The Americans : This Season Sucks

Sorry, but this season is too slow. Everything that has happened so far should have happened last season and been wrapped up by now. I feel like the writers got lazy and they're squeezing in a season of nothing by extending leftovers from last season. Pastor Tim or Paige should have been killed and Martha shipped to Russia in the last finale. WTF is taking them so long? Remember when Homeland was great and they captured Brody in episode 4 instead of waiting for the finale? The Americans used to be fast-moving and entertaining. Seems soft, dull, and predictable now.





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I gotta agree. My problem is with this season's structuring and feel. It lacks the excitement that sold me on this show in the first place. I don't find it all that intense like people keep saying it is. Hell, the stealth stuff felt more risky than this biological warfare plot.

I was on the edge of my seat during all previous seasons. This year, I'm not due to the significant drop in pacing and indifference to multiple arcs. And no, I don't need mission-of-the-week stories or immediate satisfaction, but it's come to a point where I'm finding it a bit too serialized with things dragging on and on and on (Nina, Tim, Martha stories).

It seems like for every person not liking season 4, there's someone saying, "It's a show about family and relationships, not about spying." Believe me, we know that, but myself and others think that previous seasons did a better job of balancing emotions with exciting spy shenanigans.

Absolutely. As I've saidit went from first to worst. It's utter tripe now. Strong characters have morphed into mush; obnoxious characters get top billing; the plots are all over the place. This mess can't end fast enough.

"Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in." Will Rogers

This season has been almost as bad as season two of Better Call Saul, ultra slow glacial pacing where little to nothing happens

I agree, I think these shows are much better binge-watched. Season 2 of Better Call Saul was amazing - I binge watched it and was exhilarated. I binge watched the first couple of seasons of the Americans, and it isn't quite as gripping and immersive when you have to wait a whole week for the next episode, you forget little details etc.

I tried watching Breaking Bad when it was weekly, and I couldn't get into it at all. But later when it was all wrapped up I watched episodes back to back and finally got why everyone loved it so much.

I think all TV shows that are fictional dramas that tell a story should put out for binge watching, but I guess there is some economic reason they don't do that. Leave the weekly episodes for reality tv and cooking shows and sit coms. Shows that have an overarching plot across seasons are much better as something you receive all in one go.

I agree about this season being too slow but I disagree about it sucking because it does not suck at all not even close.

I agree it's probably one of the best if not THE best TV show ever.

The Americans is infinitely better than BCS. One reason is because the characters are doing interesting things in interesting situations. Another is the complete absence of Bob Odenkirk, who is at best a sparingly used supporting player in any conceivable production.

How could "The Americans" be slow when the show is taking major characters out of the picture almost every week this season? Martha, Nina, Gaad, Young Hee, Don, and Elizabeth's alter ego friend of Young Hee have all been highlighted and given a stage exit that fits the script and the overall storyline.

They have also focused on four major storylines that show key characters evolving in ways that will increase conflict. Philip's questioning of the Centre's action has not only become stronger he has taken actions that clearly show he is just not "taking orders". Elizabeth has fought her internal conflicts of loyalty to her homeland and family, and to her own emotional ties versus the requirements of her assignments. She is one of the most complicated characters on any drama and she still performs at the highest level, whether it is reading Paige the riot act, taking out a potential rapist in a dark parking lot, or coaxing men to do whatever it is she needs. Paige has went from a young girl who exposed her family to being torn apart and her parents incarcerated to one who is reporting back to mom and dad on the FBI (through Stan's son) and on the family's major threat (the secrets known by Pastor Tim and his wife). Stan has hardened in the face of Gaad's death and now sees the Russians he is chasing (an living across from) as "animals". He is also showing signs of losing his professionalism by talking out of school to Philip, his own son, and Oleg.

No, the action is not as constant as it was in the first couple of seasons but the real drama continues to build.

Exactly. It's been the complete opposite of slow. We're now more invested in the characters then we were a few seasons ago, so everything is more exhilarating and rewarding when it finally happens. With the final two seasons announced, they're clearly getting ready to set things up the endgame. Every major character is at breaking point because of the events of this season. I'm excited for what the last two episodes will bring.

I think there could be a major turning point at the end of this season (eg. someone flipping, Stan finding out etc.).

No this season is FINE!

BABY STEPS! That is how the Game is Played.

Things take TIME. This is not a typical Hollywood Show/Movie.

I think some folks are possibly watching the wrong show type.


I literally came to the boards to discuss how this is the most fantastic season of The Americans yet. The emotional tension the characters are going through. The incredible endings to characters. The threads that have lasted for 4 years getting nudged and pulled.

Phenomenal.

and people want this to get sped up. For what? To satisfy the need to know the ending of everything? As if this show has ever been fast. It's a slow burn folks, deal with it.

To each their own I guess.

I literally came to the boards to discuss how this is the most fantastic season of The Americans yet. The emotional tension the characters are going through. The incredible endings to characters. The threads that have lasted for 4 years getting nudged and pulled.

