I don't know if I have ever seen a show as dark and unsettling as 'The Americans', or if one exists, nearly every frame is drenched in the kind of dread and misery that is as hard to stomach, as it is hard to turn away...The desperation, agony, manipulation, emotional devastation covers the characters of 'The Americans', like the blood of the boy Phillip beat to death with a rock as a child, which now haunts and plagues his existence, as he grimly marches on, coming apart at the seams he has held onto all these years as a killer, a manipulator, a ruthless parasite that feeds of weakness and kindness, corrupts everything they touch. (and Elizabeth)
Including their own daughter, as we watch her, stomach churning, pale and sick....scared...spiraling out of control, as the the pledge of allegiance is recited, she turns her back, outside, unable to face her classmates, or herself, as a traitor. Her confidante Pastor Tim seems to naively underestimate the situation, which will only lead to more pain and tragedy, as 'The Americans' corruption seems into their lives too. Phillips twisted manipulation of Martha is wrenching to watch. Watching The Americans is like being up for 24 hours, skin is dirty and greasy, and not only does not feel right...but you feel as if nothing will EVER be right. There is no hope for anyone, all will suffer and even the strongest ones, will have to somehow live with themselves.
The final scene with Phillip and Stan is esp. ironic and painful it's small ways, because of the undercurrent of tension, resentment, and suspicion, as well as genuine friendship between the two star crossed neighbors. It will come to pistols and killing between the two, but you can't help feel empathy fro Phillip, as he loses someone he did like, respect, and trust. Alone in the garage, in the dark, with a virus, as twisted and poisonous as the kind of deception and lies that Phillip and Elizabeth traffic in....
Edit: lol and A line I loved for different, ironic reasons, based on my love for another art was 'You think everything's about talking....They AREN"T like that', as the hooks and lines of various rap songs played in my head, particularly from the Chicago drill scene.....'We ain't really with that talking......'