A Roy Rogers in Franconia
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Episode 12
- Joel Fields
- Joe Weisberg
| "A Roy Rogers in Franconia" | |
|---|---|
| The Americans episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 12 |
| Directed by | Chris Long |
| Written by |
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| Cinematography by | Alex Nepomniaschy |
| Editing by | Sheri Bylander |
| Production code | BDU412 |
| Original air date | June 1, 2016 |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"A Roy Rogers in Franconia" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the American period spy drama television series The Americans. It is the 51st overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Joel Fields and series creator Joe Weisberg, and directed by executive producer Chris Long. It was released on FX on June 1, 2016.
The series is set during the Cold War and follows Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet KGB intelligence officers posing as an American married couple living in Falls Church, a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., with their American-born children Paige and Henry. It also explores the conflict between Washington's FBI office and the KGB Rezidentura there, from the perspectives of agents on both sides, including the Jennings' neighbor Stan Beeman, an FBI agent working in counterintelligence. In the episode, William starts having second thoughts about his mission, while the FBI finds a bug inside the Mail Robot.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.93 million household viewers and gained a 0.3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the tension, performances, writing and set-up for the season finale.
Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Paige (Holly Taylor) return home after the mugger incident, hiding this from Henry (Keidrich Sellati). Philip (Matthew Rhys) comforts them, although Paige is shaken over whether Elizabeth previously did something like this before.
Philip meets with William (Dylan Baker) to provide him the access code, but William says he will no longer steal bioweapons as he fears their repercussions. Later, he and Gabriel (Frank Langella) use a pay phone to contact Martha's parents, telling them she is fine and she loves them. They later talk with William, convincing him that his duties as KGB agent will be over if he delivers the Lassa virus. During this, Paige spends time with Matthew (Daniel Flaherty), and they kiss. She returns home, where her parents make it clear that they disapprove.
Aderholt (Brandon J. Dirden) starts investigating the Mail Robot, after finding a report that an old woman, Betty, died on the night it was repaired. He and other agents open the Mail Robot, discovering the bug. He informs Stan (Noah Emmerich) and Wolfe (Peter Jacobson), they decide to not disclose it as it would cost their jobs, but they decide to watch whoever changes the bug. A janitor is detained, claiming she worked for a mobster who tried to find out about a gambling operation.
At the Rezidentura, Tatiana (Vera Cherny) tells Oleg (Costa Ronin) that she is getting transferred to the embassy in Nairobi. She offers him the position of her deputy, which he decides to decline. Oleg calls his mother, who is still questioning when he will return to Russia. He later meets with Stan, expressing disdain for the bioweapons missions due to their high risk and the fact that Russian labs won't be able to handle them. He then reveals that the KGB has an inside man at an American lab, but is unable to identify him. After checking a list of possible names, the FBI identifies William as the inside man and sets out to catch him. Philip leaves to meet with William, and when Paige demands to know where he is going, Elizabeth reveals that he is picking up a weapon intended to defend Russia from any attack.
Production
Development
In May 2016, FX confirmed that the twelfth episode of the season would be titled "A Roy Rogers in Franconia", and that it would be written by executive producer Joel Fields and series creator Joe Weisberg, and directed by executive producer Chris Long. This was Fields' 15th writing credit, Weisberg's 16th writing credit, and Long's second directing credit.[1]