The Americans

The Americans
Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	January 30, 2013; 13 years ago
Founder	Joe Weisberg
Headquarters	United States
Products	Television drama series
Website	www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-americans

The Americans is a period drama series centered on espionage, created by Joe Weisberg for the FX network. The show aired six seasons between January 30, 2013, and May 30, 2018. Weisberg and Joel Fields acted as executive producers and showrunners. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the storyline follows Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), Soviet KGB operatives living undercover as an American married couple in Falls Church, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.. They raise their children Paige (Holly Taylor) and Henry (Keidrich Sellati), who were born in the United States.

The plot also delves into the rivalry between the FBI and the KGB’s Rezidentura stationed in Washington, portrayed through agents from both sides, including Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), the Jenningses’ neighbor and an FBI counterintelligence officer. The timeline extends from Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981 to late 1987, just prior to the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Themes such as marriage, identity struggles, and parenthood are intricately woven with Cold War political tensions throughout the series. Praised for its exceptional writing, character development, and performances, The Americans received multiple accolades: Matthew Rhys earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the final season; Weisberg and Fields were honored with an Emmy for Outstanding Writing; and the series won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama. Margo Martindale secured two Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Guest Actress. Additionally, the show garnered two Peabody Awards and is widely regarded as one of television’s finest dramas.

Cast and characters

Most Russian characters’ last names are not revealed. Within scenes set at the Soviet embassy, individuals refer to each other using first names combined with patronymics, a customary form that conveys familiarity alongside respect (for example, "Ivanovich" means "son of Ivan").

Main

Keri Russell portrays Elizabeth Jennings (Nadezhda), a devoted KGB operative with unwavering commitment to Soviet ideals and communism.
Matthew Rhys plays Philip Jennings (Mischa), a KGB agent whose allegiance is challenged by personal ties; he develops a close friendship with FBI agent Stan Beeman and adopts the alias Clark to gain access to the FBI through secretary Martha.
Maximiliano Hernández appears as Chris Amador, Stan Beeman’s partner at the FBI (season 1)
Holly Taylor is Paige Jennings, daughter of Elizabeth and Philip.
Keidrich Sellati acts as Henry Jennings, son of Elizabeth and Philip.
Noah Emmerich features as Stan Beeman, an FBI counterintelligence officer living next door to the Jennings family, unaware of their true identities but maintaining a close bond with Philip.
Annet Mahendru takes on Nina Sergeevna Krilova, a Soviet Embassy clerk who becomes a KGB agent and serves as Stan’s former informant and romantic interest (main seasons 2–4; recurring season 1)
Susan Misner plays Sandra Beeman, Stan’s wife (main seasons 2–3; recurring seasons 1 and 4)
Alison Wright portrays Martha Hanson, an FBI secretary who becomes Philip’s informant (main seasons 2–4; recurring seasons 1 and 5)
Lev Gorn acts as Arkady Ivanovich Zotov, KGB Rezident at the Soviet embassy (main seasons 3–4; recurring seasons 1–2 and 6)
Costa Ronin appears as Oleg Igorevich Burov, a privileged Soviet embassy Science and Technology officer who later returns to the USSR to join both the KGB and his father’s ministry (main seasons 3–6; recurring season 2)
Richard Thomas plays Frank Gaad, an FBI Special Agent supervising Stan (main seasons 3–4; recurring seasons 1–2)
Dylan Baker features as William Crandall, a Russian operative specializing in biochemical warfare research (season 4)
Brandon J. Dirden portrays Dennis Aderholt, an FBI agent (seasons 4–6; recurring season 3)
Margo Martindale embodies Claudia, the Jenningses’ KGB handler throughout several seasons (main season 6; recurring seasons 1–2, 4–5; guest appearance season 3)

