The Americans: Open House
February 13, 2015 2:54 PM - Season 3, Episode 3 - Subscribe
Elizabeth and Philip run into some traffic while on a mission, Philip experiences marital conflict with both his wives, and Elizabeth has some dental work done. Soundtrack: Air Supply.
After the dentistry, I looked up who invented Novocaine (Alfred Einhorn) just so I could fervently thank the right person. (I actually found that harder to watch than the suitcase.)
I really enjoyed the car chase/escape from capture scenes. It's hard to make that methodical tracking/manouevering thrilling, but there was real tenseness in those scenes, and I really like seeing the mechanics of spying/clandestine work.
I chortled when Adahalt was trying to flirt with Martha. Clark's got some competition! It also makes me worry about Martha more - it's upping the ante when she is found out/realizes what is going on, and that day has to be approaching...
I think Adahalt will be good for Stan's self-esteem. He admires Stan, but isn't an acolyte, and they seem to be on the same page in terms of strategy with different kinds of experience to inform it.
posted by julen at 4:35 PM on February 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
I really enjoyed the car chase/escape from capture scenes. It's hard to make that methodical tracking/manouevering thrilling, but there was real tenseness in those scenes, and I really like seeing the mechanics of spying/clandestine work.
I chortled when Adahalt was trying to flirt with Martha. Clark's got some competition! It also makes me worry about Martha more - it's upping the ante when she is found out/realizes what is going on, and that day has to be approaching...
I think Adahalt will be good for Stan's self-esteem. He admires Stan, but isn't an acolyte, and they seem to be on the same page in terms of strategy with different kinds of experience to inform it.
posted by julen at 4:35 PM on February 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
I really enjoyed the car chase/escape from capture scenes. It's hard to make that methodical tracking/manouevering thrilling, but there was real tenseness in those scenes, and I really like seeing the mechanics of spying/clandestine work.
I think The Americans excels at at car scenes. I know that sounds like an oddly specific strength for a tv show, but I think it even extends beyond the car chases. That's not at all to discount the chases, however; I think the chase from the end of S1 was the best I've ever seen on tv, and better than most I've seen in movies.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:38 PM on February 13, 2015
I think The Americans excels at at car scenes. I know that sounds like an oddly specific strength for a tv show, but I think it even extends beyond the car chases. That's not at all to discount the chases, however; I think the chase from the end of S1 was the best I've ever seen on tv, and better than most I've seen in movies.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:38 PM on February 13, 2015
And, oh, good lord, the dental scene. It made Marathon Man look like a children's board book called "Babe visits the Tooth Fairy."
I'm extra excited about my dentist appointment on Tuesday.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:41 PM on February 13, 2015
I'm extra excited about my dentist appointment on Tuesday.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:41 PM on February 13, 2015
The thought I kept having about Elizabeth's broken teeth was, can't their elaborate spy network hook her up with a dentist who will fix her teeth and not report her?
I hope I'm never under surveillance while I'm recovering from a broken heart. I would die of humiliation to have anyone know what my heartbreak soundtrack is.
Henry claimed that picture of Sandra Beeman wasn't his. Suuuuuure, Henry, we believe you. Thousands wouldn't, but we do.
Martha's new potential suitor (after all, he has no idea she's "married") was amusing. Chris Amador was in love with her too, and she passed him up for "Clark". Maybe she'll get tired of Clark hardly being around and refusing to have children with her, and show him the door after all?
posted by orange swan at 8:58 PM on February 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
I hope I'm never under surveillance while I'm recovering from a broken heart. I would die of humiliation to have anyone know what my heartbreak soundtrack is.
Henry claimed that picture of Sandra Beeman wasn't his. Suuuuuure, Henry, we believe you. Thousands wouldn't, but we do.
Martha's new potential suitor (after all, he has no idea she's "married") was amusing. Chris Amador was in love with her too, and she passed him up for "Clark". Maybe she'll get tired of Clark hardly being around and refusing to have children with her, and show him the door after all?
posted by orange swan at 8:58 PM on February 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
can't their elaborate spy network hook her up with a dentist who will fix her teeth and not report her?
