It is 1987, the era of glasnost and perestroika. Profound changes are affecting international politics, and creating power struggles within the Soviet Union. Such a time of turmoil cannot help but have a profound impact on Soviet spies Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, perhaps even putting them on opposite sides. Can they get through this time with their covers and their family intact?
It's always a challenge for a show to jump forward in time, and season six of The Americans leaps three years in its first episode. There's definitely a little settling in to do after that, as we adjust to the new reality: several characters are in new jobs, the Jennings' daughter Paige is a college student (and neophyte Soviet agent) now, and of course the Cold War itself is in a state of flux.
Of course, a time of flux for the Cold War makes a great deal of sense as the setting for the climax of this show, and the sharp writing soon establishes the new scene and drives the action forward, culminating in an extended, 70 minute final episode that delivers a satisfying conclusion without sacrificing the melancholy and ambiguity that have been such hallmarks of the program's tone throughout its run.
Good writing, great performances. The Americans is must see TV that far too few people have seen. If it's at all your kind of thing, I encourage you to track it down.
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