Recurring Characters

Daniel Flaherty portrays Matthew Beeman (seasons 1–5), the son of Stan and Sandra
Peter Von Berg appears as Vasili Nikolaevich (seasons 1–4), a former KGB Rezident
Derek Luke features as Gregory Thomas (season 1; special guest in season 6), an American militant and Elizabeth's longtime partner
Wrenn Schmidt plays Kate (season 2), the Jennings family’s third KGB handler
Lee Tergesen is Andrew Larrick (season 2), a United States Navy SEAL coerced by the KGB
Michael Aronov acts as Anton Baklanov (seasons 2–4), a Russian-Jewish scientist involved in secret stealth technology projects
Karen Pittman takes on the role of Lisa (seasons 2–4), an employee at Northrop who becomes a target for Elizabeth’s intelligence gathering
Kelly AuCoin portrays Pastor Tim (seasons 2–6), leader of Paige Jennings’ church community
Frank Langella appears as Gabriel (seasons 3–5), the Jenningses' initial and later KGB handler
Vera Cherny plays Tatiana Evgenyevna Vyazemtseva (seasons 3–6), a KGB officer stationed at the Rezidentura
Peter Mark Kendall is Hans (seasons 3–5), a South African operative collaborating with the Jennings team
Julia Garner features as Kimberly "Kimmy" Breland (seasons 3–6), daughter of a CIA Afghan division chief and eventual leader of Soviet operations
Laurie Holden portrays Renee (seasons 5–6), Stan’s girlfriend who later becomes his wife
Scott Cohen appears as Glenn Haskard (season 6), a negotiator for the State Department
Miriam Shor plays Erica Haskard (season 6), Glenn’s ill wife who enlists Elizabeth to provide home care and art therapy

Concept

The Americans is a period drama set during the era of the Reagan administration, created by former CIA officer Joe Weisberg. The storyline revolves around the Jennings couple, Soviet deep-cover operatives living undercover in the Washington, D.C. area throughout the 1960s, along with their American-born children who are initially unaware of their parents’ true identities. The plot unfolds in the early 1980s. Weisberg described the series as primarily exploring intimate relationships within a political framework: "International affairs serve as a metaphor for personal relationships. At times, struggles within marriage or family feel like matters of life and death. For Philip and Elizabeth, that is often the reality." Executive producer Joel Fields highlighted how the show balances two layers: the fictitious marriage dynamic alongside the authentic Cold War setting.

Following his departure from the CIA in 2007, Weisberg authored An Ordinary Spy, a novel depicting spy training and overseas assignments. Executive producer Graham Yost, upon reading Weisberg’s pilot script for a spy drama, found it "irritatingly well-crafted," which spurred development on The Americans.

Weisberg acknowledges that his time at the CIA heavily influenced the series’ conception. He recalled being asked during a polygraph examination if he joined to acquire material for writing, which altered his perspective. His real-life experiences contributed to various plotlines, drawing inspiration from authentic stories. He noted that portrayals of agents’ family lives abroad offered a compelling viewpoint seldom accurately represented on television.

The pilot script was shaped by events such as the 2010 Illegals Program, augmented by research including KGB documents from Vasili Mitrokhin and consultations with former CIA personnel. Weisberg specifically chose to set the narrative in the early 1980s rather than contemporary times, observing that post-2010 audiences were less captivated by Russia as an adversary. He stressed avoiding contemporary political parallels, stating in 2017 that the show deliberately refrained from referencing modern figures like Donald Trump or present-day Russia.

Casting

Before production commenced, Weisberg had not settled on specific actors for the roles. FX president John Landgraf proposed Keri Russell, while Leslie Feldman, DreamWorks’ casting director, suggested Matthew Rhys after viewing his stage performance. Both Russell and Rhys were attracted by the intricate dynamics between their characters. Rhys remarked on the compelling tension of two individuals leading covert lives who gradually uncover each other’s true selves.

Russell was intrigued by the pilot script, finding it distinct from conventional procedural dramas, which sparked her interest despite some initial reservations. Rhys described his role as being at a crucial turning point in life, calling it an ideal opportunity for an actor.

Noah Emmerich initially hesitated to accept the role due to concerns about stereotypical law enforcement portrayals. However, director Gavin O'Connor convinced him by emphasizing the character’s focus on family and marital relationships.

Following recurring appearances in season one, Susan Misner (Sandra Beeman), Annet Mahendru (Nina Krilova), and Alison Wright (Martha Hanson) were elevated to series regulars in the second season. Lev Gorn (Arkady Ivanovich) joined the main cast starting in season three.

Writing

Weisberg authored the initial two episodes. Impressed by the show, FX CEO Landgraf encouraged Weisberg to partner with Joel Fields as co-showrunner and chief writer. Fields subsequently brought on television writer Joshua Brand as a consulting producer early in the process. Together, Weisberg, Fields, and Brand wrote or co-wrote ten out of thirteen episodes in season one. During season two, Gibson contributed one episode, while new writers joined the team: screenwriter and journalist Stephen Schiff, playwright and children’s author Peter Ackerman, and playwright Tracey Scott Wilson. All six—Weisberg, Fields, Brand, Schiff, Ackerman, and Wilson—remained with the series throughout its run. Additionally, playwright and story editor Hilary Bettis joined in season five, with script coordinator Justin Weinberger and showrunner assistant Sarah Nolen added during the final season.