They did in S1 so I wondered the same thing, but maybe they're supposed to be so deep that the secret doctor is for life-and-death situations.
Maybe she'll get tired of Clark hardly being around and refusing to have children with her, and show him the door after all?
In Martha/Clark episodes I like to imagine the kinds of questions Martha would submit to Ask about Clark and about their relationship. She's very complex, I like her a lot.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:19 PM on February 13, 2015 [7 favorites]
They did in S1 so I wondered the same thing, but maybe they're supposed to be so deep that the secret doctor is for life-and-death situations.
Maybe she'll get tired of Clark hardly being around and refusing to have children with her, and show him the door after all?
In Martha/Clark episodes I like to imagine the kinds of questions Martha would submit to Ask about Clark and about their relationship. She's very complex, I like her a lot.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:19 PM on February 13, 2015 [7 favorites]
How would the reporting thing have worked in real life in the 80s, when they couldn't just announce an alert over the news? Did some FBI intern(s) have to manually dial all dentists/doctors in a 50/100 mile radius?
posted by Gyan at 1:20 AM on February 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Gyan at 1:20 AM on February 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I thought they would make up a domestic abuse story. It the early 80's, no one would bat an eye if no one pressed charges, right? I am glad they didn't go in that direction.
I loved the dental scene, even though I had to look away.
I did wonder why Philip was still in the house with the kids when she got home. I would assume that if she was caught by the FBI, they have to know there is a decent chance that Stan will be involved at some point and would come straight to the house for Philip?
posted by LizBoBiz at 5:28 AM on February 14, 2015
I loved the dental scene, even though I had to look away.
I did wonder why Philip was still in the house with the kids when she got home. I would assume that if she was caught by the FBI, they have to know there is a decent chance that Stan will be involved at some point and would come straight to the house for Philip?
posted by LizBoBiz at 5:28 AM on February 14, 2015
I think Philip thought she'd get away (they had a good system in place), but was still worried and thinking about all the things that put them in danger. Hence the at-home dentistry.
Paige's I am used to being left to fend on my own attitude and pointed independence is such a nice counterpoint to the Center's plans for Paige and her parents' battle for her future.
posted by julen at 8:50 AM on February 14, 2015
Paige's I am used to being left to fend on my own attitude and pointed independence is such a nice counterpoint to the Center's plans for Paige and her parents' battle for her future.
posted by julen at 8:50 AM on February 14, 2015
Paige's I am used to being left to fend on my own attitude and pointed independence is such a nice counterpoint to the Center's plans for Paige and her parents' battle for her future.
I thought that was also hinted at in the police composite sketches, which I looked a bit like Paige.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:37 PM on February 14, 2015
I thought that was also hinted at in the police composite sketches, which I looked a bit like Paige.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:37 PM on February 14, 2015
Possibly fun facts from episode 3:
At the open, Gabriel (Langella) and Phillip are playing Scrabble. The former first plays "phlox", rooted in Greek "fire->flame->plant with showy flowers". Any meaning to the episode? You got me. (This will be a refrain.) Then he plays "stygian" for a bingo when "staying" is much easier to find and fits the board--he's good, sending Phillip to the dictionary.
Movies playing at the Cinemart Fiveplex during the car chase: First Blood (released October 22, 1982*); Amityville the Posession (sic; September 24); My Favorite Year (October 1); National Lampoons Class Reunion (October 29); Yes Giorgio (September 24). *wikipedia
A TV ad for "Don Beyer Volvo" plays in the background at home. "We will go to shocking extremes to transform your dealership service experience", tagline "the great experiment in Falls Church, Virginia". DBV is an acronym for "overbold envoy" as Elizabeth is pursued by one. (Edit: er, "convoy" is what I'm looking for. So ok then, the Russian defector is the overbold envoy... yeah that's it.) I mean, the ad goes on long enough, there's gotta be something to it.
