Last night’s fourth episode of The Americans, “In Control,” provided some fascinating historical insight into the time period, but also felt like a wasted opportunity for the show. The episode centered on the 1981 attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr., probably the single biggest event in the first year of Reagan’s presidency, and ripe for what could’ve been a brilliant episode of The Americans. However, and perhaps one of the small problems with the show, is that it’s hamstrung, limited by the details of history. Rather than take a few dramatic liberties or engage in a bit of historical revisionism, the writers chose to work within the confines of history. While that it laudable, it resulted in the weakest episode of a strong series, so far.
The episode opened with Phillip and Elizabeth deciding to get away, stay in a classy hotel for an afternoon, and work on their marriage. However, during their lovemaking, Reagan got shot, an event that sent everyone into a panic. This is a key and fascinating difference between how news works now, and how it did in 1981. If the president were shot in 2013, thanks to the Internet and the speed that information travels, the entire world probably would’ve known the identity of the shooter and a detailed family history within an hour. In 1981, there was a great deal of uncertainty, both about the shooter and the President’s condition, and it was within that 24 hours — before everyone realized that President would survive the shooting, and that John Hinckley was simply nutbar — that the machinations of this episode had to work.
Stan Beemer and the FBI suspected the Soviets may have been behind the shooting, and neither Phillip, Elizabeth, or their handler, Claudia (Margo Martindale) knew whether it was their own people or not. Claudia, through Elizabeth, put in motion Operation Christopher, a plan in which Elizabeth would unearth her ARSENAL of weapons and prepare for guerrilla warfare in the event of a coup. Meanwhile, Phillip raced to his contacts to try to find out more information about the President’s status, the identity of the shooter, and his motive.
The intriguing angle here was the likely very realistic race for information between both the FBI, “The Americans,” and the Russian Embassy. They couldn’t jump on to The Drudge Report or Politico to find out what the rumblings were, so they had to use back channel sources. For the FBI and Stan Beemer, that meant their source inside the Russian Embassy, Nina, who it turned out didn’t know anymore than they did, although she risked her life — and her ability to be a source for the FBI — by meeting with Beemer, who fortunately spotted her tail.
But the most fascinating aspect of the episode was what the Russians thought they knew, owed to paranoia and a fundamental misunderstanding of how the American political system works. After Reagan was shot, there was chaos, panic, and confusion (the best example of this was the news media’s announcement that James Brady had died, when he had not). While Vice President George H. Bush was en route to Washington, Secretary of State Alexander Haig controversially remarked that he was “in control here.” Just 69 days into the presidency, and given Reagan’s indifference to Bush — who he cast as his running mate for electoral college reasons — it’s not a leap to assume that this is what Reagan would’ve wanted. But that’s not how presidential succession works.
Nevertheless, a paranoid Elizabeth — hopped up on the paranoia of Claudia and a lot of disinformation — thought that perhaps there would be a coup. Likewise, Nina from the Russian Embassy also believed that Haig was making a play to take over control of the United States. In this time of uncertainty, Phillip and Elizabeth prepared for the guerrilla warfare — to take out key figures of the American government — which led to the only bit of real action in the episode: A stone-cold Elizabeth ruthlessly shot a neighborhood patrol in the head after he threatened to call her in and check the contents of their van.
Ultimately, however, it was revealed to Phillip and Elizabeth by Beemer — over drinks at his house — that Hinkley was simply a nutjob. The Soviets were notified, the guerrilla warfare plans were scrapped, and a form of normalcy resumed.
What we learned from the episode, however, is that going forward, Elizabeth — who blew the whole debacle way out of proportion — would better trust her husband and his instincts about America. Beemer also learned that Nina is not that valuable an asset, if the Russians don’t know anymore than the FBI. However, they should also be more careful because the Russian Embassy has raised suspicions about Nina. On the home front, we learned that Phillip and Elizabeth’s teenage daughter has feelings for Stan Beeman’s son, and that Beemer’s marriage is crumbling. Most importantly, however, we better understand the slow flow of information in 1981 and how that uncertainty plays into the fear and paranoia on both sides.