Use of Russian language

Though the central characters are Soviet KGB operatives, they rarely speak Russian on screen since they must convincingly appear as American-born citizens. In contrast, other Soviet agents, immigrants, and ordinary Soviets frequently converse in Russian. Joe Weisberg stressed the significance of authentic Russian pronunciation due to the series’ focus on "true Russians and Russian illegals." Most actors portraying Soviet characters were either native Russian speakers or meticulously learned their lines to achieve near-native fluency. Peter von Berg, cast as Vasili Nikolayevich, contributed his expertise in Russian theater and assisted with accent coaching. Annet Mahendru—who played Nina and speaks six languages including Russian learned from her mother—commended co-star Matthew Rhys for his dedication to mastering Russian phrases despite their complexity even for fluent speakers.

Weisberg underscored that this commitment to authenticity enabled more layered characterizations: "There were some perfectly good people [in the Rezidentura] who were easy to relate to even if you didn't believe in the cause they were serving." This meticulous attention ensured that characters moved beyond stereotypes to become fully realized individuals.

Filming and locations

The production of the series predominantly took place in New York City, utilizing Eastern Effects Studios located in Gowanus, Brooklyn. On-location filming occurred across neighborhoods such as Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Additional scenes were captured in diverse spots including Prospect Park, Astoria, Washington Heights, Mamaroneck, Coney Island Avenue, Kew Gardens, Morningside Heights, Farmingdale, and Staten Island. The pilot episode's filming commenced in May 2012 and continued through mid-June, while production for the remainder of the first season resumed in November 2012. Location footage was strategically used to replicate Washington, D.C. Early stages of shooting encountered interruptions caused by flooding linked to Hurricane Sandy. Filming for the second season began in October 2013. To enhance the authenticity of later storylines, select scenes from seasons five and six were filmed on location in Moscow.

Broadcast

The Americans was broadcast internationally on various networks including Australia's Network Ten, Canada's FX Canada, Ireland's RTÉ Two, and the United Kingdom's ITV. ITV ceased airing the series in January 2015 and opted not to secure rights for the third season at that time. Nevertheless, on July 20, 2015, ITV acquired seasons three and four to be shown on their subscription service ITV Encore.

Critical response

Throughout its entire run, the series garnered extensive critical praise. The American Film Institute consistently featured The Americans among its top ten television programs in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Upon conclusion after six seasons, Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter placed it within his "Hall of Fame" dramas and listed it among his top five preferred TV dramas. Both IndieWire and Paste designated it as the finest series ever produced by FX. The New York Times recognized it as one of the twenty best TV dramas since The Sopranos, while Vice referred to it as "The Sopranos of this decade." In September 2019, The Guardian ranked it 43rd among the 100 greatest television shows of the 21st century, emphasizing its "beautifully paced drama" that was frequently overshadowed by more sensational content. Later, in September 2022, Rolling Stone positioned the show at number 14 on its list of the 100 all-time greatest TV series.

Season 1

Critical reception for the first season of The Americans was largely favorable. On Rotten Tomatoes, it achieved an approval rating of 88% with an average score of 7.9 out of 10 based on 58 reviews, commended as "a spy thriller at its finest" featuring strong chemistry between leads. Metacritic assigned it a score of 78 out of 100 from 35 reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews." David Hinkley from the New York Daily News praised the series' pacing and creator Joe Weisberg's adept management of its intricate storyline. Verne Gay from Newsday described it as a "clever new entry" with captivating lead performances, giving it an "A−" grade. Conversely, some critiques were more cautious: The Washington Post expressed concerns about potential stagnation over time, while Variety found the premise intriguing but felt that its execution fell short of full potential.

Season 2

The sophomore season garnered widespread critical praise, securing a 97% approval on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 8.8/10 from 38 critiques. Reviewers commended it for maintaining the suspense and action elements established in the first season while amplifying the overall excitement. Metacritic assigned a score of 88/100 based on 31 reviews, signifying "universal acclaim." Notable organizations such as the American Film Institute, The A.V. Club, and Grantland included it among the top television series of 2014.

Tim Goodman from The Hollywood Reporter described it as "one of television's finest dramas," emphasizing the writers' expertise in advancing the narrative with authentic stakes. Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlighted its success in eliciting empathy for both Russian operatives and American FBI agents. Conversely, the New York Daily News cast doubt on its believability, pointing to frequent last-minute escapes that stretched credibility.

