It's Criminal That 'A Muppet Family Christmas' Isn't on Disney+ Stream It or Skip It: 'Mistletoe in Montana' on Lifetime Is Light on Mistletoe but Has Plenty of Melissa Joan Hart Now I'm done.Stream It Or Skip It: 'Boxing Day' on Amazon Prime Video, A 'Love Actually'-Esque British Rom-Com Gregory: "I just wanted to live for something. I'm sure she doesn't think he goes around giving out presents to people who stick to the rules. "The world that we live in is a little darker and a little uglier than I think you know." I do think Stan could perhaps credit his wife with a little more intelligence. Surely a travel agent could have found a slightly less depressing motel in which to stay? I also appreciated that Philip was having pizza while Elizabeth was dishing up spaghetti for dinner. There were some really well-balanced moments this week: I liked the FBI searching Gregory's flat as dear Granny explained his options in a safe house nearby, and the Jennings watching telly/ having dinner as Gregory sacrificed himself for them. "You know what my mother would have done? Elizabeth chiding Paige made me wonder: how has the Jennings' total lack of family been explained to the kids? Your mum having no living relatives in the US is odd. "Some people aren't cut out for foreign travel." But was anyone else secretly hoping for a Gregory in Moscow spin off? The track at the end was a version of the Bee Gee's Love Somebody by Roberta Flack. I wonder if that will come into play at some point. And I don't take any chances with the people I protect." Although it's also clear that Claudia seems to protect Elizabeth, ever-loyal to the cause, over Philip. "We're not monsters, Nina." Really?Īlso showing her teeth this week, of course, was Claudia, informing Gregory they had framed him for a murder of an FBI officer: "It's your final act of service." She made it quite clear where he stood in the pecking order. Pity Nina if she gets into trouble and needs help: on the basis of his most recent behaviour, Stan is increasingly seeing her as just an asset. The parallels with Stan, Vlad and Nina were well done here, I thought – and the scene also put an interesting new spin on Stan's relationship with Nina to date. I'm beginning to get a bit scared of what might happen when Stan finds out it was actually Phil, the friend he turned to when he was drunk and sad, that killed his partner. I'm not sure the trail is quite as cold as Claudia would like to think. Which means a) the FBI now pretty much knows that the KGB did indeed recruit agents from the civil rights movement, and b) that somebody must have been handling Gregory. But does it really make sense? Gregory is linked to the KGB through Curtis, who Stan recognised from Philly.
There was evidence at Gregory's flat, certainly. But I'm not convinced it's going to set Stan Beeman's mind completely to rest. Trusting your wife's lover has rarely been more dangerous.Ī note here about Gregory's death: it was an extremely dramatically satisfying way for him to go.
For his part, her husband lowered his gun in the face of her pleas, and allowed Gregory to walk out of the safe house in a move that could potentially have signalled disaster for the whole Jennings family. (Not that I think Philip fell for a woman particularly soft around the edges in any case). It will be interesting whether she keeps his advice about Philip in mind. Of all the emotions on stage, it was the partnership under the greatest stress that often looked most solid: Gregory and Elizabeth allowing their hearts to rule their heads – him dying for the cause, her trusting him to do so. All reflected against each other in one of the best episodes of the drama we've seen to date. This week's Americans was an interesting meditation on love: why we care for someone, what we'll do for them or the thing we hold dearest the pain it can cause what makes it real. Do not read on if you haven't watched episode 10 – and please do not post spoilers if you've seen further in the series. SPOILER ALERT: This blog is for viewers watching The Americans at British and Australian broadcast pace.