Binge Watchin’ TV Review: FX’s The Americans

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Welcome to Binge Watchin,’ where we take a look at some of the best TV shows available on streaming or disc that have a great catalogue of seasons to jump into and get sucked into the beautiful bliss of binge watching! From crime, action, comedy, drama, animation, etc., we’ll be evaluating an assortment of shows that will hopefully serve as a gateway to your next binge experience.

Series: The Americans

Number of Seasons: 2 (so far)

Where to watch: FX, FX Canada, Netflix (US), Amazon, Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube (paid), DVD, Blu-ray

What's the show about?:

On the surface, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip (Matthew Rhys) Jennings seem like the ideal 80’s American couple. They own their own business (a travel agency), they have the perfect nuclear family with a son and a daughter, and they own a picturesque home in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Little does anyone know, Elizabeth and Philip are actually Soviet agents, having spent the last fifteen years trying to blend-in. Their marriage, their jobs and even their kids are a cover, with the two regularly undertaking dangerous missions meant to turn the tide of the Cold War. Their devotion to the cause is so strong that neither will hesitate to kill anyone who gets in their way, even if, underneath it all, they’re both ultimately good people, fighting for a cause they believe is right.

Why should I watch?:

THE AMERICANS seemed like a hard-sell when FX announced it a few years ago. A period spy thriller revolving around Russian sleeper agents in 1980’s America during the Cold War? Towards the beginning of Glasnost, there were a few movies exploiting this fear, including two rightly forgotten ones, LITTLE NIKITA and THE EXPERTS (noteworthy only for being the movie John Travolta and Kelly Preston met on). While I had little doubt that THE AMERICANS would be good (this is FX after-all) I wasn’t so sure it would find an audience, especially given the fact that the two leads, a husband and wife team of agents, would be portrayed as loyal Soviet agents, capable of killing anyone who endangers their mission – innocent or not. On a network show, if by some miracle this made it through the development process, Philip and Elizabeth would have undoubtedly been portrayed as unwilling agents, or even ultimately heroic double agents. This is really the kind of show you’d only ever seen on cable.

While THE AMERICANS isn’t the ratings juggernaut FX’s SONS OF ANARCHY has proven to be, nor is it the cult phenomenon FARGO’s turning into, THE AMERICANS in still arguably the network’s most consistent show. It still hasn’t gotten the accolades it deserves (especially in the Emmy acting categories) but it’s built a loyal following and is especially enjoyable when watched in binge sessions. The pilot of THE AMERICANS perfectly sets the tone, with Philip and Elizabeth caught-up in a mission gone wrong (is there any other kind?) culminating in a terrific fight sequence for Matthew Rhys, memorably scored by Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Tusk’ (the music is exceptionally well-chosen throughout the series). Gavin O’Connor (WARRIOR) did a great job with the pilot, setting up the mixture of espionage action and human drama the show consistently delivers from episode to episode.

The show’s acting is especially good, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell making two exceptional lead characters with white-hot chemistry. For Russell, this part redefined her career. Watching her as the sexy, duplicitous, but sympathetic Elizabeth, she’s certainly escaped her FELICITY typecasting and established herself as an incredibly dynamic actress. The British-born Rhys is just as good, with him being the more immediately sympathetic of the duo, and the one less eager to spill innocent blood – not that he’d ever spare someone who could identify him. The fact that Elizabeth and Philip remain so sympathetic is a perfect example of how well-written and acted the show is. Even in episodes such as the one where Philip poisons a cleaning lady’s son to get her to plant a bug, or the sad side-plot about Philip’s sham relationship with FBI receptionist Martha (Alison Wright) you always want Philip and Elizabeth to succeed, even though they’re the “bad guys.” What’s even cooler is that Philip and Elizabeth seem to love each other, but also seem ready to betray each other if need be. Philip’s priority remains the well-being of their children, while Elizabeth is more ideological and devoted to the cause. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if eventually the two start to turn on each other, which should make for compelling TV.

Best Season:

For me, season two is the clear winner. Season one is very good but it does get a little bogged down in the subplot which finds Elizabeth and Philip’s marriage in jeopardy after they admit to having affairs outside their normal missions, which frequently find them seducing people in service of the cause. The season finale is also a little anti-climactic, although it does set the stage well for season two, which is far more assured. In the second season, THE AMERICANS starts to explore some of the more controversial events of the Cold War, such as the war in Nicaragua, and the Iran-Contra affair (with Oliver North even getting a co-story credit on some episodes). The supporting cast also gets more of a chance to shine, with their neighbor, Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), a conflicted FBI agent, getting numerous chances to shine, as does his mole/love interest, Soviet secretary Nina Sergeevna (Annet Mahendru).

Final Thoughts:

I really can’t recommend THE AMERICANS highly enough. It’s a compulsively watchable show, and probably one of my five current favorites. Each season taken as a whole adds up to an ingenious historical techno-thriller, and it’s arguably one of the smartest shows on TV, although it never skimps on action or sex appeal. If you haven’t watched it yet, with season three starting up this winter now’s the time to catch-up.