The Americans - "Born Again" Retrospective. Truths and Lies Get the Job Done.

Season 3, Episode 6

Air Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 10 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“It’s about always being true to yourself because no one knows what’s better for you than you. Even if they care for you, or have your best interests at heart, you should always be true to yourself.” – Philip

Father Tim applauds Paige’s accomplishments. I’ve never seen her so happy.

Wise words, Philip (Matthew Rhys) after Paige’s (Holly Taylor) baptism; too bad she doesn’t get your drift. Little does Father Tim (Kelly AuCoin) know how accurate he is when commending Paige for always being on the “front lines” during the church’s political rallies. The good father also likens Paige’s baptism to her “most defiant act yet.” Something tells me that isn’t quite true. Although, the look on Paige’s face is one of pure joy, something we haven’t seen from her in a very long time.

Paige’s Conversion

Philip’s message when applauding Paige’s “faith” is cryptic at best. Actually, it’s comical considering what she thinks Philip is talking about. It’s obvious, at least to me, Philip is talking about Elizabeth (Keri Russell). But Elizabeth has a talk of her own with Paige that pinpoints how far the mother and daughter have come. What I find most interesting is how Paige tries to convert Elizabeth into her way of thinking just as Elizabeth plans to convert Paige into becoming a spy. Is religion truly the answer or a means to an end?

EST

A family dinner wasn’t what I had in mind last week when I said Tori and Stan should date.

We finally learn what “EST” means—“Erhard Training Seminars”—as Tori (guest star Callie Thorne) explains during dinner with Henry (Keidrich Sellati), Stan (Noah Emmerich), and the Jennings. This scene contains the most dialogue Sellati has had throughout The Americans and he more than holds his own as Henry asks Tori questions about EST. It’s a bit strange to see Thorne act so chaste in this scene as I’m used to seeing her as a sexual being from her roles in Rescue Me and Necessary Roughness. Although, Tori’s outer persona changes quickly when she and Stan go home. Tori knows just how to get under Stan’s skin… Suffice it to say, I think Tori will be good for Stan; maybe she’ll be able to bring him out of that stiff outer shell. Wouldn’t that be fun to see?

The Effects of Death

Speaking of Stan, Agent Dennis Aderholt (Brandon J. Dirden) brings him some sad news about a former partner that has a profound effect on Stan. His first thought is to call Sandra (Susan Misner) because that’s what one does in time of crisis—share your innermost feelings with the one you love. What a shock when Stan hears, “Hi, this is Arthur. If you have a message for me, Sandra, or Matthew, leave your name, number, and time of your call after the beep.” It’s about time Stan accepts that Sandra has moved on with her new boyfriend, Arthur (Remy Auberjonois); he should do the same. To be fair, Sandra can be misleading with the way she acts when she and Stan are around each other so it’s not entirely Stan’s fault for acting the way he does. Is Sandra keeping the door open?

Doing Whatever is Necessary

From “Dimebag,” we know Nina (Annet Mahendru) is trying to get her roommate Evi (guest star Katja Herbers) to talk. I wonder whether Nina’s analysis of Oleg (Costa Ronin) and Stan is true in her mind or whether she uses her relationships with them as a means of getting Evi to talk about her boyfriend. It’s amazing how gullible women can be when it comes to “love,” as we finally learn about Evi’s guilt. I know Nina hates these conversations with Evi but if she’s ever to get out of prison, they are a necessary evil. Evi being dragged from her cell, yelling “Nina, what did you do? Nina…..!” is perhaps the most heartbreaking of all the scenes in “Born Again.” I completely empathize with Nina; turning on someone you like is a terrible thing to have to do in order to save yourself.

Kimmie’s Raging Hormones

Philip does a good job of reining Kimmie back in after he almost loses her.

In last week’s episode, “Salang Pass,” Philip’s relationship with Kimmie (guest star Julie Garner) heated up, to the point where I was uncomfortable watching the two together. Kimmie is still pushing for a sexual relationship with Philip and even though he deftly avoids going there in “Born Again,” it won’t be long before he succumbs, if Gabriel (guest star Frank Langella) has anything to say about it. What I find curious is Gabriel’s mention of Misha (unseen), the son Philip had with Irina (Marina Squerciati), his former lover. Misha, now 20 years old, is a member of the “345^th independent paratroop regimen…I’ve been checking on him and he’s a good soldier.” Since Gabriel hasn’t told Elizabeth about Misha, it’s almost as if he is holding the young man’s existence over Philip’s head to get him to do what he wants. Interestingly, Kimmie’s search for a father figure in her life makes Philip even more desirable when he confesses Misha’s existence to her. The Americans always has a way of making lies seem convincing by adding a bit of truth to them, which is exactly what happens with Nina as well when she discusses Oleg and Stan with Evi.

The Next Mission Unfolds

Elizabeth unwittingly receives her next mission from Gabriel based on what Hans (Peter Mark Kendall), the “super spy provocateur,” tells her about Todd (unseen), a member of the anti-apartheid meeting Hans attends on campus. Surprisingly, Todd is important enough for Gabriel to tell Elizabeth to look into him. What a commentary Gabriel states about President Reagan’s relationship with the leaders of South Africa at the time. “I think Mr. Reagan has made some very bad friends in South Africa. The whole world watches while he cozies up to the most racist government on the planet. And we are going to break him with it.” When the conversation turns to Gabriel’s relationship with Philip, especially where Paige is concerned, Elizabeth makes an interesting comment. “He knows I’m going ahead without him.” I haven’t a clue how Elizabeth is going to turn Paige into a spy but I’m sure it will be good. Elizabeth will stop at nothing, which is why she takes Paige to Gregory’s (Derek Luke) old neighborhood and tells her about their relationship in the final scenes of “Born Again,” stating, “I’m more like you than you think.”

Other Observations

I enjoyed the brief moment of levity in “Born Again,” when Philip and Elizabeth giggle over the joint they smoke and he comments, “Jesus really came through for me tonight.” Shame on you, Philip, for taking the Lord’s name in vain like that! I couldn’t stop laughing either.

After reporting her latest conversation with Evi, Nina receives a bite to eat from a Soviet officer (Misha Kuznetsov). Poor thing; she shoves the food in her mouth as if it were the last meal she’ll ever enjoy.

This Week’s Bits of Nostalgia

Philip has Kimmie listen to a Pink Floyd song on a Walkman.

Overall

While “Born Again” isn’t as boring as “Salang Pass,” the pacing continues to be slow in furthering the various story lines of the season. It seems to me The Americans is becoming more of a slow-and-steady-wins-the-race kind of show this season, which isn’t bad if that’s the kind of show you like. Me, I prefer more action in my spy series. All that aside, Rhys and Russell turn in some of their most convincing acting in “Born Again,” as does Mahendru. That in itself is what keeps me coming back week after week.

What did you think of “Born Again?” Are you satisfied with the pace of the show this season? Leave me a comment below, or tweet me @SeasideTV. I’d love to discuss the episode with you!

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Follow these cast members on Twitter: Philip @MatthewRhys, Stan Beeman @NoahEmmerich, Oleg Burov @CostaRonin, Martha @Alison_Wright, Paige @HollyTaylor97, and Nina @AnnetMahendru, as well as the group “The Americans Fans” @https://twitter.com/TheAmericansFan.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!