Glanders (The Americans)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Episode 1
- Joel Fields
- Joe Weisberg
| "Glanders" | |
|---|---|
| The Americans episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Thomas Schlamme |
| Written by |
|
| Cinematography by | Alex Nepomniaschy |
| Editing by | Daniel Valverde |
| Production code | BDU401 |
| Original air date | March 16, 2016 |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Glanders" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American period spy drama television series The Americans. It is the 40th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Joel Fields and series creator Joe Weisberg, and directed by Thomas Schlamme. It was released on FX on March 16, 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, Philip and Elizabeth must meet with an undercover KGB agent, while Paige meets with Pastor Tim to discuss her parents' real identities.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.11 million household viewers and gained a 0.3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances, storylines and atmosphere.
Philip (Matthew Rhys) is unable to sleep, haunted by the memory of him killing a boy when he was younger. He visits Martha (Alison Wright) at her house, telling her he killed Gene to protect her. Martha is horrified, as she did not want Gene dead. While Philip says he cannot visit her more often as Stan (Noah Emmerich) will suspect, he claims it does not change anything between them.
Gabriel (Frank Langella) is angry with Philip and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) for violating his instructions in not going to Germany. Nevertheless, he assigns them to meet William Crandall (Dylan Baker), another deep-cover KGB agent who has access to U.S. research into deadly chemical and biological weapons. However, Philip pulls out from the meeting, citing a bad feeling. He later attends an EST meeting, where he opens up about his childhood, revealing that the boy he punched was a bully, but omits mentioning that he killed him. He then goes with Sandra (Susan Misner) to a bar to talk about the confession, unaware that they are seen by Tori (Callie Thorne), Stan's girlfriend. Paige (Holly Taylor) meets with Pastor Tim (Kelly AuCoin), asking for his help with her parents' situation. He proposes a meeting, promising he won't tell anyone else about their secret.
At the Soviet research facility, Anton Baklanov (Michael Aronov) confides in Nina (Annet Mahendru) that he fears repercussions if his planned stealth airplane wings fail. When Vasili Nikolaevich (Peter Von Berg) informs her that the design was successful, she asks to see her husband. At the Rezidentura, Arkady (Lev Gorn), suspicious of what Tatiana (Vera Cherny) is working on, asks Oleg (Costa Ronin) to watch over her. Using his contacts, he learns it has to do with chemical and biological weapons, warning her not to get them involved.
After the FBI discover Gene's corpse, Martha tells Philip that she appreciates that he informed her first. Seeing that he is haunted by his childhood memory, she gives William's file. Seeing that William is not under surveillance, they decide to meet him at a park. William reveals that he was working with the Department of Defense on a lab focusing on bioweapons. He provides them with a vial of glanders, a highly contagious disease, telling them to give it to Gabriel. However, Philip is confronted by Stan as he arrives home, believing he has an affair with Sandra. As Philip denies the accusation, Stan pushes him to a wall. After Stan leaves, Philip hurriedly pulls the vial out of his pocket; it is still intact.
Production
Development
In February 2016, FX confirmed that the first episode of the season would be titled "Glanders", and that it would be written by executive producer Joel Fields and series creator Joe Weisberg, and directed by Thomas Schlamme. This was Fields' 13th writing credit, Weisberg's 14th writing credit, and Schlamme's fifth directing credit.[1]
Filming
Filming for the episode started on October 13, 2015 and wrapped by October 26, 2015.[2][3]