THIS. Season four is actually my favorite season so far. Sure, it's slower-paced than some of the other seasons, but the character development this season was FANTASTIC. The emotional toll that the characters went through this season (not to mention the pitch-perfect end to certain characters' storylines) was grade-A.

Everything's coming together, and while, yes, it is a slow burn, not only was season four a stand-out season, the way it's setting up the last two seasons promises to be exhilarating as hell.

Peter, is your social worker in that horse?

It sucks but for different reasons - devoid of reality. 1983 is the hottest year of the cold war - the nuclear Able Archer drill, the hysteria around the deployment of the mid-range nuclear missiles - "cruise" and Pershing II, operation RYAN - the russians looking for signs of nuclear attack against them.

Instead, the Center lets their best agents to have a 7-month break and deal with bio-weapon issues - bio agents proved to be difficult to disperse effectively and were on the bottom of anybody's priority list.

Thus, the entire season was spent on the absurdly unrealistic execution of Nina,ridiculous death of Gaad, bio crap, an extremely dumb and pathetic MArtha (for a secretary of the head of counter-intelligence, she is absurdly unprepared and dumb).

Philip and Elizabeth are less and less realistic even on a personal level - the majority of Soviet illegals are devoid of morality. Those who develop morality, defect - as Philip was ready to defect in the initial episodes.

The creators sold out to Hollywood with this movie - "The Day After" and quickly forgot about the left wing journalist, who under KGB orders turned right wing in order to serve Moscow.

This is a period when 80% of what the left in America wants to happen in international relations is carbon copy of the official Soviet positions.

The creators essentially buried their heads into the sand - in order to finally be recognized by Hollywood and get some nominations.

In the politically realistic first season Hollywood pretended this show didn't exist - it was antithetical to Hollywood's own political bias.

This series was about the historical period integrated into the lives of two Russian spies. Now, it is a crappy family drama, with some members of the family being, by some weird coincidence, spies.

@vespet2000:

Excellent breakdown.

"Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in." Will Rogers

You know what I think is missing? One of the key points of interest/tension from the first seasons was seeing the FBI and the Rezidentura in counterpoint. You saw how things were unfolding on both sides and the counter-strategies. It was interesting. We've gotten much much less of that this seasonI think to the detriment of the series.

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You know what I think is missing? One of the key points of interest/tension from the first seasons was seeing the FBI and the Rezidentura in counterpoint. You saw how things were unfolding on both sides and the counter-strategies. It was interesting. We've gotten much much less of that this seasonI think to the detriment of the series.

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Yes this is exactly what I'm missing right now. I don't need to see action per se but I like to see the cat and mouse game between the FBI and KGB. Between Stan and P/E (Will Stan find out? Will he catch them? Is he getting closer?). That's what made Season 1-2 so great.

I don't mind the drama and turmoil going on in the Jennings family. That's part of the fun of it but the focus has shifted too much on "family drama" and less on the espionage aspect.

Giving them the extended break from field work was fine since we never got to see it (time jump). But what's happening in their various assignments? Just recently we saw Philip meet up with that young girl whose father is in the CIA. Any leads there? Any useful info? You would think by now they would have gotten something valuable..

The Young Hee story ended up nowhere (although maybe it's not the end). On reflection, it just looks like they made the Young Hee situation just to develop the arc on Elizabeth's emotional conflict. Maybe they'll discover something on his computer drives that they copied..

With all that being said though, I still love this show :)

Yes, I agree with you exactly. I think it has been a little drawn out, but the slow evolution of the "Paige knows" story line has been interesting. I just wish it didn't have to come at the expense of everything else as we've discussed. Anyway, I still think it's one of the most original and entertaining things on television right nowbut just yearn for a little more of the previous "cat and mouse."

I don't think this season sucks, but I thought Ep 11 was too slow moving. There were too many scenes between Eliz and Tim that were painfully slow in their pacing. That was boring.

Otherwise, there have been many developments this season and I have found most of the episodes very tense and interesting.

We're getting more and more bored. Too much Pastor Tim, too much Paige. At least offing the mugger at the end was a nice surprise!

yep geting lame used to be an exciting show for grown ups

I'm enjoying this season a lot.




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Paige is ruining this show like Dana ruined Homeland. Fell asleep twice during last night's episode.

Completely disagree.This season has been masterfully crafted,is slow burning,there are no cop-outs,but interesting resolutions to ongoing story arcs that make sense and because of the fact that they take their time the emotional payoff is all the more significant.

It is possible the best season yet.I don't how they do it,but the show keeps getting more layered ad better year after year. Brilliant stuff.

I'm so happy this show doesn't have to rely on ratings and the writers have the opportunity to tell the story by their own rules.



The only thing keeping you from being happy is the belief that you are alone

Agree with everything you said.



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I agree. The show has lost its luster. Almost not worth watching anymore. When they had the secretary involved and John boy, the show was going strong.
Not so much anymore.
Ho hum

WORST FINALE






www.selmablairstyle.com For All Things Selma Blair

I agree. I loved the other seasons but this one seems borderline soap. Don't get me wrong, I still like it a lot and there's great potential for another few years, however I hope they'll speed up the pace a notch in the next season.