jamny
Footballguy
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The Americans (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jamny
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Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
You could also say that there are no bad guys among the main characters. I find Phil, Liz, Stan, Sandra, Nina, Martha - hell, even Gaad & Arkady - to be sympathetic. These people are all doing what they think is the right thing, but are really just caught up in something they have very little control over while trying to live "normal" lives.Koya said:That's the joy of this show. There are no good guys. Except some of the random innocent characters who get caught up in this. Even Beeman has his weaknesses in letting down his family.jamny said:Daywalker said:You keep seeing them both get pushed to a point where you think they'll change but they continue to follow orders. Good point on Beeman. I guess the writers are keeping us unsure of who to get behind. I get the sense that at some point they're going to become double agents and work for the US.
In the end, we are rooting for the bad guys. But even at their worst, theirs is a noble cause, albeit the negative image of ours. And perhaps this is where we have the only true innocents and the place where even as noble soldiers for their country, how can put two protagonists raise their kids to be the very American image that runs completely counter to that noble cause itself. They are raising their own children to become the enemy.
And that is why I refer to pace. It's the pace of plot and character development. Of emotional tugs of not knowing who to root for. It's not about the fights and action but about the intruigue, suspends and twists.
And in that way it's unlike any tv I've seen. You got some of it in the Sopranos by rooting for murderers, but the rules and roles were far more clear. There was still a code to live by and a general attempt to not cross certain lines. Those lines aren't just blurred in The Americans, they are completely dissolved.
The showrunners are walking a very narrow tightrope between the program being more character-driven or more plot-driven. And they're doing a pretty damned good job of it so far. I care about all of these people and find their (re)actions to be really believable for the most part. The spy stuff gets, IMO, a little silly sometimes but what the hell do I know. One of the creators is ex-CIA, IIRC. I guess I'm more into the characters than I am the machinations of early-80s espionage - which makes it a richer viewing for me. Watching these guys & gals interact is the main reason I keep watching
I thought the conversation between Martha & Elizabeth was hilarious and a little sad. Russell's reactions to Martha talking about how wild Clark is in bed were priceless.
Stan is in an awful position here and I expect the writers to tighten the screws on him.
I think Richard Thomas is doing a fine job in a sort of a hidden-gem type of way. I hope they flesh him out a little more.
Nina is so #######ed hot, it hurts.
I don't watch every TV show currently airing, but I'd have a hard time believing any are better-done than this one is now. It's running along like a finely tuned Jag.
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
I hope somebody exfiltrates the daughter's storyline to f-ing Siberia.
Oh and huge anachronism in the episode before last. When they're in the slutty hotel room the sailor brought beer in a black, plastic grocery bag. *
*plastic grocery bags first showed up in stores in 1982 but only in limit areas
Oh and huge anachronism in the episode before last. When they're in the slutty hotel room the sailor brought beer in a black, plastic grocery bag. *
*plastic grocery bags first showed up in stores in 1982 but only in limit areas
Koya
Footballguy
You are right in that some levels there are no bad guys. And the best choice for bad guys would probably be Phil and Liz... unless you believe that a cause can be so noble that not only would you sacrifice yourself for it, but your children as well. Which they obviously are beginning to struggle with as if even they never realized the exposure their kids have. But even if their kids are safe, they are raising them to become the enemy in a weird twist.You could also say that there are no bad guys among the main characters. I find Phil, Liz, Stan, Sandra, Nina, Martha - hell, even Gaad & Arkady - to be sympathetic. These people are all doing what they think is the right thing, but are really just caught up in something they have very little control over while trying to live "normal" lives. The showrunners are walking a very narrow tightrope between the program being more character-driven or more plot-driven. And they're doing a pretty damned good job of it so far. I care about all of these people and find their (re)actions to be really believable for the most part. The spy stuff gets, IMO, a little silly sometimes but what the hell do I know. One of the creators is ex-CIA, IIRC. I guess I'm more into the characters than I am the machinations of early-80s espionage - which makes it a richer viewing for me. Watching these guys & gals interact is the main reason I keep watchingKoya said:That's the joy of this show. There are no good guys. Except some of the random innocent characters who get caught up in this. Even Beeman has his weaknesses in letting down his family.In the end, we are rooting for the bad guys. But even at their worst, theirs is a noble cause, albeit the negative image of ours. And perhaps this is where we have the only true innocents and the place where even as noble soldiers for their country, how can put two protagonists raise their kids to be the very American image that runs completely counter to that noble cause itself. They are raising their own children to become the enemy.jamny said:Daywalker said:
And that is why I refer to pace. It's the pace of plot and character development. Of emotional tugs of not knowing who to root for. It's not about the fights and action but about the intruigue, suspends and twists.
And in that way it's unlike any tv I've seen. You got some of it in the Sopranos by rooting for murderers, but the rules and roles were far more clear. There was still a code to live by and a general attempt to not cross certain lines. Those lines aren't just blurred in The Americans, they are completely dissolved.
I thought the conversation between Martha & Elizabeth was hilarious and a little sad. Russell's reactions to Martha talking about how wild Clark is in bed were priceless.
Stan is in an awful position here and I expect the writers to tighten the screws on him.
I think Richard Thomas is doing a fine job in a sort of a hidden-gem type of way. I hope they flesh him out a little more.
Nina is so #######ed hot, it hurts.
I don't watch every TV show currently airing, but I'd have a hard time believing any are better-done than this one is now. It's running along like a finely tuned Jag.
