TV #14 of 2021:
The Americans, season 1
I’m really enjoying this tense spy thriller, which so far has been equally about its outlandish premise of Soviet operatives in deep cover as a normal American couple and the quieter moments within their marriage (or sham thereof). There’s a natural thematic element of negotiated trust in the espionage genre, and mirroring an exploration of that in a long-running quasi-romantic partnership is a slick writing decision. I’m less sold on some of the plot mechanics throughout this debut year, like the fact that the protagonists’ new neighbor is the FBI agent unknowingly investigating their activity, but episode by episode it’s delivering a lot of fun and showing good insight into its various characters. The 80s period setting provides a distinctive vibe too, especially when the moves and counter-moves in its pulse-pounding action sequences are impacted by the limitations of the era’s technology. Overall this season represents a great start, with clear potential for the series to get even better as it settles further into itself.
[Content warning for gore and sexual assault.]
★★★★☆
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