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<i>The Americans</i> – “March 8, 1983” Retrospective. Such a Disappointment.

  • By

  • April 22, 2015

  • 10 mins to read

Season 3, Episode 13

Air Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 10 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“I don’t know if I’d trust me again either, sir, but I got this asshole on tape. That’s proof. If this is the end of my career, it’s the end of my career. But Nina was our agent. We owe our agents anything we can do to help them if they get caught. That’s how it works, right?” – Stan

To say I am disappointed in “March 8, 1983” is putting it mildly. It comes as no surprise, though, as this is one of many episodes that was less than compelling this season. Compared with previous seasons of The Americans, this one turned out to be rather lackluster. Ever since “EST Men,” fans have been waiting for a resolution of the Paige (Holly Taylor) situation—whether to tell her the truth so she could follow in her parents’ footsteps or not. While it is true Paige now knows her parents are Russian spies, this story line is one of many that leaves me wanting more.

Stan’s plan doesn’t go the way he hoped.

In “March 8, 1983,” FBI agent Stan Beeman’s (Noah Emmerich) relationship with Russian operative Oleg Burov (Costa Ronin) comes to a conclusion of sorts when Stan confesses his partnership with Oleg to Agent Gaad (Richard Thomas). The whole plot point of Stan and Oleg working together to free Nina (Annet Mahendru), their mutual love interest, from prison seemed a bit unrealistic to me from the start; I just couldn’t picture any FBI agent working with the enemy, even if it is for a common cause. Color me shocked when Stan reveals there was a method to his madness all along, which is why he turns over a tape of his conversation with Oleg to Agent Gaad. Too bad all Stan does is anger Gaad and put himself in a very precarious situation. I don’t know about you but I loved when Deputy Attorney General Warren (guest star Cotter Smith) goes into Gaad’s office to talk.

Nina and scientist Anton Baklanov (guest star Michael Aronov) have a heart-to-heart during which she confesses she doesn’t think she can keep doing things “to buy her life back.” I don’t know how Mahendru does it, but she looks so young and so vulnerable in this scene. I don’t know whether this is a part of her plan to get what she needs from Anton to secure her release or whether she’s telling the truth.

Fans of The Americans have been waiting for a conclusion to Nina’s (Annet Mahendru) story. Sadly, they don’t get the resolution they’ve been waiting for. At the end of “March 8, 1983,” Nina is still in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison trying to get the information the Soviets want from Anton. I feel sorry for Anton. He is wracked with pain over the family he left behind in America. His statement to Nina, “All they have is my body,” is very telling of his emotions. Now that he has the photos he needs, it’s only a matter of time before he completes his mission. I’m certain he’ll be executed because once he’s done, what other purpose will he serve? And I think he knows that too.

The only interesting part of “March 8, 1983” revolves around Philip (Matthew Rhys). The audience learns not only has he been attending EST meetings ever since Stan took him to one in “EST Men,” but he has a very emotional reaction to solving the problem with Martha (Alison Wright), who unfortunately isn’t seen in this episode at all. After attending one particular meeting, or “graduate sex seminar” as Sandra (Susan Misner) calls it, something the EST leader (guest star David Eichenbaum) says makes Philip think. “Your body talks too, not just your mind. You’re so stuck in your mind but what you’re just learning is that these feelings in your gut are just as important…more important…than all the shit in your head.” The leader’s words have a very profound effect on Philip, and he approaches Sandra for solace. I think this scene gives Misner more to say than any other episode this season, and shows what a great actress she is. I’m not sure Philip can participate in the plan Sandra proposes going forward but it will be interesting to see where this goes.

Henry and Philip wish Paige and Elizabeth bon voyage.

We have watched Philip and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) grow closer this season despite disagreeing about Paige in several episodes. Now, Philip is all about his family and arranges for Elizabeth and Paige to visit Elizabeth’s sick mother (guest star Aleksandra Myrna). I thought the trip was sanctioned by the Center but apparently, that’s not the case. Gabriel (guest star Frank Langella) is more than angry with Philip for taking matters into his own hands and tells him to “grow up.” Sarcasm isn’t going to get Philip anywhere, no matter how much he tries to lay down the law.

For a woman who is supposed to be on her last legs, Elizabeth’s mother looks pretty damn good to me. After the build-up for this story line, I was extremely disappointed with how short the reunion is. I thought there would be more discussion among the three women—more insight into what Elizabeth’s mother has gone through since sending Elizabeth away. Later though, when Paige asks Elizabeth if she would ever have to do that—make Paige leave her parents to go be a spy—Elizabeth sidesteps the question by answering, “You would never have to do that,” instead of saying, “I would never let you go.” Paige is an intelligent young woman who isn’t happy about her situation. Elizabeth would be smart to tell Paige the truth about everything.

When Paige and Elizabeth return to the States, it’s obvious Paige is upset about what she learned about her mother’s life and lifestyle, especially with the taste Paige gets of a spy’s life in Germany. She tells Elizabeth she doesn’t know if she can keep lying to Henry (Keidrich Sellati) and her friends. “I don’t know who I am anymore.” While Elizabeth reassures Paige everything will be ok, it doesn’t help. It seems to me this scene is a lead-in to the next season of The Americans.

The music playing in the background at the conclusion of “March 8, 1983” is quite ominous, and rightfully so. Paige makes a confession to Pastor Tim (guest star Kelly AuCoin) while Philip tries to explain his feelings about his life to Elizabeth. On the television is the famous “Evil Empire Speech” President Reagan delivered on March 8, 1983. During the talk, Reagan addresses the arms race and communists in general. “They are the focus of evil in the modern world.”

Overall

“March 8, 1983” lacks the excitement of some of the other episodes of The Americans this season. So many of them were lackluster, at best. I remember writing in my review of “EST Men” that the episode “lacks the suspense, intensity, and passion that was so prevalent in other seasons…” and unfortunately, that stayed true for the majority of the season. Instead of concentrating on intense scenarios, The Americans spent the majority of time dealing with boring story lines, like the offensive one that began in “Dimebag,” where we first met Kimmie (Julia Garner), and plot points that never came to fruition, like the one involving Tatiana (guest star Vera Cherny). The audience was led to believe Tatiana couldn’t be trusted but nothing ever came of that. Last, but not least, is Zinaida (Svetlana Efremova), who we met in episode two, “Baggage.” All she ever did was consume candy bars. And when Stan finally confirms she’s a Russian spy, where is all the fanfare that should have accompanied her arrest? What have the writers and directors done with the excitement The Americans is known for?

What did you think of “March 8, 1983?” Were you as disappointed as I was with both the episode and the season in general? Leave me a comment below or tweet me @SeasideTV. I’d love to discuss it with you!

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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!

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!