How Safe is Anyone, Really? Review: The Americans - "Cardinal"

Season 2, Episode 2

Airdate: Wednesday, March 5, 2014, 10 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

Following the deaths of the Jennings’ friends and comrades, Emmett (Jeremy Davidson) and Leanne Connors (Natale Gold), at the end of last week’s season premiere, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip (Matthew Rhys) must now reassess how safe their family is. In addition, Philip/Clark is in danger of losing his most valued ally inside the FBI, his pseudo wife Martha (Alison Wright). It’s interesting to watch him manipulate Martha into staying in her current position. Then again, Philip is a master manipulator.

Danger is Everywhere

I don’t blame the Jennings for being so afraid. Elizabeth sees danger lurking around every corner—from a runner to the workmen inside a utility van outside their neighbor’s home. No one seems to know who killed the Connors—was it the FBI, the CIA; even the Soviets don’t know—but if I had to guess, I’d say it was Claudia (Margo Martindale). After all, she certainly has enough reasons to seek revenge on the Jennings. We know Martindale will briefly reprise her role this season, and what better way to do it than to scare the bejesus out of Elizabeth and Philip. What do you think?

Disguises and More

Another one of Philip’s disguises.

Rhys is one fantastic actor; he proves it each week on The Americans with the help of his various wigs and disguises. He personifies each character he portrays. But it’s not just the wigs that help him in this regard; he knows exactly how to connect with his mark. In “Cardinal,” Philip is sent to check out Fred (John Carroll Lynch), Emmett’s agent, to find out whether he’s the one responsible for killing the Connors. Not only does Philip diffuse a dangerous situation, he appeals to Fred’s more vulnerable side, leading to one of the more heartbreaking scenes in “Cardinal.”

The Office Jerk

Costa Ronin joins the cast this season as Oleg Igoravich, the son of a high ranking Soviet official and administrative assistant within the Rezidentura. Ronin is an actor and cinematographer, most known for his turn in the 2011 movie Red Dog. In “Cardinal,” smarmy Oleg continues to hit on Nina (Annet Mahendru), and it is refreshing to watch her diffuse his every advance. “Eww!” is what I was thinking when he winks at Nina after their conversation. Even though The Americans takes place in the 1980s, an era during which women’s lib has become an accepted norm, many men still think it’s OK to hit on women in the workplace. Sexual harassment laws, sadly, are still a long way off on The Americans. Not that they would make a difference inside the Rezidentura. Oleg also thinks he’s more important than he actually is but hey, he can’t be all that bad…he jams to Rod Stewart at work!

One Cold-Hearted Bitch

Nina is ready to leave her little love nest with Stan

Now that Nina is a double agent, I thought it might be hard for her to separate her loyalty to Mother Russia from her desire to live the American lifestyle. But when she finally learns the truth about who killed her friend Vlad (Vitaly Benko) in season one, she doesn’t have a hard time at all. Her hatred for Stan (Noah Emmerich) is clearly evident on her face but what strikes me the most is the stiff, robotic manner she uses while typing her report for Arkady (Lev Gorn) about her meeting with Stan juxtaposed with the loving and sexy persona she adopts with him in their love nest. Sooner rather than later, Nina is going to have to make a choice. Care to bet on which side she lands?

Funny moments

Elizabeth and Philip’s reactions when Stan brings a bunch of FBI agents/friends into the Jennings’ travel agency. Even more laughable is Elizabeth’s recommendation of Montreal as the site for a bachelor party for one of the guys, followed by Philip’s wiser recommendation of a dude ranch.

When Bruce Dameran (Erik Jensen), “a walk-in,” shows up at the Rezidentura asking to speak with someone, Arkady instructs one of the officers (Sergey Nagorny) to get the Director of Security before letting the stranger in. But the director isn’t on the grounds: “He’s at the grocery, with his wife.”

This Week’s Nods to the 80s

Oleg wanting to meet Blondie and his love of “new wave music.”
A Playboy magazine with Bo Derek from the movie 10 on the cover
An Empire Strikes Back game
A Sentry Olds Funny Car model kit

Poignant Dialogue

Following Philip’s return home, he and Elizabeth discuss what the future holds for them.

Elizabeth: “How are we going to live like this?”

Philip: “We’ll get used to it…like we got used to everything else.”

Overall

There isn’t one thing to dislike in “Cardinal.” There’s danger, irony, suspicious actions, double agents, heartbreaking emotions, smart dialogue, and the fantastic acting we’ve come to expect from everyone in The Americans. As a matter of fact, how ironic is it that Elizabeth is playing Milton Bradley’s “The Game of Life” with the kids when she gets her usual phone call with the codes? The Jennings’ lives are certainly not what Bradley intended when he created his game. It is clear Philip and Elizabeth are finally on the same page when it comes to their marriage and protecting their children at all costs. Stan, on the other hand, is falling deeper in love with Nina, and one of these days, I fear that will color and/or endanger his actions. And just what kind of information is Dameran selling to the Soviets and why?

Leave me a comment below or tweet me @SeasideTV after you’ve seen “Cardinal,” and let me know what you think about the episode. I’d love to discuss it with you!

Tune in to The Americans Wednesdays at 10:00 pm ET/PT, only on FX.

LIKE The Americans on Facebook.

Follow the show on Twitter, as well as these cast members: Philip @MatthewRhys, Stan Beeman @NoahEmmerich, and Nina @AnnetMahendru. Use the hashtag #TheAmericans.

Visit the show’s official website.

And don’t forget to check in with The Americans at tvtag, formerly known as GetGlue.

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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!