The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
#1
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The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Episode 1 / Production #301 - "EST Men" (Airs January 28, 10:00 pm e/p) - Tensions simmer between Philip and Elizabeth as they disagree over handling orders from the Centre. When Elizabeth loses key intel, Philip enlists Annelise on a mission with an unexpected outcome. Stan tries a new approach to mending his marriage with Sandra amidst learning tough news about Nina. Written by Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg; directed by Daniel Sackheim.
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Looking forward to it, but damn this show is heavy. I always need to mentally prepare and take a break after.
#4
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
I really loved the first season of this show but didn't watch a single episode of season 2 although I still have them on my Tivo. It's just such a dense show that I can't just have it on. I actually have to sit down and watch it which is hard for me lately.
#5
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Tore through S2 last week, and wow!, such great stuff. You watch so many shows and you feel like you know all the story beats in any given episode, so often you're just watching for the execution of it all. But with this show, it is so dense and so dialogue driven that you have to pay it your full attention or you're lost. Great dialogue. Great music. Great wigs! I hear this show has a lot of playwrights writing for it.
The resolution to the murdered family last season was devastating, did not see that coming. And then to turn right around and say that they're recruiting the daughter next was a real gut punch. Can't wait to see what happens. Can't wait!
The resolution to the murdered family last season was devastating, did not see that coming. And then to turn right around and say that they're recruiting the daughter next was a real gut punch. Can't wait to see what happens. Can't wait!
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
We blazed through S1 and S2. We're seriously apprehensive about switching to watching S3 week to week. I'm tempted to let it build up on the DVR again, then watch it. We really like it.
#7
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Pretty good first episode of the season. Poor Annelise.
I hope they bring Nina back. Don't know how, but figure they will somehow.
Like Frank Langella. Guess he's their new handler. Hope they still bring Claudia back from time to time, especially with The Millers getting cancelled.
I hope they bring Nina back. Don't know how, but figure they will somehow.
Like Frank Langella. Guess he's their new handler. Hope they still bring Claudia back from time to time, especially with The Millers getting cancelled.
#8
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Pretty good first episode of the season. Poor Annelise.
I hope they bring Nina back. Don't know how, but figure they will somehow.
Like Frank Langella. Guess he's their new handler. Hope they still bring Claudia back from time to time, especially with The Millers getting cancelled.
I hope they bring Nina back. Don't know how, but figure they will somehow.
Like Frank Langella. Guess he's their new handler. Hope they still bring Claudia back from time to time, especially with The Millers getting cancelled.
#9
Banned
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
3rd season hit the ground running. Looking forward to seeing where they take this. One thing's for sure...they will never have a problem wrapping the series when that inevitably happens, because the Soviet spies are constantly living on a knife's edge.
One small nit-pick. I could buy the FBI agents being careless when approaching a suspect with both within reach of her (maybe misjudging due to her slight stature), and I could buy that her training could allow her to overwhelm them in a freestyle fight. But anyone...especially a woman weighing around 100 lbs. or less...getting her face slammed repeatedly into a car would either be rendered unconscious, be concussed, or would at the very least have fractured nose, jaw, cheek, teeth, etc. Especially when the slammer is a large, fit man who outweighs her by 100 lbs.
I'd have to see the scene again, but it looked like he was really slamming her hard into the car trunk, not just holding her down. I know that happens all the time in "action" thrillers, etc., but this is supposed to be pretty realistic. Just a small gripe, didn't ruin the episode or anything.
I did think they did a good job showing Richard Thomas's nose & swollen eyes. That's the type of injuries I would expect to see after a brutal fight...not just a few bruises that can be fixed with makeup & ice packs. After the wrenching around she took, I'd expect her not to be able to use her arm for days.
One small nit-pick. I could buy the FBI agents being careless when approaching a suspect with both within reach of her (maybe misjudging due to her slight stature), and I could buy that her training could allow her to overwhelm them in a freestyle fight. But anyone...especially a woman weighing around 100 lbs. or less...getting her face slammed repeatedly into a car would either be rendered unconscious, be concussed, or would at the very least have fractured nose, jaw, cheek, teeth, etc. Especially when the slammer is a large, fit man who outweighs her by 100 lbs.
