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The Americans is back for Season 3! We begin with an astounding debut, “EST Men,” written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. The original air date for the episode was January 28, 2015.

The news connects with the show yet again! We have a story from the New York Times detailing three Russian secret agents recently uncovered by the government. We also have great news about ratings for the season opener!

In our episode discussion, we see Elizabeth with a disgruntled CIA agent who gives her a list of CIA and FBI operatives helping the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. She is trailed by agent Gaad and loses the information during a fight. At the rezidentura, the Soviets watch a video of one of their soldiers being executed. Stan goes with Phillip to an EST meeting to try to save his marriage. He thinks it is stupid and tells Sandra so to bad effect. Phillip and Elizabeth visit their old handler Gabriel who wants to get them to bring Paige into the fold. Elizabeth tells him it’s moving along and enrages Phillip. Phillip contacts Annalise who has fallen in love with Yousaf from the Pakistani ISI. Annalise and Yousaf have a romantic encounter with a shocking outcome.

In the history segment, we discuss South African Apartheid, the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan, Hershey’s Kisses, Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev, the TV show The Jeffersons, and the Kama Sutra. In our technology of yesteryear we look at the payphone, video rental shops, the adding machine, and carousel slide projectors.

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