 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Sep 30, 2016 - 12:42 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
|
I've watched every episode of the show since its beginning. The married-couple embedded Russian spies are the bad guys you hate to love. They've killed a number of people, some quite brutally, and seek to destroy America, yet they are loving parents to their children, have become American citizens, and can't help but be affected by the American culture that they've lived in for so long. This is all set in the early 1980s, during Ronald Reagan's first term, during the height of the cold war, when Reagan labeled the U.S.S.R. the "evil empire" and considered a "star wars" missile defense program. But certainly there are parallels to our current day concerns about immigrants becoming radicalized and turning against their adopted country.
Politics aside, the show is very well acted, with the leads using the necessity to appear differently to different people as a reason to dress up in various, well-done disguises, take on the occasional fake accent, and generally play human chameleons. Their opponents in the FBI are a more dogged, less imaginative bunch, true blue Americans, but find themselves continually playing catch-up to the Russians.
But the real drama in the series is not in the spy-craft but in the home life of the spies and counterspies. One is more straight-laced and willing to do anything to protect Mother Russia. The other has more pangs of conscience over the lives that are sometimes destroyed. Both see their children (who know nothing of their secret lives) becoming seduced by the American lifestyle and its consumerism. And as their eldest daughter becomes involved in religion and finally begins sensing that her parents aren't what they seem to be (travel agents), things in the family grow exceedingly tense. Even so, the parents aren't above using their daughter's concerns to further their own ends, such as encouraging her "ban-the-bomb" activism to help blunt America's military build-up under Reagan. Meanwhile, on the American end, one of the FBI agents becomes romantically involved with a woman in the Russian embassy, whom he tries to use to further the FBI's ends, with unintended consequences all around.
It's a well plotted show, but the human dynamics make it an excellent one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very, very good show although the lack of any 'good' guys makes it difficult to enjoy sometimes
check it out!
bruce
ps Kerri Russel - what a tuchish!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Oct 1, 2016 - 3:01 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
TominAtl
(Member)
|
It’s been almost a full decade since Tony Soprano’s
final fade-out (as character and series).
As such, we’ve assiduously avoided becoming enamoured
– or ensnared – in anything else.
Except THIS looks incredibly tantalizing. Any fans out thar?
By far, it's one of the best television shows currently on in America and is has been criminally virtually unrecognized until this year with a couple of Emmy nods. Everything about the show is low key, from the direct but un-flashy cinematography to the ultra realistic character portrayals. The writing here is spot on but again, not flashy. The show doesn't have gimmicky visuals or fast paced action sequences or hyper editing. It's story, story, story carried by great performances for characters that you come to care about, regardless of their political orientation. Yep, the 2 leads are Commies spies living undetected in Washington, DC, who are fueled by the love and dedication of their Mother Russia. But they are also parents of children who were born and raised in America, who are totally unaware of their parents activities...and I will leave it at that. To discuss anything any further would absolutely ruin the immense pleasure of watching their and the subc-characters lives and stories play out.
***** out of 5 stars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Oct 2, 2016 - 7:04 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
MikeP
(Member)
|
By far, it's one of the best television shows currently on in America and is has been criminally virtually unrecognized until this year with a couple of Emmy nods. Everything about the show is low key, from the direct but un-flashy cinematography to the ultra realistic character portrayals. The writing here is spot on but again, not flashy. The show doesn't have gimmicky visuals or fast paced action sequences or hyper editing. It's story, story, story carried by great performances for characters that you come to care about, regardless of their political orientation. Yep, the 2 leads are Commies spies living undetected in Washington, DC, who are fueled by the love and dedication of their Mother Russia. But they are also parents of children who were born and raised in America, who are totally unaware of their parents activities...and I will leave it at that. To discuss anything any further would absolutely ruin the immense pleasure of watching their and the subc-characters lives and stories play out.
***** out of 5 stars.
I agree that the show has been pretty much ignored during awards season, while being one of the very best offerings on television, it's suffering the same kind of awards indifference as Justified did.
Michael Rhys is quietly brilliant, doing wonderful work, but not being showy, not turning in a "look at me" performance. As said above, everything is executed confidently but not in the style of lesser shows that grab larger headlines. It is a show that tightens the screws, it doesn't hammer the point home.
And the supporting cast is just as fine as the leads. Allison Wright and Noah Emmerich are standouts in a great cast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another plus (in my book): the show eschews the flash-forward/flashback tricks that adorn so many contemporary shows (Quantico; How To Get Away With Murder). Quantico uses this device to the point of obsession.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This show is awesome- who knew that a mash-up of Mad Men and Breaking Bad would surpass both of those shows in short order.
This last season, #4, was doubly remarkable. Matthew Rhys directed a couple of eps in the middle of the season that is simply some of the finest directing for camera I have ever, ever seen.
Those Martha scenes in Gabriel's kitchen were a-maz-ing. Left me utterly devastated and speechless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But we appreciate the comments, gang.
