Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14:47 — 34.6MB)

What sort of creatures could be bugging Philip and Elizabeth and Soviet grain? We get a tease in this week’s The Americans Season 5 Episode 2 “Pests” that aired March 14, 2017! It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long.

This is Episode 75 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 76.

We have a couple of cool news features for you this week! First up is one from Thrillist revealing the 9 most shocking sex scenes from The Americans. Then we have a cool visual article in Adweek that shows The Americans has the best key art of any TV show!

Then we get right into the darkness of “Pests.” Immediately following the shocking end to last week’s episode, Philip and Elizabeth bring in the virus-containing tissue cut from William’s body to Gabriel and brief him on the end of Hans. Gabriel indicates that the Centre is up in arms about grain shipments from America coming to the USSR and worries about its contamination. Paige sleeps in the closet. In Moscow, Oleg learns from the Colonel that high ranking officials are getting food that others cannot. Only their part of the KGB is untouched by corruption. As Oleg leaves work, he is clearly being tailed walking through Moscow. He is later spoken to by a CIA operative who demands a meeting, leaving him with a map and time to meet on March 9th. Stan has a very busy time. He asks out Renee who likes him and reminds him of Philip. He learns from the CIA that Oleg is safe in Moscow, then the CIA tries to get him to assist them in turning Oleg. He refuses and later asks the Assistant Attorney General for help for Oleg, and the AAG declines to do so. Elizabeth follows Morozov to Illinois and finds a greenhouse where wheat is infested with bugs. The Eckerts and son Tuan have a fun-filled dinner with the Morozovs at a Bennigan’s. Paige and Matthew continue to get close, and have a tender moment. Philip and Elizabeth begin training Paige to control her emotions.