's handler awaits his arrival. The handler is anxious that Timoshev is running late, which is unlike him. He is unaware that Elizabeth and Philip intercepted Timoshev.

Scene four opens in the Jennings' garage where Timoshev is still tied up in the trunk. Philip removes Timoshev's gag, threatens to kill him if he makes any noise, and tries to have him take a drink from a cup he is holding. However, Timoshev is only interested in convincing Philip to also defect. Philip angrily re-gags his captive and walks into the brightly lit dining room where Paige and Henry are taking breakfast before leaving for school. He effortlessly lies the car would not start, hence he will have to take the train to work.

The above opening scenes swiftly ease the audience into the fascinating double life Phillip and Elizabeth lead. Almost instantaneously, the couple can switch from threatening to kill a man in the basement to happily chatting with their kids on the dining table. Phillip (Goldman). and Elizabeth comfortably plays parents in the living room, while a person they tied up and gagged is in the trunk of their car several steps away. These contradictory personalities somehow blur the hero-villain line. The dark alleys with eerie shadows, when the couple awaits to abduct Timoshev, allude to a covert and a corrupt world that is full of crimes. The brightly lit dining room indicates transparency and happiness. The use of the song "Tusks" by the Fleetwood Mac also foreshadows the couple's secret identities - lovely parents one minute and dangerous killer the next.

The "Pilot" also relies more on coincidences (Goldman). For instance, the traitor who the couple is to grab has a dark history with Elizabeth (Goldman). Additionally, the show's takes a twist when the FBI agent Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) and his family move into the house next to the Jennings' (Goldman). These coincidences elevate conflicts among characters, which in turn intensifies suspense. For instance, knowing that agent Beeman is living next door and that his task is to expose sleeper agents, precisely what Elizabeth and Philip are, adds some tension to the plot as the series progresses (Goldman).

The "Pilot" also utilizes flashback (Goldman), helping the audience get some background information regarding characters such as why is Philip more reluctant to kill Timoshev than Elizabeth. Also, we see them train thus the audience does not keep wondering how comes they are so good at fighting. However, it is disturbing to see Russel looking the same in 1960 as she does in 1981. Both Rhys and Russell portrayal of Philip and Elizabeth is magnificent. For instance, they face their first conflict in the episode as they argue whether they should momentarily abandon their mission and help their injured colleague (Rob). While Philip supports helping Rob, Elizabeth is emphatic they should not (Goldman). Also, when Timoshev is still alive in the car trunk at their garage, Philip tries to pursued Elizabeth that they take him to the Americans but she refuses. On both cases, Elizabeth comes out as stronger and more dedicated of the two, while Phillip is more sympathetic. Additionally, Rhys and Russell seal their excellent performance by instantly creating this bizarre dynamic, depicting individuals have been husband and wife for a lengthy period, albeit their union being for explicit reasons. Lastly, the actors are enjoyable to watch in the fighting scenes for their skills are convincing.

Works Cited

Goldman, Eric. "The Americans: ""Pilot"" Review." IGN, 30 Jan. 2013, www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/30/the-americans-"Pilot"-review. Accessed 22 Mar. 2019.

"Pilot": The Americans, season 1, episode 1, FX, 30 Jan. 2013.