The Americans: Season 1

If you read my review of Covert Affairs, you will recall that I find the program inconsistent with the reality of intelligence. The Americans is not only produced by a former CIA officer (Joe Weisberg), but the producers engaged H.Keith Melton as a technical consultant.Melton is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, an intelligence historian, and a specialist in clandestine technology and espionage “tradecraft.” Among Melton's many works is The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, of which Worldcat said, "The manuals reprinted in this work represent the only known complete copy of Mulholland's instructions for CIA officers on the magician's art of deception and secret communications written to counter Soviet mind-control and interrogation techniques." (Melton, H. Keith, and Robert Wallace. The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception. New York: William Morrow, 2009. ISBN 978-0-06-172589-0 [3]). He also has what is widely reported to be the largest collection of spy equipment in the world, and he is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. (Check before showing up; I'm not sure it's open to the public.)The Americans, unlike Covert Affairs, gets the tradecraft right. But, it goes far beyond that.The series is the story of two Soviet KGB officers posing, with their biological children, as a married couple who own a travel agency and live in suburban Washington, D.C. during the 1980s. They are part of the Russian "Illegals Program" (Directorate S) under which KGB spies, often "sleeper agents" placed decades before, operate NOC (that is, without official diplomatic cover) when called upon. Allegedly the idea for the show originated with the arrest of 10 Russian "illegals" in 2010. While Russia obviously maintains the program, the conflict between the U.S. and Russia was much greater - thus, the need to call on NOC agents much greater - in the 1980s than currently. The intelligence projects assigned to Elizabeth and Philip Jennings in the series are right off the front pages of the major newspapers of the period.This series is much more than a spy drama, however. Intelligence involves deception. Elizabeth and Philip did not choose to work together, let alone marry and raise a family. They were assigned together by the KGB. The psychological dynamics of their relationship - Have they come to love each other? Should they love each other, or will that only lead to operational error? To what extent do they, can they, control their feelings for one another? - is a critically important element of the series. These questions are complicated by their obvious love of, and devotion to, their children (who know nothing of their parents' true occupation).By coincidence, an FBI counterintelligence agent and his family (Stan and Sandra Beeman) move next door. Interestingly, there are emotional parallels between the two families. The Beemans' children know what dad does for a living, at least generally. Yet, Stan's world also involves deception, and Sandra is left - necessarily - in the dark about what her husband does. This is in distinct contrast to Philip and Elizabeth, who each know almost entirely what the other does. Philip and Elizabeth are called upon to be sexually unfaithful; it is simply part of the job. Each knows of the other's professional infidelities (with few exceptions). Beeman is no less a spy, and he is also called upon to be unfaithful professionally. Yet, because Sandra can't know of this, there is as much strain in the Beeman marriage as in the Jennings marriage.I don't know where to put this point, so I'll put it here. Deception destroys trust. Outside of the family relationships, all of the characters have "trust issues." None of them can truly trust anybody (except that none of the characters' children has reached an age where inability to trust has become an issue - a situation that I suspect will change in a season or two). And, the characters are routinely betrayed by their colleagues, superiors, and subordinates, which causes them to have to betray others. This cascade of betrayal - intentional, unintentional, or coerced - pervades their lives and corrodes their relationships. This series is an intense psychological drama.The writing is stunning. Far beyond the thrilling adventures of spies, this series delves into the emotions of characters in very difficult circumstances, some of whom are unintentional pawns in the Great Game. Each character is carefully drawn and distinctly presented. There is no ideology here. The viewer identifies with, understands, even cries for, each character.The Americans won Outstanding New Program in the 2013 TCA Awards, and was nominated, along with its cast, for numerous other awards. It has been renewed for another season, which will begin in January.Again, television trumps the silver screen. This series is worth buying at twice the price. Don't miss the next season.Regards,MDS