Unfortunately, that lesson did not provide for the most compelling episode of The Americans, which had thus far done a brilliant job of mixing the episodic spy missions with the overall series arc. This episode fell a little flat, owing in part to the fact that we knew the identity of the assassin and the ultimate outcome. However, the context provided by the episode will be valuable going ahead in the series.
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/Screen-Shot-2013-05-20-at-10.57.17-AM-150x150.png)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/dw_xi_3_xmas_2312-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/Screen-Shot-2013-05-06-at-10.04.32-AM-150x150.png)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/tumblr_mj0jbq9Dhi1qg0odto1_500-150x150.jpg)
So, how long until Stan is banging Nina?
More scenes with Elizabeth playing with high powered sniper rifles and explosives please. Nothing like a hot bitch playing with weaponry.
I want to see her throwing down a beating again
I’d tell you where I was when Reagan was shot, but then you’d all mock me for being old.
I found it an interesting episode, from a historical perspective. Elizabeth and Nina’s paranoia over a possible coup was, even at the time, laughable from an American POV. Haig did indeed claim to be in control, but no one took him seriously. He was mocked in the press, and the political cartoonists had a field day with him. But seeing how the Russian characters reacted to it, even though one of whom had been living in the USA for quite some time, put a new spin on the event.
I also find it interesting that, for Elizabeth, America is almost a distasteful job, even though every flashback we see from her time in Russia is unpleasant, to say the least.
so i was about five months old living in washington dc…had no clue there was an assassination attempt. i was though at reagan’s inauguration as a three month old, which is strange because i am far from republican now.
anyway, as for the episode, i def agree that it wasn’t their best. wasn’t much intensity, except for maybe the security guard, but that ended early. still really enjoying the show and can’t wait to see where they go with it and the characters. so much room still…
i want more on mags’ character’s backstory…she fought in stalingrad!
I was a little less than 2 years from being born.
Haven’t watch the episode yet (I’m out of town) so I have no relevant comments yet, just an answer to the joke headline.
By the way, I would have sworn that Agent Gadd (aka John-Boy) was the voice guy for Lexus, but the internets is telling me no.
Ah, its Mercedes. Now, back to Archer.
[www.caranddriver.com]
I hope everyone is taking note of how hot Nina is.
that sort of thing is never lost on me.
Really enjoyed the episode. Also enjoyed the flashback’s to Elizabeth’s childhood. Whole episode (and show in general) seems to be based pretty well in the facts/time period. I found the speculation about Haig to be funny, I was legit laughing at some of those comments that they were saying about him.
“we learned that Phillip and Elizabeth’s teenage daughter has feelings for Stan Beeman’s son, and that Beemer’s marriage is crumbling.”
If they did want to start taking liberties, this suggests to me that Beemer will eventually become a less covert stand-in for Robert Hanssen (He was spying for them since 1979 and in Counterintelligence, so I wonder if he’ll come into play as a plot device later in the season/series since even the KGB didn’t know he was their asset).
But basically I’m saying that their FBI agent neighbor will become a traitor by the season finale. Maybe season 2 finale.
I respectfully disagree. Beemer let his family fall apart for his job. He spent a long time under deep cover with a bunch of psycos because of the commitment to his job. Beemer is a ‘good soldier’, while Robert Hansen was a megalomaniac who thought he was smarter and better than everyone else.
FBI guy is actually named Stan Beeman. I know. Those dreamy blues can alter the way we all remember any trivia about him.
I liked this episode on many levels, but the “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead” parts of the show are my favourite because, like @Philip Rivers Cuomo says below, they don’t take liberties but work within the confines of the event.
Anybody else have to do a double-take with the boy on the couch with Paige? I thought that was Michael Cera for a couple minutes until he spoke.
Dude. Yes!
I thought it was the kid they used for Dexter flashbacks.
“If the president were shot in 2013, thanks to the Internet and the speed that information travels, the entire world probably would’ve known the identity of the shooter and a detailed family history within an hour.”
And 50% of what was being report would be inaccurate, at best!
I was almost four when Reagan was shot, so I have no memory of it. I found it confusing, and then funny, that Elizabeth thought this could lead to a coup. Silly Russians! Coups are for unstable eastern European governments!
