No spoilers ahead for Wednesday’s fourth season finale of “The Americans.” Just know the series remains among the best dramas on TV after the episode “Persona Non Grata” deposits viewers in uncertain territory in an excellent season ender.
Past seasons have explored family dynamics, secret identities and national allegiances. This season ventured further into matters of conscience. Apparently even seasoned super-secret spies can have crises of conscience. They begin to sense that informed actions by individuals might be more powerful than fixed beliefs of political organizations. One last meeting with a KGB source might prevent a global nuclear meltdown. Second thoughts about a biological weapon might have far-reaching effects.
Little compromises may have profound results.
This season has contrasted Philip’s (Matthew Rhys) curiosity about EST and his attraction to the American way of life and the ideal of individuality with Elizabeth’s (Keri Russell) dedication to Mother Russia and the spy job.
True to the cause, Elizabeth is ready to bring daughter Paige (Holly Taylor) into the family business — i.e., not the travel agency. “I can teach you a few things,” Mom offers in a cuddly moment in the teenager’s bedroom. She’s speaking of self-defense moves, having recently displayed her lethal skills with a potential mugger.
A new generation is coming up, not just in suburban Washington, D.C., where the Jenningses are embedded, but in the Soviet Union, too. And they’re curious about what their parents have been up to. As things begin to unravel, Elizabeth and Philip express curiosity about what their real home, Smolensk, might be like now. Are they too far removed to go back?
Part of you will want these likable protagonists (killers and amoral scoundrels) to jump on the next plane to Canada. Can’t the travel agency make that happen? And part of you will want the tension to go on and on, with their friend and neighbor Stan (Noah Emmerich), the FBI agent and bloodhound across the street, popping in for dinner.
“The job wasn’t meant to be forever,” Gabriel (Frank Langella) tells his charges Elizabeth and Philip.
We already know FX has renewed “The Americans” for the fifth and sixth seasons. So, it won’t run forever, but into 2018.
