A War is Diverted. Retrospective, The Americans – “In Control”

Season 1 Episode 4

Air Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 10 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

The Americans gives us a thought-provoking look at the behind-the-scenes machinations in both the United States and Russia on the day President Reagan was shot in “In Control.” Interestingly, both sides are concerned about the same thing: who shot the president and what does it mean for their country? If what is portrayed in this fourth episode has a modicum of truth to it, little did we know that World War III was narrowly averted thanks, in part, to the Russian spies living in America.

Everyone is on high alert due to the attempted assassination of President Reagan.

As “In Control” opens, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip (Matthew Rhys) have taken time off to express their new found love for each other. While luxuriating in the afterglow of their afternoon delight, they are unaware of the chaos unfurling around them. President Reagan has been shot, as has James Brady, his press secretary, but no one knows who did it or whether the president will live. While Stan (Noah Emmerich) and the FBI try to figure out whether the KGB had anything to do with the attempted assassination, Philip and Elizabeth must follow orders from Moscow to find out who’s to blame and what’s going to happen next.

Observations:

Claudia heads to Elizabeth’s car to talk about “Operation Christopher.”

Claudia (Margo Martindale) assigns Elizabeth to gather her supplies for “Operation Christopher,” which is never fully explained other than Elizabeth asking, “You think this is headed toward guerilla warfare?” It appears Russia is pulling out all the stops just in case, but in the meantime, it’s important to find out how the President is doing, who’s in control of the American government, and whether the Americans are going to blame the Russians. It’s funny, in a way, because Stan is assigned to find out pretty much the same things. Claudia knows she has to earn Elizabeth’s trust if she expects her to follow orders blindly. Telling Elizabeth a bit of her own spy background and complimenting her for her past endeavors is a smart move because Claudia knows everything there is to know about Elizabeth, but Elizabeth doesn’t know a thing about her.

Stan goes to his source within the Rezidentura, Nina (Annet Mahendru), but with everyone “running around like chickens with their heads cut off,” it’s not easy for her to get away for a meeting with him. And when she finally does, another Soviet underling is assigned to follow her. It’s safe to say no one trusts anyone so Nina is wise to watch her back. While Stan assures her she’s safe, she knows when push comes to shove, she’ll be the one to take the fall. What I don’t get is why Agent Amador (Maximiliano Hernández) doesn’t alert Stan that a car is following Nina as the two are walking toward each other. I am beginning not to trust Amador but it’s not something I can fully articulate at this point.

Curiously, the box of weapons and ammunition Elizabeth unearths in the woods triggers a flashback. We see a young Elizabeth (Alice Litvak), or Nadezhda as she was known back then, with a man telling her mother (Masha Borovikova), “You need a man in your life.” He wants to be that man and brings her a box of much needed supplies that she refuses. I’m not sure why this is relevant other than to point out that the young Nadezhda has grown into a self-sufficient woman much like her mother, and has followed her mother’s orders to only depend upon herself. Perhaps this is the reason why Elizabeth is so loathe to let Philip call the shots.

Alexander Haig’s statement, “I am in control here,” leads the Russians to think a coup is being set up by the Americans so Philip arranges to have a line to the “Vice President’s office, the Deputy Chiefs of Staff,” set up. I was surprised not only by how easily this is accomplished, but by the amount of telephones already tied into various government officials’ offices. It’s the perfect way to divert calls to the Jennings so they can keep track of the information the Vice President receives. History tells us Haig followed his original statement with another as a means of explanation but at the time, the Russians were unaware of this.

I particularly enjoyed Paige’s (Holly Taylor) commentary about the never-ending reports of the attempted assassination while she and Stan’s son, Matthew (Daniel Flaherty), are watching TV. I understand, like Paige, that it’s important to bring such vital news to the American public as it’s happening but is it really necessary to show the same footage over and over again when the reporters have nothing new to say? Sad to say, nothing has changed about the manner in which reporters report the news today. But what I find particularly fascinating is why viewers continue to tune in to these reports, like moths drawn to a flame.

Philip and Elizabeth may have connected on an emotional front but he’s still not as staunch a Commie as she is. Yes, they’re following orders but when Elizabeth kills a security guard (Ted Koch) outside Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberg’s home, she sees it merely as collateral damage.

Philip: “Well, if there’s a war, we may have fired the first shot.”

Elizabeth: “If there is a war, we’re not the ones who started it.”

Philip: “We just killed a security guard down the street from the Secretary of Defense. We’re riding around with enough explosives to blow up half the government buildings in D.C.; we’re mapping sniper shots to take out key U.S. leadership so if anyone’s escalating things, it’s us.”

Elizabeth: “I’m not making the decisions.”

Philip: “No, but you believe in them.”

Philip and Elizabeth discuss what to do with the information they have.

Philip takes the reins when it comes to transmitting what they believe is critical information to Moscow, and decides not to send it. Elizabeth, a ruthless, go-by-the-book spy, disagrees in an emotional conversation between the two that is particularly well-acted by Rhys and Russell. It’s intriguing that Philip seems to understand the American way of doing things while Elizabeth doesn’t.

There is one element of “In Control” that doesn’t ring true. There is no way an FBI agent would tell his neighbors about what went on inside the government on that fateful day. That is highly confidential information that shouldn’t be tossed around like a basketball in a game of H.O.R.S.E. It annoys me that the writers played fast and loose with this information.

We are finally getting a look into Stan’s marriage when his wife Sandra (Susan Misner) tells him she’s not happy. I’m not sure how this is going to play into The Americans but Stan better get his act together and make Sandra a part of his life if he doesn’t want to lose her. In the meantime, Elizabeth tells Philip she’s glad they did things his way. But, as Philip asks Elizabeth, “…what will happen if Moscow ever discovers we sat on the Haig intelligence?” Will they be finished? Philip seems to think so. I hope not.

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

LIKE The Americans on Facebook, and follow the show on Twitter. Visit the show’s official website for fun things to do, download wallpaper, and watch exclusive videos and more.

You may also want to follow the actors on Twitter: Philip @MatthewRhys, Stan Beeman @NoahEmmerich, Chris Amador @maxitois4real (Max Hernandez).

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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!