FX’s long-awaited new spy drama, starring Keri Russell
and Matthew Rhys, premiered on Wednesday with quite an impressive introduction to
the series. Here are some of the highlights…
Set in the eighties, during the Cold War, THE
AMERICANS, about two KGB spies, Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, living in suburban
Washington DC made quite the impression on me with its pilot. Expectations were
high, and I was not disappointed. It started with a sequence of operations
under disguise, a chase, a kidnapping and an escape. That more than made for an
exciting beginning. Cut to the suburbs, and we see Elizabeth and Philip with
their kids, blending in, being regular suburban people. They get on with showing how they find out
details of the investigation following the disappearance of the man they
kidnapped, as they decide what to do. Flashbacks into their pasts in Soviet Union
give us insights into how they came to be fake Americans. The big surprise
comes when their new neighbor, Stan, from across the street turns out to be an
FBI agent. The rest of the pilot sees us through their decisions after the
kidnapping, while we see Stan at work. And it ends with a hit of what's in store for us in the following episodes.
Here are five reasons why the pilot was gripping:
1 | Effective
storytelling | The juxtaposition of the regular
suburban lives that Elizabeth and Philip lead with the spy work and the
strategizing makes for an interesting contrast. Regular activities like going
to the mall or breakfast with the family gives us a breather from the heavy
stuff, while also giving us a chance to see how real their pretend lives are.
Still, they don’t get to deep into the family life, maintaining the focus of
the show.
2 | A balanced
use of flashbacks | While all the flashbacks in the
pilot weren’t absolutely necessary, a few like the one that reveals how
Elizabeth and Philip first met or the one that shows them first arriving in the
States, etc helps us get to know the characters. It’s also a good means for character
developement—showing us how far they’ve come and where they go from here.
3 | The
relationship | Elizabeth and Philip may have been ‘married’
for years, but their interaction is professional and means business when they’re
alone. At the same time, we see that there is mutual respect, and they do care
for each other (even though it may be more from one side). There is a physical
attraction even. The relationship is complicated and has many levels—and that
is the simplest way to describe it. It has so much potential and could be very
interesting to see evolving.
4 | Good
performances | Both Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys have
already had a chance to show their talent in the pilot itself. Their
performances have the subtleties required to portray the complex relationship that
is described above. They make Elizabeth and Philip look professional as spies,
and they kick some serious ass in the action sequences. They’re a treat to
watch indeed, and I feel like they’ve been cast perfectly. And if you’ve heard
Rhys’ original Welsh accent (which I hadn’t heard back when I watched him in
BROTHERS AND SISTERS), you’ll be thoroughly impressed with his American accent.
5 | The
presentation | Production design is flawless, from the
décor in the house to cars and the technology in appliances seen, everything
reflects the eighties perfectly. The costumes, hairstyling and make-up also do
justice to that decade, right from Russell’s high-waist jeans, to Stan’s wife’s
hairstyle. Even the print of the episode made it look like I was actually
watching something from the eighties. I love period dramas, and they’re definitely
doing a good job with this one!
Clearly, I would
recommend that you watch the pilot, if you haven’t. And those who have, while
we look forward to episode two, do share your views below, on THE AMERICANS and
what your expectations are.
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