*coughs uncomfortably*
posted by sylvanshine at 10:26 PM on February 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
At the open, Gabriel (Langella) and Phillip are playing Scrabble. The former first plays "phlox", rooted in Greek "fire->flame->plant with showy flowers". Any meaning to the episode? You got me. (This will be a refrain.) Then he plays "stygian" for a bingo when "staying" is much easier to find and fits the board--he's good, sending Phillip to the dictionary.
Movies playing at the Cinemart Fiveplex during the car chase: First Blood (released October 22, 1982*); Amityville the Posession (sic; September 24); My Favorite Year (October 1); National Lampoons Class Reunion (October 29); Yes Giorgio (September 24). *wikipedia
A TV ad for "Don Beyer Volvo" plays in the background at home. "We will go to shocking extremes to transform your dealership service experience", tagline "the great experiment in Falls Church, Virginia". DBV is an acronym for "overbold envoy" as Elizabeth is pursued by one. (Edit: er, "convoy" is what I'm looking for. So ok then, the Russian defector is the overbold envoy... yeah that's it.) I mean, the ad goes on long enough, there's gotta be something to it.
*coughs uncomfortably*
posted by sylvanshine at 10:26 PM on February 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think the strongest subliminal messaging is the scrabble game. I took that as a reinforcement Gabriel was out-thinking Philip and operating with more facts. Phlox is one of those words that one picks up over a long stretch of playing the game as a useful X word. It's the word stygian, whose first meaning is tied to death and secondary meaning of permanant, unbreakable promise, which is subtly menacing. When you cross the river styx, you end up in the world of the dead; if you cross the center by defecting or (possibly) blocking them from Paige, you too could end up in the world of the dead.
I think the movies are just evidence of them doing their research to nail the cultural hallmarks of the timeframe; I think you'll find what Paige was watching when they got home (Fantasy Island? Maybe?) was actually on TV the week this episode is supposed to have taken place, too.
Don Beyer Volvo ads were like a rash over DC airwaves (seriously, you could be flipping stations and hit that ad over and over, much like the it song of the moment.), so it could be versimilitude. The show does like its Washingtonianisms; Last week, Tony Kornheiser was sitting at the bar when Philip and Elizabeth were spying on the meet there.
posted by julen at 8:58 AM on February 15, 2015
I think the movies are just evidence of them doing their research to nail the cultural hallmarks of the timeframe; I think you'll find what Paige was watching when they got home (Fantasy Island? Maybe?) was actually on TV the week this episode is supposed to have taken place, too.
Don Beyer Volvo ads were like a rash over DC airwaves (seriously, you could be flipping stations and hit that ad over and over, much like the it song of the moment.), so it could be versimilitude. The show does like its Washingtonianisms; Last week, Tony Kornheiser was sitting at the bar when Philip and Elizabeth were spying on the meet there.
posted by julen at 8:58 AM on February 15, 2015
Like the AV Club, I'm pleased the mail robot got some airtime. I love that lil guy!
posted by Monochrome at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Monochrome at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
Masterful episode. Two intensely suspenseful scenes, the car "chase" and the tooth-pulling. Amazing sound, low tense music, little dialog; none at all for the dentistry. I was cringing and wincing. Particularly at how erotically the tooth pulling was filmed, how intimate, how awful.
posted by Nelson at 7:26 PM on March 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Nelson at 7:26 PM on March 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Coming way late, but on the period touches, I was thrilled to see the pint of Früsen Glädje. That was my favorite back in the early 80s. Good on someone for doing their homework on that one. Music and movies you can easily look up, but random regional ice-cream brand? There must be some 50-year-olds on the production team.
posted by chazlarson at 9:01 AM on August 6, 2016
posted by chazlarson at 9:01 AM on August 6, 2016
Like the AV Club, I'm pleased the mail robot got some airtime.
I'm hoping the mail robot turns out to be an agent under deep cover for MI6 or China.
posted by drezdn at 4:57 AM on December 1, 2016
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I'm glad FX seems to be committed to a five-season arc despite lower (for the moment) numbers than this series deserves.
posted by Kinbote at 3:27 PM on February 13, 2015 [3 favorites]