The Americans: Full Series Retrospective 

This is a reupload due to a copyright issue with background music in the original. Please show it some love!

Minority opinion: I *liked* the "Oleg and the corrupt supply chain" storyline. Recall this was just before the USSR collapsed.

The point of the old lady wasn't that she was just an "innocent person caught in the wrong time and the wrong place", the point of the old lady is she told Elizabeth the truth about herself. I'll summarize it for you: "You aren't a good person, Elizabeth. You claim that you are helping 'normal people' because of your obsession with doing anything possible to enact communism, but *I'm a normal person.* This is the story of my life: I have harmed no one, I have lived a good life, I am who you pretend to protect and care about. And yet here you come to end me because I stand in the way of that thing which you value more than human life. You are a monster."

I absolutely love this show start to finish. It is mind boggling to me that the questioned morals, loyalties, and dehumanization that almost every character faces wasn't something that you found intriguing. The entire season 5 Oleg plot was showing just how corrupt things were in Russia, how normal people try to work with in what is already broken to the best of their abilities. Season 5 may not be the most action packed but it certainly has the second most emotional weight of the series.

Watched the show on your recommendation, got instantly hooked, until Season 5, I had to drag myself through that. But that final episode, when I saw Paige off the train my heart sank.

Fantastic recap of a fantastic show. But I can't believe you didn't call out how shockingly perfect a "little gray man" Phillip/Rhys was. At least 65% of the times he appeared in a fresh disguise during my initial watching of the series, I was like, "OK, who's this guy?" for at least a couple seconds. Incredible.

The acting of Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Alison Wright (Martha) was top notch

Watching this recap made me realize one thing. I need to watch this series again.

Fun fact: Henry Jennings ended up playing in the NHL under the name "Wayne Gretzky."

I’m dying 😂 all the things you disliked about season 3 were my favorite parts. The old woman’s conversation with Elizabeth was one of my favorite parts of season 3. I don’t remember what I thought of season 5 but definitely remember the slowness. Season 6 was agonizing for the way it hit all the emotional climaxes. I’d like to do a full rewatch but it’s the kind of show I need to be in the headspace for, a bit like Mad Men. It’s not something I can rewatch on a whim and only pay half-attention to.

I love the season in the last episode of season 6 where Elizabeth has a nightmare on the train. Her sitting next to Gregory (Who she first loved in America and was the reason is dead) while smoking and saying she doesn't really want a kid. Smoking is part of the reason Stan figured her out and shows her falling apart. She then looks at the paintings on the wall then the one Erica gave her is there. Staring at her. Showing her the cold truth that she is destroyed. There is nothing left. She lost paige, Henry, her work. And her marriage is dwindled. And then Gregory dissapears. Another thing lost. Icing on the cake

Nice summation. What made the climactic confrontation in the car park work, IMHO, was the fact that Oleg had already corroborated part of what Elizabeth told Stan about the Soviet coup attempt when cornered, which - combined with all of Stan's conflicted emotions - made it believable (just barely) that he would let them pass. Of all the "New Golden Age Television", The Americans arguably has the best ending.

The thing that really got me hooked on this show was how conflicted I felt about Philip and Elizabeth. Despite all the terrible things they did, I couldn’t help but like them. I kept going backwards and forwards between wanting them to get caught, and wanting them to get away with things.

I also have to agree with the music choice. I thought they did a stellar job of choosing a combination of hits and deep tracks that made it feel more organic and less like a nostalgia trip. One song I really wish they used at some point was the original Tears for Fears version of Mad World. I think it would’ve fit nicely with the tone of the show and been on the nose lyrically.

I loved all the seasons, including Season 5. And as a whole, it is simply superb. It is very clear that everything that happens at the beginning and the middle is important for how things turn out. It's all connected, and there are actually a LOT of payoffs - even during the "slower" sections of the show because this is essentially a family drama & not just a spy show, so the 5th season for example had a lot of family stuff that was important. I enjoyed all of it. The central performances were terrific, the writing was amazing, the show made you think & see things from a different perspective. It is absolutely worth watching and rewatching, because even when you know what's going to happen in an episode or the entire show, it is still captivating to watch. It is an internal drama of those people & it is a spy thriller. They created something truly superb.

The only thing missing from this retrospective is a split screen shot of Stan Beeman and Marlon (The Truman Show) both walking through the front door with a six pack of beer

This show isn't just dark and violent, its shockingly graphic for a TV show. I have a pretty strong stomach and had to look away at times! People being burned alive, throats slashed, hanged, shot point blank in the face, etc. And they show it all in graphic detail. I don't know what was worse, the decapitation of the van driver, the Russian courier traitor getting stabbed by Elizabeth directly in the throat and then hunting down his wife and slitting her throat from ear to ear. Or maybe breaking the bones on the body in the hotel room so they could smuggle it out in a suitcase. Damn, I had to look away when they started snapping the bones (and showing it!!!!) Somebody dies a horrible death in almost every episode. Don't let the kiddos watch this one........

