‘The Americans’ Kicks Off Final Season With Powerhouse Performances

Alex Aronson

A suave montage opens up the first episode of the final season of the FX hit “The Americans,” showcasing the familiar characters in their off par jobs while returning home at the end of the day like a quintessential American family. It’s all in a days work for the Jennings, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Phillip (Matthew Rhys), Russian agents who pose as the average American couple in the height of the Cold War. With nine weeks left until the upcoming summit between New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan, the remaining nine episodes are poised to be as action-packed as the promising season premiere.  

As Kerri Russell overlooks the Washington D.C. monument, her empty expression stares back at her in the reflection of the blackened windowpane. Dawning her blonde wig with a cigarette in tow, she looks back at the naked man, vulnerable and alone, sleeping on her hotel bed. But as she stares back at herself, she appears unfulfilled, tired, and ready for change — yet determined.  

In the same montage, filled with executive producer Chris Long’s gliding and amusing camera direction, Elizabeth switches wigs, slyly capturing photos through her hidden purse camera. As she rips off the wig, she returns to her cushy suburban house, where Philip waits at the kitchen island. She is dedicated to her country and mission, while he has embraced the ways of American capitalism. The two don’t speak a word — because nothing needs to be said. It’s the final season of the show, and they both know the agenda — at this point, it is all about efficient execution.

However, their juxtaposing viewpoints create for lofty tension. As plotlines converge, the balance of Elizabeth’s mission, whose eyes have are locked on the forthcoming summit, gets slightly off-kilter. Her laser-beam focus is getting infiltrated. It is her defiance and problem-solving ability that will be most intriguing to watch.

Much like other FX hits including “American Horror Story,” and its various spin-offs, “The Americans” didn’t start off as a ratings hit. But as the show released previous seasons on streaming, a dedicated audience amassed for the well-crafted spy series. Similar analytics occurred for other hit shows, such as “The Walking Dead,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Breaking Bad.” – whereas the ratings started low, dedicated audiences, discovered through the advantage of re-run binge-watching, grew the respective series’ into popular hits.

Comparable to the ladder title, if “The Americans” were “Breaking Bad” than Holly Taylor is the Saul — equally deserving of a spin-off series once the mother ship drama comes to a series end. Bestowed in the previous season as a “second generation illegal,” the Jennings’ American born daughter, Paige (Taylor) has grown immensely during the series six-season bow – as both an actress and a character. Leading her own struggles, it would be interesting to see how the character continues beyond the confines of her parents. As the series makes room for a final curtain call, perhaps the intriguing story will leave the case cracked ever so slightly as to provide breathing room for a new incarnation. But at the kick-off of the final 10-episodes, the last stretch appears to be nonetheless enthralling.

“The Americans” season 6 premieres March 28 and airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX.