This was again well done, but that's another downer for the third week in a row now. Wish we'd start seeing things defrost again between Philip and Elizabeth. I did think Gregory's exit was handled well, and the Stan stuff was good. I don't know... much as I love it, it loses something for me when there's nothing between the two leads.
Yes. I'd like to see P and E get back together. I like Stan, tho' it seems some don't (hey Noah E. is really a good actor). I am baffled by what's wrong between Stan and wife. She knew she was marrying a federal agent, right?
Well it certainly looks like based on this episode and the promo for the next one that there really is something of a ''cold war'' going on between Philip and Elizabeth. Though I'm sure external pressure will force them to live together again. And who knows that may rekindle their love for each other.
I don't necessarily want them "back together" even, so much as past the stony silence and nasty barbs stage. I kind of like the idea of something real building slowly (much better than the yo yo maneuver) but then if there's no change of any kind within an episode it leaves my TV in danger of having something thrown at it ;)
As I'm sure you know, I was not sorry to see that exit either, but I thought it was well acted and a fitting last episode for him. BUT, they'd better stop killing secondary characters or we'll have an all new cast for next year LOL.
I don't see her in the same light. I don't think she wants Stan to share everything about his work, I think she just wants him to share SOMETHING with her, anything really, at this point. She knows something is seriously wrong, but she doesn't know what, and he doesn't seem to be willing to discuss anything (or at least anything that matter) with her, either about their personal life or his work. After all, how can you work on your failing marriage if your spouse won't even tell you why he is unhappy? I feel sorry for her.
I see all of the characters as classic antiheroes. Is Stan a "good" guy? Not entirely, no, but he isn't evil, either. All of the characters on this show are morally complex individuals painted in shades of grey.
I actually really enjoyed this episode. There were a few WTF moments, however.
For example, did anyone else do a spit-take when Elizabeth turned to Phillip and pleaded: "We owe him (Gregory) this." Seriously?! She might've owed Gregory something, the KGB might've owed Gregory something, but Phillip didn't owe Gregory anything. And if I were Phillip, I would have looked at her like she had two heads after that statement, but as ticked as he clearly was by the entire situation (he looked angry to me, anyway), he just took it in stride. I have to hand it to Liz, it takes nerve to say something like that with a straight face.
Much to my surprise, I actually found myself feeling sorry for Gregory toward the end. However, my sympathy evaporated the moment he shot, and probably killed, a cop for no good reason. If he wanted to commit suicide, fine, but there are other ways to go...ways that don't involve murdering people. That said, I'll admit Gregory's ending was well done and very much in character.
Apparently, Phillip wasn't the only man whose true motivations have eluded Elizabeth. She kept going on and on about Gregory being so loyal and devoted to the cause, but I never got that impression. Sure he was disillusioned with the American government, with bigotry and injustice, but I never got the impression that Gregory was deeply committed to Communism or that he truly believed in Marxism. IMHO it was all about Elizabeth for Gregory. He didn't believe in the cause, he believed in HER, he was passionate about HER. I think that's part of the reason he didn't want to go to Moscow. I mean, if he was the true believer that Elizabeth is convinced he was, wouldn't he, in spite of the difficult transition, have accepted the offer to go to Moscow?
Exactly. Gregory has had no intimate conversations with Elizabeth since the point she developed feelings for Philip, nor has he seen the changes Elizabeth has gone through. Any statement he might make about what's right for her is really based off old information.
Elizabeth was seriously in denial about this the whole episode. She has a really hard time accepting when people think differently than she does. We see this in conflicts with Philip and the kids, and with Gregory, she thought he was "just like her" all those years, and didn't want to admit that he didn't feel exactly the same (wouldn't take kindly to Moscow.)
Philip proved his selflessness in this episode, but that's no surprise. What we really need to see is some growth from Elizabeth. Not necessarily saying a reconciliation, but some giving back or recognition of how her issues have contributed to the situation at hand.
Okay, I might have exaggerated a bit there about her wanting to know the all details. But I agree that she is obviously craving for him to share anything with her, since he has all but shut her out from his (work) life. Sandra is obviously willing to work on their marriage but he is so occupied with his work and other distractions such as Nina. I may even doubt that he is fully aware how broken his marriage is.
This series really isn't about putting marriage in a good light is it? ;)
I think either way he's going to soon have to stop seeing Martha. With the blonde girl from ep 2, she was married and he was undercover so she couldn't expect it to go too far. Martha is pushing a little further with every ep. She said she loves him and he's "The One she waited her whole life for." Doesn't sound like it's long before she's expecting them to start picking out china patterns.
I hated that conversation too, even though I understand why he did it (he's even more dogmatic than Elizabeth at times) because it was also a jerk move. If he really loves Elizabeth and REALLY thinks she's strong, trust that she'll pick the guy right for her. It came across partially like a jerk move where he knew they wouldn't be together so he wanted to make sure Philip couldn't have her either.
Yeah, one of Gregory's last moves was trying to get Elizabeth to move away from Philip again. If I can't have her, you can't have her either. Says it all really. I'm so glad he's gone. I included him being shot as a favorite scene of mine this in the favorite scene article for that.
Seriously! The episode was a mixed bag for me because I hated how sweet Elizabeth was with him when she's been so awful with Philip, but then it was nice to know he's permanently out of their lives too and can't muck anything up from here going forward. Would've been nice if the shootout could've included Irina and both distractions could've been taken care of at once, as I'm sure she'll eventually come back around.
>>>>>>>What we really need to see is some growth from Elizabeth. Not necessarily saying a reconciliation, but some giving back or recognition of how her issues have contributed to the situation at hand.
>>>>This series really isn't about putting marriage in a good light is it? ;)
That's an understatement! ;)
I think Stan realizes Sandra is frustrated and hurt, but I agree, he may not realize just how hurt she is or how empty this marriage has become for her. I wonder if he even cares. I think he does care about her as a person, but I'm not sure he really gives a damn about their marriage. So assuming Sandra's tirade is about the affair (I realize it might not be about that), I'm looking forward to seeing how Stan reacts. Would he be upset if their marriage ends? Or would he be relieved?
>>>>>like a jerk move where he knew they wouldn't be together since he'd soon be gone, so he wanted to make sure Philip couldn't have her either. And that's just plain selfish
Oh, I don't doubt that was part of what motivated his remarks. That's why I said it was in character. The guy was a selfish jerk so I wasn't surprised when he behaved like one. I was just trying to point out that while we see Phillip being selfless and patient 90% of the time, enduring Elizabeth's constant mental and emotional 180s, Gregory never saw any of that. He honestly didn't know jack about Phillip. I'm not certain that he had ever even met Phillip prior to that first episode. If he had, I doubt they'd spent much time together. Everything Gregory knew about Phillip he learned from Elizabeth, and I seriously doubt she made him out to be much of a prize. So, I'm sure Gregory justified his selfish jerky move by telling himself that Phillip was a loser, and she'd be better off without him. Does that make it right? No, it was still jerky, but that jerkiness did make sense and fit his character IMO.
A little bit O/T, but I'm still convinced that story about Phillip and Irina having a son was completely bogus. I think Grannie convinced her to make it all up to test Phillip's loyalty. If Irina does return she's have to explain to Phillip why she didn't run as she claimed she was planning to do. I really hope we never see her again. Although I wouldn't mind a few flashbacks of Phillip's past - not just involving Irina, but his parents, his training. We've been granted a glimpse of Elizabeth's past life, I would like to know more about Phillip's background and what drove him to join the KGB.
I felt so sorry for Martha when she said that. It just seemed so sad and pitiful, knowing the truth, as we do. I just wonder if Martha will cross the line into Amador territory and start stalking "Clark". Let's just hope she won't pull a Glenn Close and boil anyone's bunnies!
Elizabeth has always been a tricky character to like, IMHO, but I do like her. I think I got frustrated with this episode in part because it was the first time I began to feel Elizabeth was being treated just a little like a Mary Sue. She has both Gregory and Philip devoted to her. They both profess that they love her. They'll both do anything for her. And yet she's not doing much to deserve it. She's treating Philip like absolute dirt. Gregory she dumped as soon as she thought she and Philip could have something. What's satisfying is seeing a character have to answer for their bad choices, and finally turn things around when they start making the right ones. That's what I really hope to see in the next one.
I think Stan is a hot mess in that head of his. He's got his undercover background stewing around and probably did some awful things--I'm guessing he's afraid if he opened up to Sandra about what he did, she'd never love him again. Adjusting to civilian life after being deployed can be rough, and that's essentially what he's going through. He's screwing around with Nina, IMHO, as a distraction and because she can actually know some of what he's doing since she's involved in it.
I love making these predictions because I'm wrong like 80% of the time (like I was all convinced it was Gregory running out of the building in the last promo) but I'm guessing the affair does somehow come out too. If she's mad enough to scream at him and throw a glass across the kitchen, it has to be for something big, not just forgetting to load the dishwasher.
Totally agree. I would be happy to have the show focus more on Philip and Elizabeth and the slew of problems they have just within themselves for awhile. It was annoying how first they brought back one ex, then another, then Gregory yet again (at least that one's done...). I don't believe the son was real either (watch me be wrong again, ha) because: Irina never acted like a mother and didn't seem concerned that her "defecting" at the end would threaten him or mean she never saw him again, there were no childhood pictures, just one adult picture, and that was a weird cryptic answer at the end if he was real.
Yes, and although Gregory saw parts of the "real Elizabeth" that Philip didn't get to in the early years, Philip also saw parts of the "real Elizabeth" that Gregory didn't get to see either. Seeing each other occasionally for an affair does not a real relationship make. It's much easier to hide all the ugly, real stuff about yourself and just have a little vacation for a few hours. Elizabeth would've painted herself in the best possible light (of course) and vented about how miserable she was with Philip.
I feel sorry for everyone in that scenario. Martha is getting used and is on a collision course for having her heart broken. Philip could not look more miserable having to romance Martha when he only wants to do as much with Elizabeth and can't. They've done a really good job of making the sex absolutely unsexy from Philip's perspective
That is an excellent assessment of her character. I also like Elizabeth. She is a fascinating character, but I am frequently frustrated by her actions. While I recognize that it would be completely unrealistic for Elizabeth to abandon her true believer mentality overnight, I would like to see her gain some insight and perspective on her life, her relationships, and "the cause". I think the most annoying aspect of her character is her tendency to take 100 steps back for every step forward.
>>>>>because she can actually know some of what he's doing since she's involved in it.
I think it's that, and I also think there is an element of not only shared risk, but shared excitement, involved in this affair. Dangerous work can give many people an adrenaline rush - even if they find the work distasteful or upsetting. A bit like being in a warzone. People tend to bond quickly when engaged in activities involving shared risk.
>>>>>>>>>>I'm guessing he's afraid if he opened up to Sandra about what he did, she'd never love him again. Adjusting to civilian life after being deployed can be rough
This is true, but I wonder if Stan hasn't got beyond that phase and moved into a mindset where he just no longer cares if the marriage fails. I'm undecided about this. He seems guilt-ridden in some episodes, but at other times he seems almost indifferent to Sandra. That could be a reaction to the stress and trauma of his job, but it could also mean that he's given up on the marriage, and just doesn't know how to end it. I think Stan is definitely afraid of hurting Sandra. I'm just not sure if he is still in love with her. I get the impression that he isn't. As for Nina, I'm sure Stan has the brains to realize that their relationship is on the fast train to nowhere. Even if she survives, he could never have a future of any kind with Nina.
Exactly! That was the biggest red flag for me. If she really had a teenage son (a son about to join the Soviet military no less!) and was intending to defect, wouldn't she be worried about possible reprisals? Baryshnikov, the ballet dancer, worried about what would become of his friends and distant relations. If an artist feared reprisals, than certainly a KGB agent would!
I was glad that Phillip questioned the veracity of Irina's story. And I took her answer at the end - and yes, it was incredibly cryptic - as a confirmation that the tale was complete BS. I wouldn't be surprised however to see Phillip's "child" in a future episode. I could easily envision a scenario where Grannie, or others in the KGB, might have an agent pose as his faux kid to try and manipulate him in some way.
>>>>absolutely unsexy from Philip's perspective Not just unsexy, but truly painful to watch. I long for an end to Clark/Martha sex scenes, but I'm looking forward to the breakup scenes. Poor Martha is not going to take it well when Clark finally puts an end to this fake relationship. I just hope he ends it before she pops the question!
On another note, Phillip may have hideous wigs, he has incredible wig glue. That thing never shifts. ;)
This frustrates me too. And while I think the separation is realistic and don't want to see them rush through it like a one-episode plot device, if it drags on too long without seeing any of P/E's chemistry pick back up, that gets to be a bummer to watch too. Even when they were together but fighting like in the pilot, that didn't feel as empty as just walking around like zombies never smiling. Not explaining well I'm sure!
Yeah, there is a real indifference to Sandra. And in some ways, it's harder to watch Stan treat her that way than Philip and Elizabeth be cold to each other. P/E have earned their way into their problems, if you think about it. Sandra really hasn't done anything wrong.
One of the saddest things about the whole separation and the way it played out is that Philip had that huge weight on his shoulders from Irina, the possibility of a kid, and he can't even share that with Elizabeth for support.
I think this is the main reason I feel more sympathy for Phillip than I do for Elizabeth. He seems to be utterly alone in this. Elizabeth has her deep belief in Communism to draw strength from, she has his support (though she rarely acknowledges that fact), and she also had Gregory's shoulder to cry on for over a decade. Who has Phillip ever had to lean on? The most supportive person in his life is Martha and she doesn't even know his real name. How sad is that?
Yes, I feel the same way. I like Elizabeth's character (well, most of the time), but Philip is really the heart of their family and the more compassionate and sympathetic on the show. I find myself at times feeling annoyed on his behalf because he keeps giving and giving, being the understanding one even when Elizabeth cheats or treats him badly, and he makes one mistake and she kicks him to the curb. It would be nice for once to see her actually be kind to him or even say something nice to him. I don't think he's smiled in like 2 entire episodes!
That about sums it up. She rarely apologizes for her actions. As for acts of kindness, I think I can count the number of times she's been truly kind to him on one hand. That's the main reason I didn't have a problem overlooking his one-night stand with Irina. I don't admire infidelity, but at the time he believed his on-again-off-again marriage was off. He had just been tortured a day or two before. And why was he tortured? Because Elizabeth felt the need to tell KGB that he was too much at home in America. She did so seemingly oblivious to the danger that placed him, herself, and their children in.
For a brief shining moment, after she hit Grannie, I thought maybe, just maybe, it would begin to dawn on her that the KGB wasn't some righteous organization looking out for her and her best interests. But no, she fell almost immediately back in line. In the end, it was Phillip who had to apologize to Elizabeth for losing his temper, and she didn't even have the good grace to accept his apology before he left for New York.
She sort of acknowledged she had made a mistake during that episode (In Control) when she nearly caused a nuclear crisis. However, even that was a half-hearted apology. I would like to see her, just once, acknowledge her mistakes or the kindness and patience Phillip has consistently shown her.
True and true. Being with Nina and staying late at work are reasons that prevent him from going home, where he might have to face these issues of readjusting and his marriage.
Though I'm expecting the bomb to burst sooner rather than later since he has to lie to Nina now as well. Well more than earlier since he shot Vlad who was a good friend of her. I don't think we have seen how deep Beeman can fall yet. Which is a scary thought considering how unhinged he has been so far.
At this point I honestly don't know! For the past few episodes he has been going on about great Amador's life was, how being single meant he was care free. If I remember what he said correctly. On the other hand he has Elizabeth and Philip showing him how bad a breakup can be, especially on the kids. Though if only he really knew? ;)
All in all I hope this leads to the realization that his marriage is worth fighting for and they reconcile instead of going further down Amador's path and believing that marriage is a burden not worth carrying.
LOL! I completely agree on the Gregory/Elizabeth scenes though! Irina, well I guess there is no doubt she'll come back. Probably around the time Philip and Elizabeth are on the mend. Since the writers like to torture us as much as the characters. ;)
Seriously. I am all for this "real" look at marriage, and I like that the show isn't afraid to get down there and dig into the ugly stuff, but at some point I hope we start to get a glimmer of hope too. Never seeing Philip smile has gotten depressing after just what 2.5 episodes?
This, absolutely! And when Elizabeth finally shows her feelings, she does it, but she's been pretty awful to Philip for the past few episodes and it's starting to wear. It would be nice to see her actually make a gesture to heal some of the hurt she's caused him.
Yeah, and it's not that it doesn't make for interesting television. I just need them to throw us a bone once in awhile. If I have to sit through Gregory or Martha or Irina, at least give us a little P/E to soften the blow.
Yes. And I actually LOVE the dark stuff too, because it makes the good moments worth so much more... but they're hard to watch indefinitely. I really hope we start to see something turn around soon, or at least a little nice sexual tension between the two of them. They managed to pull that off so perfectly in the pilot even when they weren't "together" and it was one of my favorite parts.
I'm WISHING for the coming episode, but then I didn't think they'd still hate each other this long... the first half of the season things went up and down, but faster. Now we've had 3 episodes of down in a row, so a slow crawl back towards up would make it worth it. I'm trying not to get my hopes up because then it's so awful when they crash ;P like when I was hoping last episode and then we got to be treated with Elizabeth sleeping with Gregory instead, sigh. One more day to wait!
Really have my fingers crossed. Even if they don't get back together, I wish we could see them TALK about their issues, get it out in the open. Philip has looked like a zombie for 2 episodes now.
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This was again well done, but that's another downer for the third week in a row now. Wish we'd start seeing things defrost again between Philip and Elizabeth. I did think Gregory's exit was handled well, and the Stan stuff was good. I don't know... much as I love it, it loses something for me when there's nothing between the two leads.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how in an american tv series about russian spies the worst character is an american fbi agent.
ReplyDeleteI really hope you're not talking about Stan.
ReplyDeleteYes. I'd like to see P and E get back together. I like Stan, tho' it seems some don't (hey Noah E. is really a good actor). I am baffled by what's wrong between Stan and wife. She knew she was marrying a federal agent, right?
ReplyDeleteI like Stan. I thought Amador's bald head was a bit out of time. Did people shave their heads in the 1980s? I don't even remember.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I don't agree. :P
ReplyDeleteI doubt they'll be getting back together anytime soon.
Oh I see how it is show you are going to keep on killing all my favourite secondary characters, ok be like that!
ReplyDeleteWell it certainly looks like based on this episode and the promo for the next one that there really is something of a ''cold war'' going on between Philip and Elizabeth. Though I'm sure external pressure will force them to live together again. And who knows that may rekindle their love for each other.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but somehow she expects him to be honest about every little detail of his work. Their relationship will blow up sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteFine episode, but not my favorite. Too much Gregory whom I despise. I'm glad they wrote him out, I hated his last words to Elizabeth about Philip.
ReplyDeleteAnd somehow I doubt Beeman will be satisfied even with Amador's killer dead.
I don't necessarily want them "back together" even, so much as past the stony silence and nasty barbs stage. I kind of like the idea of something real building slowly (much better than the yo yo maneuver) but then if there's no change of any kind within an episode it leaves my TV in danger of having something thrown at it ;)
ReplyDeleteAs I'm sure you know, I was not sorry to see that exit either, but I thought it was well acted and a fitting last episode for him. BUT, they'd better stop killing secondary characters or we'll have an all new cast for next year LOL.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I think it would be extremely unrealistic for them to have some sort of instantaneous reunion.
ReplyDeleteI don't see her in the same light. I don't think she wants Stan to share everything about his work, I think she just wants him to share SOMETHING with her, anything really, at this point. She knows something is seriously wrong, but she doesn't know what, and he doesn't seem to be willing to discuss anything (or at least anything that matter) with her, either about their personal life or his work. After all, how can you work on your failing marriage if your spouse won't even tell you why he is unhappy? I feel sorry for her.
ReplyDeleteI see all of the characters as classic antiheroes. Is Stan a "good" guy? Not entirely, no, but he isn't evil, either. All of the characters on this show are morally complex individuals painted in shades of grey.
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed this episode. There were a few WTF moments, however.
ReplyDeleteFor example, did anyone else do a spit-take when Elizabeth turned to Phillip and pleaded: "We owe him (Gregory) this." Seriously?! She might've owed Gregory something, the KGB might've owed Gregory something, but Phillip didn't owe Gregory anything. And if I were Phillip, I would have looked at her like she had two heads after that statement, but as ticked as he clearly was by the entire situation (he looked angry to me, anyway), he just took it in stride. I have to hand it to Liz, it takes nerve to say something like that with a straight face.
Much to my surprise, I actually found myself feeling sorry for Gregory toward the end. However, my sympathy evaporated the moment he shot, and probably killed, a cop for no good reason. If he wanted to commit suicide, fine, but there are other ways to go...ways that don't involve murdering people. That said, I'll admit Gregory's ending was well done and very much in character.
Apparently, Phillip wasn't the only man whose true motivations have eluded Elizabeth. She kept going on and on about Gregory being so loyal and devoted to the cause, but I never got that impression. Sure he was disillusioned with the American government, with bigotry and injustice, but I never got the impression that Gregory was deeply committed to Communism or that he truly believed in Marxism. IMHO it was all about Elizabeth for Gregory. He didn't believe in the cause, he believed in HER, he was passionate about HER. I think that's part of the reason he didn't want to go to Moscow. I mean, if he was the true believer that Elizabeth is convinced he was, wouldn't he, in spite of the difficult transition, have accepted the offer to go to Moscow?
Yeah, wasn't it just typical that he felt the need to twist the knife just one last time. It was totally in character, though.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Gregory has had no intimate conversations with Elizabeth since the point she developed feelings for Philip, nor has he seen the changes Elizabeth has gone through. Any statement he might make about what's right for her is really based off old information.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth was seriously in denial about this the whole episode. She has a really hard time accepting when people think differently than she does. We see this in conflicts with Philip and the kids, and with Gregory, she thought he was "just like her" all those years, and didn't want to admit that he didn't feel exactly the same (wouldn't take kindly to Moscow.)
ReplyDeletePhilip proved his selflessness in this episode, but that's no surprise. What we really need to see is some growth from Elizabeth. Not necessarily saying a reconciliation, but some giving back or recognition of how her issues have contributed to the situation at hand.
Fair enough. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm currently expecting Nina to die as well, perhaps Martha will survive? Another loss on the FBI side seems unlikely.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I might have exaggerated a bit there about her wanting to know the all details. But I agree that she is obviously craving for him to share anything with her, since he has all but shut her out from his (work) life. Sandra is obviously willing to work on their marriage but he is so occupied with his work and other distractions such as Nina. I may even doubt that he is fully aware how broken his marriage is.
ReplyDeleteThis series really isn't about putting marriage in a good light is it? ;)
I think either way he's going to soon have to stop seeing Martha. With the blonde girl from ep 2, she was married and he was undercover so she couldn't expect it to go too far. Martha is pushing a little further with every ep. She said she loves him and he's "The One she waited her whole life for." Doesn't sound like it's long before she's expecting them to start picking out china patterns.
ReplyDeleteI hated that conversation too, even though I understand why he did it (he's even more dogmatic than Elizabeth at times) because it was also a jerk move. If he really loves Elizabeth and REALLY thinks she's strong, trust that she'll pick the guy right for her. It came across partially like a jerk move where he knew they wouldn't be together so he wanted to make sure Philip couldn't have her either.
ReplyDeleteWell that comment made my day, I'm laughing so hard right now! xD
ReplyDeleteYeah, one of Gregory's last moves was trying to get Elizabeth to move away from Philip again. If I can't have her, you can't have her either. Says it all really. I'm so glad he's gone. I included him being shot as a favorite scene of mine this in the favorite scene article for that.
ReplyDelete*does another happy dance* ;)
Seriously! The episode was a mixed bag for me because I hated how sweet Elizabeth was with him when she's been so awful with Philip, but then it was nice to know he's permanently out of their lives too and can't muck anything up from here going forward. Would've been nice if the shootout could've included Irina and both distractions could've been taken care of at once, as I'm sure she'll eventually come back around.
ReplyDelete>>>>>>>What we really need to see is some growth from Elizabeth. Not necessarily saying a reconciliation, but some giving back or recognition of how her issues have contributed to the situation at hand.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
>>>>This series really isn't about putting marriage in a good light is it? ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's an understatement! ;)
I think Stan realizes Sandra is frustrated and hurt, but I agree, he may not realize just how hurt she is or how empty this marriage has become for her. I wonder if he even cares. I think he does care about her as a person, but I'm not sure he really gives a damn about their marriage. So assuming Sandra's tirade is about the affair (I realize it might not be about that), I'm looking forward to seeing how Stan reacts. Would he be upset if their marriage ends? Or would he be relieved?
>>>>>like a jerk move where he knew they wouldn't be together since he'd soon be gone, so he wanted to make sure Philip couldn't have her either. And that's just plain selfish
ReplyDeleteOh, I don't doubt that was part of what motivated his remarks. That's why I said it was in character. The guy was a selfish jerk so I wasn't surprised when he behaved like one. I was just trying to point out that while we see Phillip being selfless and patient 90% of the time, enduring Elizabeth's constant mental and emotional 180s, Gregory never saw any of that. He honestly didn't know jack about Phillip. I'm not certain that he had ever even met Phillip prior to that first episode. If he had, I doubt they'd spent much time together. Everything Gregory knew about Phillip he learned from Elizabeth, and I seriously doubt she made him out to be much of a prize. So, I'm sure Gregory justified his selfish jerky move by telling himself that Phillip was a loser, and she'd be better off without him. Does that make it right? No, it was still jerky, but that jerkiness did make sense and fit his character IMO.
A little bit O/T, but I'm still convinced that story about Phillip and Irina having a son was completely bogus. I think Grannie convinced her to make it all up to test Phillip's loyalty. If Irina does return she's have to explain to Phillip why she didn't run as she claimed she was planning to do. I really hope we never see her again. Although I wouldn't mind a few flashbacks of Phillip's past - not just involving Irina, but his parents, his training. We've been granted a glimpse of Elizabeth's past life, I would like to know more about Phillip's background and what drove him to join the KGB.
ReplyDeleteI felt so sorry for Martha when she said that. It just seemed so sad and pitiful, knowing the truth, as we do. I just wonder if Martha will cross the line into Amador territory and start stalking "Clark". Let's just hope she won't pull a Glenn Close and boil anyone's bunnies!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth has always been a tricky character to like, IMHO, but I do like her. I think I got frustrated with this episode in part because it was the first time I began to feel Elizabeth was being treated just a little like a Mary Sue. She has both Gregory and Philip devoted to her. They both profess that they love her. They'll both do anything for her. And yet she's not doing much to deserve it. She's treating Philip like absolute dirt. Gregory she dumped as soon as she thought she and Philip could have something. What's satisfying is seeing a character have to answer for their bad choices, and finally turn things around when they start making the right ones. That's what I really hope to see in the next one.
ReplyDeleteI think Stan is a hot mess in that head of his. He's got his undercover background stewing around and probably did some awful things--I'm guessing he's afraid if he opened up to Sandra about what he did, she'd never love him again. Adjusting to civilian life after being deployed can be rough, and that's essentially what he's going through. He's screwing around with Nina, IMHO, as a distraction and because she can actually know some of what he's doing since she's involved in it.
ReplyDeleteI love making these predictions because I'm wrong like 80% of the time (like I was all convinced it was Gregory running out of the building in the last promo) but I'm guessing the affair does somehow come out too. If she's mad enough to scream at him and throw a glass across the kitchen, it has to be for something big, not just forgetting to load the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. I would be happy to have the show focus more on Philip and Elizabeth and the slew of problems they have just within themselves for awhile. It was annoying how first they brought back one ex, then another, then Gregory yet again (at least that one's done...). I don't believe the son was real either (watch me be wrong again, ha) because: Irina never acted like a mother and didn't seem concerned that her "defecting" at the end would threaten him or mean she never saw him again, there were no childhood pictures, just one adult picture, and that was a weird cryptic answer at the end if he was real.
ReplyDeleteYes, and although Gregory saw parts of the "real Elizabeth" that Philip didn't get to in the early years, Philip also saw parts of the "real Elizabeth" that Gregory didn't get to see either. Seeing each other occasionally for an affair does not a real relationship make. It's much easier to hide all the ugly, real stuff about yourself and just have a little vacation for a few hours. Elizabeth would've painted herself in the best possible light (of course) and vented about how miserable she was with Philip.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for everyone in that scenario. Martha is getting used and is on a collision course for having her heart broken. Philip could not look more miserable having to romance Martha when he only wants to do as much with Elizabeth and can't. They've done a really good job of making the sex absolutely unsexy from Philip's perspective
ReplyDeleteThat is an excellent assessment of her character. I also like Elizabeth. She is a fascinating character, but I am frequently frustrated by her actions. While I recognize that it would be completely unrealistic for Elizabeth to abandon her true believer mentality overnight, I would like to see her gain some insight and perspective on her life, her relationships, and "the cause". I think the most annoying aspect of her character is her tendency to take 100 steps back for every step forward.
ReplyDelete>>>>>>>>>>> love making these predictions because I'm wrong like 80% of the time
ReplyDeleteJoin the club! ;-)
>>>>>because she can actually know some of what he's doing since she's involved in it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's that, and I also think there is an element of not only shared risk, but shared excitement, involved in this affair. Dangerous work can give many people an adrenaline rush - even if they find the work distasteful or upsetting. A bit like being in a warzone. People tend to bond quickly when engaged in activities involving shared risk.
>>>>>>>>>>I'm guessing he's afraid if he opened up to Sandra about what he did, she'd never love him again. Adjusting to civilian life after being deployed can be rough
This is true, but I wonder if Stan hasn't got beyond that phase and moved into a mindset where he just no longer cares if the marriage fails. I'm undecided about this. He seems guilt-ridden in some episodes, but at other times he seems almost indifferent to Sandra. That could be a reaction to the stress and trauma of his job, but it could also mean that he's given up on the marriage, and just doesn't know how to end it. I think Stan is definitely afraid of hurting Sandra. I'm just not sure if he is still in love with her. I get the impression that he isn't. As for Nina, I'm sure Stan has the brains to realize that their relationship is on the fast train to nowhere. Even if she survives, he could never have a future of any kind with Nina.
Exactly! That was the biggest red flag for me. If she really had a teenage son (a son about to join the Soviet military no less!) and was intending to defect, wouldn't she be worried about possible reprisals? Baryshnikov, the ballet dancer, worried about what would become of his friends and distant relations. If an artist feared reprisals, than certainly a KGB agent would!
ReplyDeleteI was glad that Phillip questioned the veracity of Irina's story. And I took her answer at the end - and yes, it was incredibly cryptic - as a confirmation that the tale was complete BS. I wouldn't be surprised however to see Phillip's "child" in a future episode. I could easily envision a scenario where Grannie, or others in the KGB, might have an agent pose as his faux kid to try and manipulate him in some way.
>>>>absolutely unsexy from Philip's perspective
ReplyDeleteNot just unsexy, but truly painful to watch. I long for an end to Clark/Martha sex scenes, but I'm looking forward to the breakup scenes. Poor Martha is not going to take it well when Clark finally puts an end to this fake relationship. I just hope he ends it before she pops the question!
On another note, Phillip may have hideous wigs, he has incredible wig glue. That thing never shifts. ;)
This frustrates me too. And while I think the separation is realistic and don't want to see them rush through it like a one-episode plot device, if it drags on too long without seeing any of P/E's chemistry pick back up, that gets to be a bummer to watch too. Even when they were together but fighting like in the pilot, that didn't feel as empty as just walking around like zombies never smiling. Not explaining well I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteYeah, there is a real indifference to Sandra. And in some ways, it's harder to watch Stan treat her that way than Philip and Elizabeth be cold to each other. P/E have earned their way into their problems, if you think about it. Sandra really hasn't done anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteOne of the saddest things about the whole separation and the way it played out is that Philip had that huge weight on his shoulders from Irina, the possibility of a kid, and he can't even share that with Elizabeth for support.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the main reason I feel more sympathy for Phillip than I do for Elizabeth. He seems to be utterly alone in this. Elizabeth has her deep belief in Communism to draw strength from, she has his support (though she rarely acknowledges that fact), and she also had Gregory's shoulder to cry on for over a decade. Who has Phillip ever had to lean on? The most supportive person in his life is Martha and she doesn't even know his real name. How sad is that?
ReplyDeleteNo, I think you explain yourself very well. Hopefully, their relationship will begin to defrost soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, I feel the same way. I like Elizabeth's character (well, most of the time), but Philip is really the heart of their family and the more compassionate and sympathetic on the show. I find myself at times feeling annoyed on his behalf because he keeps giving and giving, being the understanding one even when Elizabeth cheats or treats him badly, and he makes one mistake and she kicks him to the curb. It would be nice for once to see her actually be kind to him or even say something nice to him. I don't think he's smiled in like 2 entire episodes!
ReplyDeleteThat about sums it up. She rarely apologizes for her actions. As for acts of kindness, I think I can count the number of times she's been truly kind to him on one hand. That's the main reason I didn't have a problem overlooking his one-night stand with Irina. I don't admire infidelity, but at the time he believed his on-again-off-again marriage was off. He had just been tortured a day or two before. And why was he tortured? Because Elizabeth felt the need to tell KGB that he was too much at home in America. She did so seemingly oblivious to the danger that placed him, herself, and their children in.
ReplyDeleteFor a brief shining moment, after she hit Grannie, I thought maybe, just maybe, it would begin to dawn on her that the KGB wasn't some righteous organization looking out for her and her best interests. But no, she fell almost immediately back in line. In the end, it was Phillip who had to apologize to Elizabeth for losing his temper, and she didn't even have the good grace to accept his apology before he left for New York.
She sort of acknowledged she had made a mistake during that episode (In Control) when she nearly caused a nuclear crisis. However, even that was a half-hearted apology. I would like to see her, just once, acknowledge her mistakes or the kindness and patience Phillip has consistently shown her.
True and true. Being with Nina and staying late at work are reasons that prevent him from going home, where he might have to face these issues of readjusting and his marriage.
ReplyDeleteThough I'm expecting the bomb to burst sooner rather than later since he has to lie to Nina now as well. Well more than earlier since he shot Vlad who was a good friend of her. I don't think we have seen how deep Beeman can fall yet. Which is a scary thought considering how unhinged he has been so far.
At this point I honestly don't know! For the past few episodes he has been going on about great Amador's life was, how being single meant he was care free. If I remember what he said correctly. On the other hand he has Elizabeth and Philip showing him how bad a breakup can be, especially on the kids. Though if only he really knew? ;)
ReplyDeleteAll in all I hope this leads to the realization that his marriage is worth fighting for and they reconcile instead of going further down Amador's path and believing that marriage is a burden not worth carrying.
I laughed so hard! xD
ReplyDeleteLOL! I completely agree on the Gregory/Elizabeth scenes though! Irina, well I guess there is no doubt she'll come back. Probably around the time Philip and Elizabeth are on the mend. Since the writers like to torture us as much as the characters. ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously. I am all for this "real" look at marriage, and I like that the show isn't afraid to get down there and dig into the ugly stuff, but at some point I hope we start to get a glimmer of hope too. Never seeing Philip smile has gotten depressing after just what 2.5 episodes?
ReplyDelete<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
ReplyDeleteThis, absolutely! And when Elizabeth finally shows her feelings, she does it, but she's been pretty awful to Philip for the past few episodes and it's starting to wear. It would be nice to see her actually make a gesture to heal some of the hurt she's caused him.
Yeah, and it's not that it doesn't make for interesting television. I just need them to throw us a bone once in awhile. If I have to sit through Gregory or Martha or Irina, at least give us a little P/E to soften the blow.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually hopeful for the coming episode, but don't take my word for it. I've been wrong before! ;)
ReplyDeleteOn that we can agree, the fist half of the season was definitely more balanced in that regard! :)
ReplyDeleteYes. And I actually LOVE the dark stuff too, because it makes the good moments worth so much more... but they're hard to watch indefinitely. I really hope we start to see something turn around soon, or at least a little nice sexual tension between the two of them. They managed to pull that off so perfectly in the pilot even when they weren't "together" and it was one of my favorite parts.
ReplyDeleteI'm WISHING for the coming episode, but then I didn't think they'd still hate each other this long... the first half of the season things went up and down, but faster. Now we've had 3 episodes of down in a row, so a slow crawl back towards up would make it worth it. I'm trying not to get my hopes up because then it's so awful when they crash ;P like when I was hoping last episode and then we got to be treated with Elizabeth sleeping with Gregory instead, sigh. One more day to wait!
ReplyDeleteYes! Exactly what I was alluding to! Guess we'll find out tonight! :D
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hated it when that happened instead! I always get my hopes up way more than I should! ;)
ReplyDeleteReally have my fingers crossed. Even if they don't get back together, I wish we could see them TALK about their issues, get it out in the open. Philip has looked like a zombie for 2 episodes now.
ReplyDeleteLosing hope a bit, but the writing has been sound so far, so I'm going to take a breath and trust the writers.
ReplyDelete