12:23 I love his delivery here, it feels straight out of something like smiling friends lmao

One of my favourite shows of all-time. Unique series perspective as the protagonists are Russian spies but it's also a compelling family drama. Throw in a solid dose of nostalgia and it's truly one of a kind.

I watched the series in real time, and have rewatched most episodes several times. Even so, I really enjoyed your video, because I never watched any reviews or analyses before now. It’s interesting to see how an expert assessed the show. Many thanks for doing this. 👍🏾👏🏾

I checked this show out after enjoying a few of your other reviews, and it honestly floored me. Some of my favorite television on earth. Some day I'll make that Season 5 edit for you.

the digging of the coffin with no dialogue was incredible television, just amazing!

Thank you so much for this. I started the show because of this and was even more impressed than I expected!

I loved the series and loved this recap and commentary. Now I’ll ease into a complete rewatching!

God when you said "easy peasy..." I was hoping youd play that clip. Thank you for continuing to have my exact taste EDIT: fuck and a Russian terminator ref, coming in clutch with the deep cuts

Now I can comment having watched the show. Definitely one of the best ever IMO, with one of the best endings. I agree with a lot of what you said, S4 and 6 being the best, S3 already being kinda slow and S5 taking it too far, though I don’t think S5 is that weak. Another show with barn burner of a finale is The Shield which I hope you check out if you haven’t already, one of the best ever IMO. Great video as always!

I'm still in the middle of this series, on season 3, so I'll come back to watch this in full. Thanks for making this!

Appreciate the video! just finished the series and theres hardly any analysis videos compared to what you see for other shows. I think the show was ahead of its time and im glad i only recently discovered it. I definitely hold this show among the greats like sopranos and breaking bad. I love Oleg and his final scene with Stan encapsulated everything i loved about the show. Agree about the amazing soundtrack and LOL to the comment about watching this at night with the lights off.. how i watched every episode!! One thing i love about the americans and the amazing acting is how much silent communication/ body language is used. Incredible stuff

Your comments are very well thought out, very well articulated. I commend you for that. Thank you. It's your experience. My experience of the show was quite different, but I think that's marvelous. I've watched it through its entirety twice, and there are so many details that fly by. It's highly nuanced, and I really dig that.

Hello, I wanted to tell you that you have done an excellent job analyzing this series. Like you, I was also lucky enough to be born in the golden age of television, and somehow it always bothered me that The Americans remained a hidden gem. I think that, throughout your video, thanks to your apt analysis and juxtaposition with other series, you managed to convey exactly what it feels like to watch the series, even at times taking me to the height of conmotion.

This is my favorite video of yours, it's good you don't have to delete it completely or something.

This was really well done. Thank you.

Glad this is available again!

Great recap! And I laughed so hard at "rescuing children from an orphanage fire started by Reagan"...

Some of my favorite scenes throughout the show were those between Stan and Oleg. Those two guyss really clicked.

This reupload is a good excuse to rewatch the video that got me into this channel

Haven’t watched this video yet, but very exciting to see people talk about the Americans, such an under appreciated gem of a show.

Started the show after watching this video, perfect time to rewatch it having finished it.

Watched the show on your recommendation, got instantly hooked

Loved The Americans, and loved this retrospective. Also love a sneaky bit of Ratchet and Clank at 54:02

I dont know why but I was really hoping this was another full series recap for this under recognized show. Still left a like.

I loved the original, surprised to see it re-uploaded

This is the only show I’ve ever watched, and I’ve watched a few that the ending stayed with me for quite while. I immediately wanted to rewatch it but waited a year and enjoyed it again.

Love your videos! Giving this reupload some good ol algorithm juice.

Your video actually made me watch the show, i'm on season 5 right now so i'll be back when i finish it

You got me. I’ll watch it again

Love seeing a video essay about my favorite show of all time, nice!!!!

MY ANACONDA DONT WANT NONE UNLESS YOU GOT BUNS HUN - cut to elizabeth getting whipped LMFAO genius editing my friend

Pantheon show for me, currently sharing a rewatch with my dad.

i was so excited to see this pop up in my recommended - the americans is severely underrated

Thanks, I didn't see every episode so you filled in the blanks. The end reminds me of the conclusion to "La Femme Nikita" with Pita Wilson, where the show steamrolls to a logical conclusion. Loose ends are taken care of, some surprising acts of courage emerge, and not everything ends happily but it ends.

Here to show support

watched the show on hulu and loved it

Correction: "With or Without You" by U2 was the last song of the series. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would have been a good song, but "With or Without You" hit just as hard. Thanks for your summary! I really enjoyed it. I subscribed.