I am really enjoying this show, it is living up to my expectations so far. Now here’s hoping it doesn’t get cancelled.
Howabout when Kennedy was shot?
[www.youtube.com]
I don’t know who shot Kennedy, but Oswald didn’t act alone.
Did anyone else feel something special going on in the car between Beeman and Nina? Crumbling Marriage + cute, younger Russian girl + you have power over her + dangerous, adrenaline pumping situations = bowchicka bow bow……
There seemed to be some chemistry, would make for an interesting plot line.
I caught that. Also, when Beeman was confronted by the wife I thought she was going to say now she has suspicions about the neighbors.
Now where is my Margo Martindale badge?
It was obvious, I kept saying “Fuck already!” during the episode. Although to be fair I say that when a father and son share a moment as well.
I thought that because this episode worked in the narrow confines of the historical event, it was a great show maybe the best so far. I liked how it captured the confusion of that day and highlighted how close the US and USSR were to striking out at each other. Even as a kid, I remember that feeling that at any moment, without any warning, it would all blow up. Having had to watch “The Day After” for school, didn’t help matters.
Also loved the juxtaposition of the two marriages at the end.
Final note, the daughter may have feelings for Stan’s kid, not some kid of a Secret Service agent.
Sorry, posted before the correction.
“The Day After” ruined me. [www.pajiba.com]
“Testament” is the best of the 80′s nuclear holocaust movies.
I’d like to see how this family would deal with it all once the Soviet Union falls, even though it would have to either do a “Mad Men” jump in time for a few seasons or stick around for a good while.
The first time I became aware of the nuclear threat of the cold war was in the late 1970s, while watching tv news in some Holiday Inn in Alabama – family headed back to Houston after a trip to see extended family in New Jersey – and there was a piece about the arms race, showed Carter talking, etc. First time it scared me.
I think we learned that Elizabeth is actually a serious threat when backed into a corner. We knew from the first episode that she can kick some ass (head through drywall), but all the mortal violence so far has been Phillip.
However, given how Phillip just kind of shrugs when she kill the guard, I’m guessing this wasn’t supposed to be something new.
I preferred that they didn’t take historical liberties. We “know” that Hinkley acted alone and was simply a nut job, and there was no coup in play. There is no need to fictionalize that aspect when the whole Russian spy angle is fictionalized. If they fictionalize the real stuff, then it would jump out at me that the whole show is fiction and then there is no real drama or suspense. The way they did gives us the impression that this really was the way Russia reacted and we were that close to an escalating conflict.
I DO like that they’re not taking historical liberties, but I also think that — because we know the outcome — it also robs us of some of the drama and suspense.
I hate to break it to you Dustin, but America wins in the end. Sorry for the spoiler. I guess you can stop watching now.
You know, pams back tattoo, I also know that Nucky Thompson was busted and imprisoned for tax evasion, but I haven’t stopped watching “Boardwalk Empire.” There’s room for dramatic liberties without necessarily altering huge historical events.
I actually thought it was the best episode so far. I loathe Reagan and his legacy so it’s interesting to see the historical perspective this show is taking.
I didn’t know that Haig was a general (which made me think they played up Nina’s ignorance of how the USA works when she called Haig “one of America’s most powerful generals”). I thought that the kid Philip and Elizabeth’s daughter has a crush on is Beeman’s son?
Also, I’m calling it again: Beeman’s life begins to crumble as he becomes obsessed with the job (we saw signs of his marital strife last night) and he figures out who Philip and Elizabeth are but he’s unreliable when he reveals it.
Ooops. You’re absolutely right about Beeman’s son. Corrected (and thanks!)
You’re welcome. I wasn’t trying to be pedantic or nit-picky. It was easy to miss because he’s just suddenly sitting there with no establishment of their relationship that I remembered.
Haig was in fact a highly decorated Four Star General who served in Korea and Vietnam. Calling him one of the ‘most powerful’, while objective would not be that far off. He might not have actually been the most powerful and highly decorated General around, but if you coupe his military service with his political history at the time and the fact that he was US Sec of State we was a pretty powerful guy.