Season 3

Achieving a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the third season averaged a score of 9/10 from 53 reviews, earning acclaim for its focus on family dynamics and psychological tension. Metacritic rated it 92/100, reflecting "universal acclaim." Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times praised the series' intelligent incorporation of Cold War thriller motifs to delve into a multifaceted, evolving marriage, noting increased complexity with each season. Maureen Ryan at The Huffington Post lauded the initial four episodes as "taut and finely crafted," consistent with the high standards set previously. Emily VanDerWerff of Vox regarded this season as part of "one of the best runs of episodes in TV drama history," underscoring its outstanding narrative and execution.

Season 4

The fourth installment was met with near-unanimous critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an impressive 99% approval rating with an average score of 9.2/10 from 248 reviews, with consensus highlighting its elite spy drama qualities and intricate character development. Metacritic awarded it a score of 95/100 based on 28 critiques, indicating "universal acclaim." Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com praised the show's profound depth and storytelling prowess, suggesting it may rank among television’s greatest dramas. James Poniewozik of The New York Times characterized the season as a poignant "catalog of loss," injecting a somber tone even within heightened suspense.

Season 5

Season five secured a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, averaging 9/10 across 216 reviews, noted for escalating spy-thriller tension alongside enriched domestic storylines, bolstered by compelling performances. Metacritic gave it a score of 94/100 from 19 evaluations, denoting "universal acclaim." Critics such as Matthew Gilbert (The Boston Globe) praised its suspense and script quality, while Tim Goodman (The Hollywood Reporter) commended its structure, acting caliber, and visual presentation. Nevertheless, some reviewers found the pacing to be sluggish. Showrunners Weisberg and Fields acknowledged unexpected criticism regarding the intentional deceleration but encouraged audiences to withhold final judgment until the series finale. Subsequent analysis by Travis Clark of Business Insider offered a more favorable reassessment of season five, recognizing its narrative significance in retrospect.

Season 6

The sixth and final season of The Americans garnered an impressive 99% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, averaging a score of 9.3 out of 10 from 199 critical reviews. Reviewers lauded it as a compelling conclusion that heightened the series’ intricate storytelling, culminating in intense family drama and significant character losses. On Metacritic, the season achieved a score of 92 out of 100, reflecting "universal acclaim." Emily VanDerWerff of Vox ranked it among the finest concluding seasons ever created, while Matt Brennan from Paste likened its resonance to iconic finales such as those of Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. The series’ final episode, "START," was widely celebrated as one of television’s most exceptional endings.

Themes

The Americans delves into profound themes including allegiance, identity, and ethical conflict against the backdrop of Cold War espionage intertwined with family relationships. At the heart of the narrative lies the marriage between Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, who grapple with their dedication to the Soviet Union alongside an increasing connection to American life. Series creator Joe Weisberg, drawing from his experience as a former CIA operative, describes the show as fundamentally "about a marriage," employing espionage as an allegory for hidden personal struggles and relational tensions. Academics Hopf and Creighton highlight that this metaphor also humanizes the Cold War, with the friendship between Philip and Stan mirroring the complexities found in marital bonds.

A predominant theme centers on the clash between individual ethics and national duty. Philip and Elizabeth confront moral quandaries that test their loyalties against their empathy, particularly concerning their children and neighbors. This inner conflict is heightened by the early 1980s setting—a period marked by political division and nuclear anxiety between superpowers. Parenthood emerges as a critical element as they balance raising their children while sustaining their covert identities. Smita Rahan from Johns Hopkins University suggests the series portrays motherhood as a potentially compromising force. The pressures of maintaining dual lives compel them to make challenging decisions that profoundly affect their family’s future.

Accolades

Throughout its broadcast, The Americans received 18 Emmy nominations, including nods for Outstanding Drama Series in both its fourth and sixth seasons. Lead actors Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor respectively during the show’s final three seasons, with Rhys earning the award for season six. Earlier omissions from Emmy consideration were widely regarded as notable snubs in drama and acting categories. Margo Martindale garnered four nominations, winning twice for Outstanding Guest Actress, while Alison Wright secured a nomination in the same category during season five. The series was recognized with four nominations for Outstanding Writing, including one for "Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?" penned by Joshua Brand. Additionally, Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg were nominated three years in succession for finale episodes, ultimately winning for the concluding episode "START." Composer Nathan Barr earned a nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in the inaugural season.

The writing on The Americans received significant acclaim, achieving four nominations for the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Dramatic Series and winning twice in 2016 and 2018. The show also secured a second Peabody Award "for concluding one of television’s finest dramas with one of its greatest series finales," becoming only the second drama after Breaking Bad to be honored with two Peabody Awards during its run.

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