I really liked the fact that the show doesn’t feed you all the information in the first episode. I was hooked from the first “cold war film” looking image and loved having to hang on for the ride.

Great show.

Finished the show last night, fantastic series finale. Overall I'd give it an 8/10. The main characters were really well done and has some effective suspense and intrigue. However, the plotlines regarding spy operations can be complicated and hard to follow. The show could also be slow at times, especially in season 5. Was looking forward to watching this video when I was fully done. Keep up the good work! Perhaps do retrospectives on The Leftovers, Legion, and Twin Peaks?

If you ever read anything from John Le Carre, or enjoyed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, I think you'd feel right at home with this show. I was even half expecting at the very least, a casual reference to the Smiley Saga, since they both feel very similar to each other. Swear to god I saw George Smiley in Phillip and Karla somewhere in Elizabeth.

one of my favourite shows

I got the bell icon on just for you slip

Much appreciation for the retro. Not addressed here (or elsewhere that I've found) is the impact of Claudia reporting back to The Center about her last conversation with Elizabeth. What kind of reception will The Center give Philip and Elizabeth upon their return?

Awesome video! It's great to see a underrated show get the attention it deserves. Could you make a retrospective on the TV show Mr Robot. It's my favorite show of all time. It's a masterpiece and season 3 and 4 went criminally under the radar. When it was the best parts of the show.

Watch very few "TV" things.. loved this.. I lived in DC in the 80s and this production nailed the times then and there. Like the mail robots, look and feeel, also myriad other little things that most people would not notice shows that someone did exhaustive research.

This is the best show that I've seen in very long time. Is there a show similar to this?

Fantastic show. Except for season 5 because damn it dragged for no reason. Also you have to admit that after watching just the first 3 episodes you can almost perfectly predict what happens in the series finale. It isn't detrimental to the show and the finale is still great but it played out almost exactly as you'd expect it to.

Commenting to boost the video.

Incredible 💚

As a fellow smooth brain I'm right in line w your critique. I believe we love the Americans w equal measure. My step father escaped communist Era Soviet block country under the worst circumstances imaginable. At 15 I was infected by the figurative umbrella tip poison pellet of spy culture and the Cold War Era history and spy stores. And consider myself an armchair smooth brain expert on the CIA up to the early mid 90s This series was my my All. It felt so often made for someone of my cloth. Just the same.. as I mop of the indiscretions of cats and tidy the living room I am shouting my agreements and omg's as you run down one of all time favorite series. Thank you for an honest rendition. You've got a new sub Much love from way up North

Season 3 is one of my favorites, alongside seasons 4 and 6, and the episode with the old woman was one of the best in the entire show. It also had many of my other favortie episodes and moments (not in the sense that they were nice, but in the sense that they were so strong: having to get rid of Annalise's body, the strangely intimate dentistry scene, Philip talking about his 'seduction' training with that flashback - way to unglamorize the spy job) and generally deepened the characterizations and the themes. while also having bombshell moments like Martha learning the truth about Clark, Page learning the truth and Page telling Pastor Tim. Season 5 is my least favorite of the seasons but was still really good. The episode Dyatkovo is one of my favorites due to that long scene with the woman who was forced to be a Nazi collaborator. The ending of the episode Darkroom and Philip and ELizabeth's wedding were also among the best moments of the show. I agree however that they should have made the plot stronger. But I admire the show for going to much against the usual rules of US TV. I was always impressed with how they were trying to give all the characters and various political sides and factions their due and understand their motives. And I was positively surprised to be point of being shocked with the fact they were doing actual research and tryiing to be historically and geographically accurate, which shouldn't be such a shock but is because of what I'm used to eeeing on US TV when it comes to ohter cultures. I couldn't believe when Misha's story took him to Yugoslavia, and all the actors playing the locals sounded convincing, the dialogue at the crossing border was perfectly natural and couldn've come from a movie about the 1980s Yugoslavia, and, the biggest miracle, not only did the priest look and dress like an actual Orthodox priest, they even made the Orthodox wedding accurate, with the priest singing in Church Slavic.

I feel like there should've been an actual fight between Phillip and Stan in the end. A well-choreographed fight, maybe where Phillip has a handicap of some sort but still manages to bust out those rusty skills and show Stan what he was always capable of. _Then_ there should've been the big conversation, with a defeated (yet unmaimed) Stan cuffed to the wall or something and Phillip having 0 reasons left to hide anything. That's the conversation I wanted to hear, and it couldn't happen as long as the gun was in Stan's hand.

