TV TUESDAYS: THE AMERICANS (FX)

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This show completely took me by surprise in some aspects. The violence and fight scenes are very well choreographed and introduce how dangerous the lives of our main characters Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Phillip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), two Russian KGB agents living the ‘American Dream’. The opening scene is Elizabeth Jennings hard at work, undercover trying to get top secret information out of an FBI agent and then within two minutes we are Every time they are at work using their Russian Spy disguises the world/surroundings change. Their world becomes darker, from the set to costumes and definitely their demeanors. Seeing the couple take on these different personas is remarkable to watch because of the way these actors have to constantly keep becoming different characters. I enjoyed seeing how and who these people will become on top of their biggest roles they play in the show, which is a loving American couple with two children, oh and who have an FBI agent in counterintelligence as their new neighbor.  

What kept me intrieged in the show besides the whole Russian Spies living among us theme is the certain little quips and mocks it has to that era. Like one scene where the daughter, Paige Jennings (Holly Taylor) is talking about space travel, especially the moon landing and Elizabeth remarks on how it’s getting into space that is important not just landing on the moon, showing her feelings towards her Mother Russia getting into space before USA. That lead me to another surprise, which is Elizabeth being the hard-core lover of all things Russia while the father and husband, Phillip being more accepting of the American ways and traditions. There is a scene when he’s shopping with his daughter for shoes and he tries on cowboy boots and does a gig, not even caring if people are watching. He’s the cute, corky dad and tries to be a loving husband to a more sterile, dry and quiet wife. I liked this role reversal because we get to see why she is so stubborn and set in her ways but it does make the dad more loveable and only that much more rewarding when he kicks the crap out of people who truly deserve it.

The storyline does get much darker as the series goes on but these inserts about the characters in the first few episodes does want to make the audience hold on and see how this non-traditional family deals with their lives as Russian spies and Americans. However, I don’t like choppiness of the editing sometimes, especially during fight scenes but the overall atmosphere and camera set ups to reveal storyline and nature of the characters and their relationships is very effective and kept me engaged. I give this show a seven out of ten and find that it’s the storyline that really keeps me intrigued to watch it more.