My thoughts on Season 4 of The Americans
I just finished watching the fourth season of the Americans. The problem with writing my thoughts down as soon as I'm done with this season is the fucking season cliffhanger tastes very bitter.
Thinking about it more coolly... I understand there were some resolutions. Trade-craft related, we got Martha's arc finishing mid-season, the Rezidentura and FBI staff changes towards the end. Light stuff considering screen times. Also, the bio-weapons arc was merely this season's McGuffin, with the prior season's being the Stealth Tech TM. This shows leaves a lot to be desired in terms of feeling there's an overall direction to all the spying. The recipe so far has been:
Even though Paige was a bit of a nuisance last season, I get the writers found a nice story vein with her character, and are doubling down on that. She's like the viewer at the start of the show, unaware of the inner details of what it is to be a spy, but being drawn to it, enmeshing herself with the lifestyle of her parents, and like the viewer, getting trapped in all the bullshit and sense of insecurity, twenty-four seven.
I know that for tension (and rating) purposes, the stakes have to be necessarily high, and the viewer must feel the world is always on the brink of disaster. However, by the end of this season I was sure that a fifth would be a final one. More and more people are aware of who Elizabeth and Philip are, and each episode finds them struggling more and more to keep up their disguises. But then, when I looked up online, there are another four seasons planned. Four fucking seasons. Unless they come across a massive reset moment this will hit ridiculous MacGyver stakes.
I do like how Keri Russel and Matthew Rhys lower the quality of their acting when their characters are lying to other characters. They are purposefully being cheesy. Consciously or not, this makes the moments their characters are being true feel more genuine, so it's as if we the viewers have a privileged view into their lives. Neat!
I'll keep watching, at least the next season. I was drawn initially to how realistic the show felt. But as it drags along, it seems to be sacrificing character realism for stakes. I get why that is, but I'm not sure I can maintain my suspension of disbelief.
I still recommend it, I just fear for the future.
Until next year!
A LOT HAS BEEN LEFT UP IN THE AIR AND
TO ME, TO ME BABY, IT'S SO UNFAIR
Thinking about it more coolly... I understand there were some resolutions. Trade-craft related, we got Martha's arc finishing mid-season, the Rezidentura and FBI staff changes towards the end. Light stuff considering screen times. Also, the bio-weapons arc was merely this season's McGuffin, with the prior season's being the Stealth Tech TM. This shows leaves a lot to be desired in terms of feeling there's an overall direction to all the spying. The recipe so far has been:
- Season starts.
- The Centre determines the threat.
- Our Americans get cracking on with the case
- But really it's about the relationships, so let's explore feelings.
- The Americans get the thing that prevents the threat, but not without exposing themselves a little more and raising the stakes for next season.
Even though Paige was a bit of a nuisance last season, I get the writers found a nice story vein with her character, and are doubling down on that. She's like the viewer at the start of the show, unaware of the inner details of what it is to be a spy, but being drawn to it, enmeshing herself with the lifestyle of her parents, and like the viewer, getting trapped in all the bullshit and sense of insecurity, twenty-four seven.
I know that for tension (and rating) purposes, the stakes have to be necessarily high, and the viewer must feel the world is always on the brink of disaster. However, by the end of this season I was sure that a fifth would be a final one. More and more people are aware of who Elizabeth and Philip are, and each episode finds them struggling more and more to keep up their disguises. But then, when I looked up online, there are another four seasons planned. Four fucking seasons. Unless they come across a massive reset moment this will hit ridiculous MacGyver stakes.
I do like how Keri Russel and Matthew Rhys lower the quality of their acting when their characters are lying to other characters. They are purposefully being cheesy. Consciously or not, this makes the moments their characters are being true feel more genuine, so it's as if we the viewers have a privileged view into their lives. Neat!
I'll keep watching, at least the next season. I was drawn initially to how realistic the show felt. But as it drags along, it seems to be sacrificing character realism for stakes. I get why that is, but I'm not sure I can maintain my suspension of disbelief.
I still recommend it, I just fear for the future.
Until next year!