"The Clock" - What I appreciated about "The Americans" from very early on was how brutal it was. The second episode left more of an impact on me than the first because it established that Jennings were willing to do terrible things to innocent people in order to get the job done. Every opportunity that comes up to sugarcoat or soften their actions is ruthlessly denied. This is also the beginning of Stan and Nina's relationship, which was such a huge part of the show's early years.
"Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?" - The show's most disturbing execution is one that happens with little violence. Lois Smith's appearance is so brief, but also utterly unforgettable as she verbally spars with Elizabeth. It's another reminder of the terrible chaos that the Jennings often wreak without a thought. The show's beloved mail robot was such a fun running joke, and it was exciting to see it actually become a major plot point in this season, but it's difficult to look at it the same way after this.
"March 8, 1983" - Paige was always a difficult character for me, because she came across as so painfully naive for so long. The third season did a good job of keeping her hard to predict, but also selling Elizabeth's genuine attempts at connecting with her. The trip to West Germany is poignant and touching. That's why the cliffhanger hits as hard as it does. I found the Pastor Tim storyline left a lot to be desired, but the show mined a lot of good melodrama from it and some really terrific tension.
"Chloramphenicol" - Poor Nina. I always liked her so much better than Stan, and was hopeful that the show would continue to figure out ways to keep Annet Mahendru around. However, it would have been entirely against the ethos of "The Americans" to soften any consequences, so Nina had to go. The quarantine storyline with the Jennings stuck away from the kids, and Martha's worsening situation are also excellent, helping to set up bigger developments later in the season. Which brings us to...
"The Rat" - Poor Martha. She was doomed for a very long time, but being stuck in the safe house with Gabriel, with Philip away on another job, finally helps her to realize it. Alison Wright was even harder to lose than Annet Mahendru as a series regular, but the material she got in this run of episodes made her departure worth it. The whole second half of the season with Martha's tense exfiltration was excellent, but this installment in particular stands out for Wright's stellar performance.
"The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears" - The fallout of Martha's departure hits everyone, and all the tensions in the Jennings' household boil over. Philip and Elizabeth finally start talking, and every resentment and grudge we've seen since the beginning of the series finally gets hashed out. Even Claudia and Gabriel get involved by the end. It's an explosive hour, and the really thrilling parts aren't the violent ones. This was the high point of the show's best season.
"Dyatkovo" - Sometimes the one-off missions had the best moments of "The Americans." A simple hit on a Nazi collaborator in hiding turns into one of the tensest, most emotionally fraught situations that Philip and Elizabeth ever encounter. The fifth season was a slow burn, but it had plenty of strong episodes like this one, where the Jennings come to a major decision after looming tensions finally become too much to bear. Also, this is the one where Henry meets the Mail Robot.
"Harvest" - The most technically impressive episode of the final year, built around a big action set piece where a mission in Chicago goes terribly wrong. We had seen Philip and Elizabeth have major failures before, but the death of a fellow agent hits particularly hard here because the Jennings make so many personal compromises just to make the attempt to retrieve him. Even more worrying, their absence resurrects Stan's old suspicions, setting up the show's long-awaited finale.
"The Summit" - Elizabeth was always the true believer and the loyalist compared to Philip, but her gradual loss of faith over the last season feels completely right. Erica's death and the decision to spare Jackson are both momentous in different ways, and then there's the bombshell from Claudia. Keri Russell carried so much of the show, and I'm glad that she got so many little moments here to really sell Elizabeth's soul searching and difficult change of heart.
"START" - And finally, I will once again gush over Matthew Rhys and that amazing scene in the parking structure. And the U2 backed scene on the train. And the phone call. And the last few minutes with the former Jennings in Russia. Dasvidanya, "The Americans."
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