Just cool #### for TV.
Insein
Footballguy
Psychopav
Help us, Joebi-Wan Brynobi, you're our only ho
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
Some of us don't watch the show while vacuuming.
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
A: Phil is a sociopath, this is easy work for him.Goodness, this season is brutal. Nice manufactured argument between Philip/Clark and the homely chick.
But hey, that short wig took at least 25 years off of Elizabeth!
B: She can easily pass for 27ish
This show is well above average, way more realistic than the other spy #### out there (Homeland, Intelligence, etc).
shadyridr
Footballguy
no reason to wonder gb. Im totally gay for him
Aerial Assault
Footballguy
I like Intelligence because the cast is good and Meghan Ory is freaking adorable, but yeah, this show is miles better. And it's not even close between this and Trainwreckland.A: Phil is a sociopath, this is easy work for him. B: She can easily pass for 27ishGoodness, this season is brutal. Nice manufactured argument between Philip/Clark and the homely chick.
But hey, that short wig took at least 25 years off of Elizabeth!
This show is well above average, way more realistic than the other spy #### out there (Homeland, Intelligence, etc).
El Floppo
Footballguy
Is Intelligence the show with the guy from Lost with a chip in his brain? If so, the writing in that- from micro (dialogue) to macro (story-lines) is horrifically bad, despite some decent actors and eyecandy. Just terrible.I like Intelligence because the cast is good and Meghan Ory is freaking adorable, but yeah, this show is miles better. And it's not even close between this and Trainwreckland.A: Phil is a sociopath, this is easy work for him. B: She can easily pass for 27ishGoodness, this season is brutal. Nice manufactured argument between Philip/Clark and the homely chick.
But hey, that short wig took at least 25 years off of Elizabeth!
This show is well above average, way more realistic than the other spy #### out there (Homeland, Intelligence, etc).
Aerial Assault
Footballguy
Yeah, that's it. The writing has actually gotten better, but it looks like a sure cancellation.Is Intelligence the show with the guy from Lost with a chip in his brain? If so, the writing in that- from micro (dialogue) to macro (story-lines) is horrifically bad, despite some decent actors and eyecandy. Just terrible.I like Intelligence because the cast is good and Meghan Ory is freaking adorable, but yeah, this show is miles better. And it's not even close between this and Trainwreckland.A: Phil is a sociopath, this is easy work for him. B: She can easily pass for 27ishGoodness, this season is brutal. Nice manufactured argument between Philip/Clark and the homely chick.
But hey, that short wig took at least 25 years off of Elizabeth!
This show is well above average, way more realistic than the other spy #### out there (Homeland, Intelligence, etc).
Is Intelligence the show with the guy from Lost with a chip in his brain? If so, the writing in that- from micro (dialogue) to macro (story-lines) is horrifically bad, despite some decent actors and eyecandy. Just terrible.I like Intelligence because the cast is good and Meghan Ory is freaking adorable, but yeah, this show is miles better. And it's not even close between this and Trainwreckland.A: Phil is a sociopath, this is easy work for him. B: She can easily pass for 27ishGoodness, this season is brutal. Nice manufactured argument between Philip/Clark and the homely chick.
But hey, that short wig took at least 25 years off of Elizabeth!
This show is well above average, way more realistic than the other spy #### out there (Homeland, Intelligence, etc).
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
shadyridr
Footballguy
definitely one of the nerdiest things anyones ever said on these boards
El Floppo
Footballguy
Guy should go on Jeapardy knowung that kind of info.definitely one of the nerdiest things anyones ever said on these boards
identikit
Footballguy
Koya
Footballguy
Not sure how that's gonna help, unless they have a later viewing of tonight's so he can go in order.
identikit
Footballguy
shadyridr
Footballguy
dvr down?
identikit
Footballguy
Koya
Footballguy
Koya
Footballguy
Whoa, totally missed that. Woulda been BANK. Like rolling in yayo back when they just called it blow, bank.
It was the lady watching after the kid whose family got killed in the hotel. She said they paid him to watch their kids, or something like that.
oso diablo
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Toby Beecher! 
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
KERI BUM!
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
It's exactly as I had imagined -- glorious. 
Koya
Footballguy
Period appropriate."Bum"? You Benny Hill now?KERI BUM!
I remember watching Johnny as a kid, and Benny Hill (whom I HATED) as one after. We're talking about a 13 inch or something (but at least color) from across the room, with no remote. So I'd be too lazy to change the channel (with the rotary clicky channel thing) or turn it off (ol' school plastic silver lookin' push/pull botton with a faux wood panel behind) and pass out to Benny Hill.
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
Koya said:Period appropriate.Officer Pete Malloy said:"Bum"? You Benny Hill now?Raider Nation said:KERI BUM!
I remember watching Johnny as a kid, and Benny Hill (whom I HATED) as one after. We're talking about a 13 inch or something (but at least color) from across the room, with no remote. So I'd be too lazy to change the channel (with the rotary clicky channel thing) or turn it off (ol' school plastic silver lookin' push/pull botton with a faux wood panel behind) and pass out to Benny Hill.
And thanks for explaining what and olde tyme TV looked like. I've heard they were all fat and stuff.
Koya
Footballguy
Koya
Footballguy
jamny
Footballguy
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Squeeze your anus.
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Elizabeth wanting to have an affair with "Clark" is so awesome. I wish I was Clark. 
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
This show is opening up now, getting better and better.
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