Review: The Americans - TV Series

Slow Burn is a trope where the story focuses on development of characters, evolution of story, while keeping the in-your-face conflict taut.  In the trope, the tension of main conflict is not resolved, although it is teased multiple times. This slow unraveling of the story until it climaxes is called Slow Burn.

For some reason, I have found myself drawn to Slow Burn based TV series a lot.   First, it was Breaking bad, but I think there also too many things were happening. Then, it was Line of Duty which is sheer brilliant. The Americans - TV Series, I believe has been the best so far.

Two Russian spies pretending to be a couple have been tasked to settle in US, live life like normal Americans blend in,  but at the same time,  their main task is to spy for the Russian government. They get their assignments via a Russian handler. Both of them are trained in defense, offense, and using sex, emotion or whatever in their means to achieve their end goal.

The series start with the couple - Elizabeth and Phillip, already living in US for many years, they even have two kids - Page and Henry. To masquerade their spy activities, the couple operate a small travel concierge company which employees 3-4 other people.

In the very first episode, an FBI agent moves in to a house opposite to their house. With this, the series sets itself to its primary conflict - will they get caught? Their missions are dangerous, their next door FBI agent is leading them. In other conflicts, their kids do not know about their spy game, but till now they were small. But now, as they grow and become curious, will they find out?

In another side, we have the Russian embassy where schemes are being devised to aid these folks. Folks in embassy do not know of their identity. The setting is when the US-Russia conflict was at its peak. 

The greatest con pulled by The Americans is to make Americans care for two Russian spies. Think about it, let me add some Indian flavor. There are two Pakistanis, a couple, living in India, spying on India, killing Indian people, stealing trade secrets, copying war codes and what not but still the Indians like them enough for them to be ok. To pull it off is ingenious.

How does Americans pull it off? One word - doubt. The Americans - our spies, with so many years in US are now doubting whether US is indeed a real enemy? They have better infrastructure, better food, ordinary folks do not hate Russia, they are people and like our species, they are inherently good. They want better future for their kids, want the world to be a happy place. The classic Arjun-Krishna dilemma - Why should we hate them? These thoughts are contrasted with life of challenges back home with some flashbacks. 

To top this setting : Slow Burn. The main conflict is not resolved at all. It is accepted, internalized but yet it is always there. And the minor ones, just keep on adding. Americans does not give you an inch in resolving even the minor ones. Only in later seasons, we start to see some closures, but in first three, it was just - keep the pot boiling.

The writing is very good. After reading a lot of their interviews, the writers admit that their approach was - what would this character do in this situation, what would be the logical next step? With this,  because it is so grounded in our psychology, it is so believable.  The last episode is a killer one. The last season is a killer one. RT rates it at 99%.

Just as much as it is a spy drama, it is a discourse on marriage as well. Two people tasked to live together as a couple, found some meaning of love with each other, who are now partners, but now are facing the trials of marriage, of raising kids but with different parenting philosophies, who come with different beliefs.

There won't be another The Americans for a long time. Just like there won't be another West Wing ever.  There won't be another Seinfeld.  Once you start, you will have to watch till the end. Be prepared.