28:44 "So I tied an onion into my belt which was the style at the time.." LOOL

One of my favourite ever shows ugh I’m dying

Finished "The Americans" in June and it's become my new number one favourite TV show of all time, and it's one of the best pieces of fiction I've ever seen. That said, I still have yet to see a single episode of Mad Men, Sopranos, Fargo, Dexter, The Wire, The Shield, Boardwalk Empire, Narcos, Deadwood (even though I've had the entire series on blu-ray for over 4-5 years now), or Better Call Saul. So we'll see if I feel the same way after getting through them (assuming I live long enough to do so). But yeah, it's a hidden gem in my eyes, and I'm so glad I picked it up off an indirect recommendation I saw from a trusted source months ago. I hope more people discover it and sing its praises, because ultimately I'd say its pros far outweigh its cons. (As much as I love it, I felt vindicated hearing you lightly rag on the gravedigging scene in season 5. It succeeds at evoking the tedium of the work, but that unfortunately has the side effect of making me feel bored.) Great video!

Dont see many people talk about this show, this is nice. Still need to finish the last season though.

28:42 is the most I've laughed at a RU-vid video in a long, long time. Also, the show and this retrospective kick ass.

The best series ever.

Great video. I suggest you watch Boardwalk Empire. It had, imo, the greatest finale of any show I’ve seen to date. I got really heavy into television in 2005, so I got to see all the series you’ve mentioned. Except OZ.

Oz was insane, every episode was "when keeping it real goes wrong "

"Your sentence will be carried out now". Great show, a few pacing issues. Camilla from Dexter sure gets about. The couple are both in Cocaine Bear, not together though, gotta love that.

Just watched this after finishing the series... I enjoyed the references to Veep, In the Loop, GoldenEye, and Anthony Fantano. I do wonder how Claudia's disappointment didn't come back to hurt them; how can Claudia and the Jennings both be accepted back to USSR?

it's not a show to binge imo. the gaps between episodes and seasons must help. i don't recall ever being bored

I myself am a Russian immigrant, and my entire life has been spent attempting to "fit in" to American culture and escape the prejudices that come with my origins. The emotions of this show is like a dramatized and espionage-itized version of what myself, and many other immigrants feel when required to give up or identity in favour of the American identity.

Just finished the series today. I feel empty now.

I watched the whole series once. I started again two days ago and got to the third season and decided to just jump to the end. I think that's all I wanted. I wanted to see these characters again but I wasn't up to the drawn out toil of them going through seasons 3, 4 and 5 again. Id love to know what happened to these characters after the end. I guess one big reason I liked this show was that it was so familiar. The 80s was my first decade of adulthood. The show was pure nostalgia in a way that TV from that time isn't. Maybe I long for a time when you could be anonymous in the world. No ubiquitous cameras and background checks and security at every station. People (and spies) could move through the world unobserved and unsuspected.

My man said tankie. He knows his shit.

I absolutely loved the first four seasons of this show! We were watching Season 5 as it aired but lost interest somewhere along the way... By the time season 6 came out we had forgotten all that was going on, figured we should do a rewatch of the previous seasons first and at least finish the arduous Season 5, but we never did and still haven't seen the last season 😅 Maybe one day!

I can't believe you played the Libertyville lane music in the background 😂

So good

I'm ngl I really did like this show and have very little bad things to say about it, but in regards to season 5, I accidentally skipped from episode 4 to I believe 7 and went completely unnoticed until the end of the 8th episode

That Fantano joke was hilarious

Just started watching your vids. ...good stuff. Here are some suggestions. Eastbound & Down Banshee Rectify Futureman

This is funny. Just watching this a year later we find out the Iron Dome doesn't work either

I didn't "enjoy" season 5 either but I did appreciate it. Season 5 did all the necessary legwork for season 6. Season 5 could have been something else and more fast paced but then season 6 would lack a good amount of depth and the ending with Paige would feel less gut wrenching. Also it was sort of worth watching the tedious or silly parts of the season just to end up in this great season ending montage :)

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Oh my, what’s that noise? Oh, I know, it’s your daily reminder to COVER THE SHIELD YOU COWARD! ❤️

I wonder if Philip was able to meet and connect with his other son in Russia after the finale

i think it's the best show ever made.

"Oh, we paid for both" damn, nice counter jab

I actually think Season 5 served well to juxtapose the changes and urgency in Season 6.

Enjoyment is a weird word to use about watching an old women slowly die of an overdose, so I'll use Enthralled, but I mostly agree about season 5 comments

I binged the series at my convenient time. So my rating is different from those that consumed it on TV on a weekly basis. I love 'boring' entertainment and hence enjoyed season 5. Built a great foundation for the final season to flourish. Season 2 is what disappointed me a with its ending. Main antagonist turned hitman or something. Dint resonate with me. I loved Paige's evangelical flirtation and Elizabeth's time with the old woman in contrast to you though. Overall fantastic series. Few shows made me as emotional while viewing them. At times I felt so sad for Philips