START (The Americans)

"START"
The Americans episode
Episode no.	Season 6 Episode 10
Directed by	Chris Long
Written by	Joel Fields Joe Weisberg
Featured music	Nathan Barr (composer) "Brother in Arms" by Dire Straits "With or Without You" by U2
Production code	BDU610
Original air date	May 30, 2018 (2018-05-30)
Running time	70 minutes
Guest appearances
Lev Gorn as Arkady Laurie Holden as Renee Boris Krutonog as Igor Burov Konstantin Lavysh as Father Andrei Joe Lanza as Rick Joseph Melendez as Agent Ganzel Derek Luke as Gregory Thomas

"START" is the tenth episode of the sixth season and the series finale of the period drama television series The Americans. It originally aired on FX in the United States on May 30, 2018.

Plot

After meeting at the garage, Philip and Elizabeth agree to take Paige to the USSR but to leave Henry in New Hampshire at boarding school. FBI agents stake out the identified garages; en route, Stan calls Philip at work and at home, but Philip is not present. Stan eventually leaves his assigned stakeout to watch Paige's apartment, without telling his partner his destination. Dennis presses Father Andrei for information on the illegals. Father Andrei finally admits to Dennis that he had seen the illegals without their disguises and agrees to meet with a sketch artist. Arkady tells Igor that Oleg has been arrested by the FBI and charged with espionage and Igor delivers the news to his daughter-in-law.

Philip and Elizabeth pick up Paige, who doesn't want to leave Henry alone in the United States. They are covertly watched by Stan, who confronts them in a parking garage and draws his pistol to arrest them. After initial denials, Philip admits their status as Soviet agents by stating "We had a job to do." Paige interrupts her mother to state that she was told about her parent's work at age 16, but tells Stan that Henry still doesn't know. Stan points to all of the murders committed, including Gennadi and Sofia, but Philip and Elizabeth deny involvement. Philip confesses the sad duality of the life of espionage from which both he and Stan tried to retire. Philip states that he is now just a "shitty failing travel agent." As Philip tearfully admits he must abandon his son, Stan lowers his weapon. Philip and Elizabeth tell Stan about the KGB plan to alter her reports and stage a coup against Gorbachev. Stan asks if they know Oleg and states that the FBI intercepted his dead drop message. Philip and Elizabeth emphasize the importance of their return to the USSR with this information. Although Philip admits he doesn't know why Stan should trust him, he announces they are getting in their car and driving away. Paige and Philip ask Stan to look after Henry and tell him the truth. As Stan permits them to leave, Philip tells him of his suspicions about Renee. Stan returns to his stakeout without comment. The Jenningses reveal their fake Canadian passports and adopt their travel disguises. They bury the evidence of their American lives along with Henry's passport. While driving north, the trio agree to call Henry rather than visit him personally at boarding school. Paige is too emotional and declines to speak with him on the phone.

The FBI agents are recalled from the stakeouts. Dennis shows Stan the sketches based on Father Andrei's descriptions, which confirms that the illegals are Philip and Elizabeth. Stan reacts with surprise. Dennis apologizes for doubting Stan's suspicions and states that surveillance has already begun, presumably narrowly missing Stan's own confrontation with the family. As FBI agents search the Jennings family home Stan is comforted by Renee. Philip, Elizabeth and Paige have a final American meal at McDonald's. The family sits separately on the train to Montreal and their disguises narrowly get them through US border security at Rouses Point. Paige's parents are shocked as the train pulls away and they see her standing alone on the platform outside. Later, Paige enters Claudia's abandoned Washington safehouse and pours herself a shot of vodka from the refrigerator. Elizabeth dreams about her children and Gregory while on the plane to Europe. Stan travels to New Hampshire to tell Henry about his parents. Philip and Elizabeth pass through the USSR border by car and without disguise. The pair later meet Arkady by the side of the road and he drives them to Moscow in his vehicle. Philip and Elizabeth reminisce about their life choices and what might have been as they view the city skyline by night.

Production

The episode was written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and directed by Chris Long. The episode title refers to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US and the USSR, for which negotiations began in earnest following the Washington Summit. Also, Elizabeth's vision of her life had she remained in the USSR in the final scene followed the plot of Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, which she had watched with Paige and Claudia in the episode "Dead Hand".

Reception

In its original American broadcast, "START" was seen by an estimated 922,000 household viewers and gained a 0.22 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, the highest for the season.

The episode received critical acclaim. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the episode 100% "Fresh" ratings and average rating of 9.8 out of 10, based on 27 reviews, with consensus reading, "The Americans' series finale offers viewers closure and uncertainty with an outcome that's as devastating as it is full of potential." Alan Sepinwall from Uproxx called it a heartbreaking and unexpected finale and said, "It’s not what I expected, or maybe even wanted, but it also felt right, and the slow and painful deployment of each new development left me riveted." Erik Adams from The A.V. Club rated the episode 'A' and said, "The Americans ends as it lived: Tense, affecting, and one of the greats." Mike Hale from The New York Times summarized his positive review as, "For me, it was fitting, and the finale was tremendously satisfying, if not perfect in its details."

External links

• "START" at IMDb