This show is intriguing and so well done. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Americans is one of the best TV dramas to come along in a long time. It is not exactly like anything you have ever seen before, although comparisons to 24, Homeland, or even Covert Affairs on USA, are obvious because they all deal with spies or enemies among us.The writing is simply superb, delivering storylines that are engrossing, unexpected, and thought-provoking. The acting is so heartfelt and subtly crafted, the characters feel so real, you’ll believe The Americans could be living right next door to you right now. But mostly, it’s just good, escapist entertainment. The characters and their story will have you hooked, and you can’t wait to find out what happens next.The Americans is a period piece that takes us back to the early 1980s and reminds us that there have been other times in our recent history when we lived day-to-day with a murky threat hanging over us – and without cell phones or the internet! How did they do it? The difference between the Cold War and the current war on terror is that, back then, we understood the stakes were total global annihilation and the end of mankind as we know it.All great dramas have universal themes, and against this backdrop, The Americans deals with family and loyalty, within the Cold War spy drama. Because we all know how it ultimately ends – the fall of Communism in the eastern bloc and Russia eventually becoming our wary ally or “frenemy” – you feel you have permission to root for Russian spies Philip and Elizabeth while at the same time hoping for the best for the FBI and our own country. After all, they are just people trying to do their jobs and, like all of us, trying to do the right thing most of the time. The writers and directors do a masterful job of portraying the Russians as patriotic to their own cause that they believe in, while also showing the U.S. government as competent and capable – surely not an easy balancing act, but they pull it off.The most engaging and intriguing part of the story is the arranged marriage between Philip and Elizabeth. Anyone who has ever been married can relate to the concept that we never really know who we are married to, completely. Deep down, we all have parts of ourselves that we don’t show to others, even our spouses. Anyone who has been married for many years understands that even after a long time, you learn things about your spouse that you really didn’t know when you married him or her. And we can even relate to the idea that love can grow between strangers, given enough time together. So while they were put together as a cover for their spy work, the idea that Philip and Elizabeth have grown to love each other, after having 2 children, is believable.When it comes to their amazing spy antics, it is an intriguing fantasy to imagine having such an exciting job while balancing a family and relationships, compared to our own mundane workdays. Just like us, even super spies have to do dinner, homework, arrange babysitters, occasionally work late or pull all-nighters, and worry about what their kids are doing while they are away at work.Keri Russell is terrific as the KGB spy mom, a flawed but loving mother who is so tough and fearless she routinely kicks the butt of people twice her size. Matthew Rhys is simply amazing as Philip, the handsome, devoted father and husband who somehow effortlessly manages to take care of the family while carrying out complicated and dangerous missions, and even running “honey-traps” keeping his dowdy informant-lover Martha happy on the side. It must be exhausting! But oh so fun to watch.

Started watching The Americans DVD, and am finding it quite good. The acting is great and the premise of Russian Spy’s having been embedded in the US for many years, very interesting. If you enjoy adventure, spying, and suspense shows, this is the show for you. There are good plot twists, so that you think you know what is going to happen, but something entirely different happens instead, so it keeps you on your toes. I’m enjoying it to date. Hope you do to. :D.

Llegó en el mejor estado y se ve súper bien. Contiene material extra y tanto audio original como en doblaje.

je ne m'attendais pas à découvrir une série aussi mémorable.Très fan des séries américaines, nous l'avons découvert un peu par hasard.Eh bien c'est une série tout simplement parfaite.ça se passe dans les années 80 sous Reagan autour d'agents Russes infiltrés.Pas de parti-pris, c'est une série de haut niveau avec des acteurs parfaitement bien choisis.C'est LA série qu'il vous faut découvrir.Je suis par contre très désagréablement surpris par le fait que seule la saison 1 soit disponible en Blu ray en France, alors que l'on découvre bientôt la saison 5 aux Etats Unis.

My wife and I enjoy watching an episode of a quality series in the evenings. I bought this set based on the recommendations. It is a novel concept and the fact it extends to 6 seasons I considered as a good sign. Unfortunately, I cannot say it is of the same quality as other shows we have watched. Hence the 3 star rating - good but not great

I had never heard of this series before. What prompted my interest was an article by a retired CIA operative, in which she said this show is close to reality. She never watched James Bond etc.. I have only watched season 1 but have bought the remaining 6 seasons as a result. Seems insightful of human interactions, needs & flaws.