"The Americans" premiered on FX on Jan. 30 at 10 p.m., taking over "American Horror Story's" time slot. Although the shows share airing dates, FX's latest original series has a very different focus than the channel's award-winning "AHS."
Set in the 1970s, "The Americans" is a Cold War spy drama that focuses on the lives of two Russian spies living in the U.S. and working to subvert the government. What sets "The Americans" apart, however, is that the spies, Elizabeth and Phillip Jennings, are treated as the show's protagonists, rather than its villains. In fact, the series creator Joe Weisberg has stated in various interviews that he wants viewers to "root for the KGB."
Although being very action-packed and entertaining, the show was a bit hard to follow at the beginning. Kerri Russell and Matthew Rhys who star as the Jennings delivered convincing performances as they expertly depicted the difficulty of maintaining false identities, as well as the complex relationship that develops between two individuals whose marriage was arranged by the KGB.
In the first episode, an FBI agent moves next door to the Jennings, which undoubtedly causes a great deal of tension. Beyond thrills and suspense, the premiere also indicated that the show will be delving into a number of more complicated issues a part from the typical spy story. For instance, the Jennings have two young children, both of whom were raised completely American and are oblivious to their parents' true identities. The first episode touched upon the conflict between espionage and family life, and showed how easy it can be for spies such as the Jennings to blur the line between what one's real life is and what is simply part of their cover.
If the first episode is any indication, "The Americans" promises to be filled with thrills and suspense. With the combination of a well written, compelling story and good actors, Weisberg may have good reason to expect that "The Americans" will reach the same level achievement that "American Horror Story" has in the future.
Emily Lake can be reached at emily.lake@ student.shu.edu.