I'd have to see the scene again, but it looked like he was really slamming her hard into the car trunk, not just holding her down. I know that happens all the time in "action" thrillers, etc., but this is supposed to be pretty realistic. Just a small gripe, didn't ruin the episode or anything.
I did think they did a good job showing Richard Thomas's nose & swollen eyes. That's the type of injuries I would expect to see after a brutal fight...not just a few bruises that can be fixed with makeup & ice packs. After the wrenching around she took, I'd expect her not to be able to use her arm for days.
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
One issue I'm having with the show is that the two spies have so many aliases and assets they're running that I can't keep them straight. Even with the short recap at the start I'm still a bit foggy on Annelise and how and why she was pimped out by Phillip.
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Good first episode, but yeah, this show requires the viewer to pay close attention to try to keep everything straight.
#12
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
As much as I love the leads, the show would benefit from adding another couple to do some of the work. Every episode my credulity is stretched thin by having them do so many missions. They had a partner in the pilot and killed him off that same episode. They had another couple working with them S2E1 and immediately killed them as well. I'd like them to have some co-workers that stick around for a while -- then maybe get captured or killed.
And the only way I believe Paige is fourteen is if you think there are 24 months in a year. And even then you're pushing it.
And the only way I believe Paige is fourteen is if you think there are 24 months in a year. And even then you're pushing it.
Last edited by Decker; 01-29-15 at 09:57 AM.
#13
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
A good start to the season. This is definitely the "heaviest" drama on television, it forces the viewer to follow along some very tough moral choices by the main characters.
I would hope they axe Stan's ex-wife from the show. Did she have one storyline in two seasons beyond cheating?
I would hope they axe Stan's ex-wife from the show. Did she have one storyline in two seasons beyond cheating?
#14
Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Yes, she has been around since Season 1, too bad she bites it this time.
The wife's presence only serves to illustrate how miserable Stan's domestic life was. It's really weird to have her included as the main cast. She usually have one scene per episode, or less.
The wife's presence only serves to illustrate how miserable Stan's domestic life was. It's really weird to have her included as the main cast. She usually have one scene per episode, or less.
#15
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
As much as I love the leads, the show would benefit from adding another couple to do some of the work. Every episode my credulity is stretched thin by having them do so many missions. They had a partner in the pilot and killed him off that same episode. They had another couple working with them S2E1 and immediately killed them as well. I'd like them to have some co-workers that stick around for a while -- then maybe get captured or killed.
And the only way I believe Paige is fourteen is if you think there are 24 months in a year. And even then you're pushing it.
And the only way I believe Paige is fourteen is if you think there are 24 months in a year. And even then you're pushing it.
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
#19
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#20
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
I missed it, too, but my wife caught it ("Don't you remember her looking around for it?"...."No." ).
Neither one of us could remember who Annaliese was, though (moot point now).
Same thoughts about Paige's age (I thought she was around 14 during Season 1), but maybe the time covered in the show is less than "real time." She's credible as age 14, but that probably won't last much longer (hopefully, Paige will still be around & the kids won't be collateral damage).
Neither one of us could remember who Annaliese was, though (moot point now).
Same thoughts about Paige's age (I thought she was around 14 during Season 1), but maybe the time covered in the show is less than "real time." She's credible as age 14, but that probably won't last much longer (hopefully, Paige will still be around & the kids won't be collateral damage).
#21
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
I missed the list being lost too.
I totally had forgotten about Annelise.
Love the Frank Langella addition.
I totally had forgotten about Annelise.
Love the Frank Langella addition.
#22
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
Yup. If John Boy isn't completely incompetent or blind, it should come as soon as they finish the composite sketch. But you know it won't.
Nixon is a Soviet spy = Mind Blown.
Nixon is a Soviet spy = Mind Blown.
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
I did see her looking around for it right after the motorcycle guy crashed, but at the time I didn't know what she had lost.
#24
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
I'm surprised by all the comments missing it I thought it was fairly obvious. I guess the show is just heavy at some points and could use multiple views.
#25
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Re: The Americans (S3E01) - Season Premiere - "EST Men" - 1/28/15
I'm pretty sure she says something like "Where's my list?" while she looks around.