The Americans is a concept that has been done before, but never in such a blatant way. You root for the bad guy. Not just an anti-hero, like Charlie Sheen’s “Two and a Half Men” character…these are the actual bad guys. The entire show is surrounding two KGB members who have been living as normal Americans for 20+ years, speaking the language fluently, acting normal during the day, then kicking butt at night.
When you watch, you feel a little odd. You start to feel sympathetic and joyous throughout the pilot towards KGB spies. People you have always been taught as “bad” are now people you want to relate to. People who always associated with murder and violence are now people you want to help out. It is such a weird and out of place feeling for a TV show, but boy do they deliver.
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys brilliantly portray the Jennings family, two people forced together by their field of work to ruin America. Like mentioned, you start to feel for them. When they have a man stored in the trunk of the car in the garage, you hope no one finds them, all while realizing you are rooting for the villain. Noah Emmerich plays Stan Beeman, an FBI agent, who, at one point, sneaks into the Jennings’ garage to hopefully find the man. You watch and pray he doesn’t find him, which once again makes you root for the villain.
Every moment of this show had me riveted. The acting was wonderful (I love Keri Russell so much), the plot was fast moving, but slow enough for you to comprehend, and the future of the story seems very promising. It was action packed, tense, and filled with great dialogue. It is a period piece, but doesn’t have that boring vibe that some give off (cough cough Downton Abbey cough cough). I can’t wait for more episodes.
Did you watch the premiere? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time…pass the remote!