In Control (The Americans)
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Episode 4
- Joel Fields
- Joe Weisberg
| "In Control" | |
|---|---|
| The Americans episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 4 |
| Directed by | Jean de Segonzac |
| Written by |
|
| Featured music | "The Pictures on My Wall" by Echo & the Bunnymen |
| Production code | BDU103 |
| Original air date | February 20, 2013 |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"In Control" is the fourth episode of the first season of the period drama television series The Americans. It originally aired on FX in the United States on February 20, 2013.
After spending the afternoon in a hotel room together, KGB agents Philip and Elizabeth Jennings see a news report about the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan on a television in the hotel lobby. FBI agents Stan Beeman and Chris Amador are practicing speaking Russian when they hear the news. Agent Frank Gaad tells Stan that he needs to find out if the assassin John Hinckley Jr. is working with the KGB, and tells him to meet with his informant Nina.
James Brady is falsely declared dead by several news broadcasters as Elizabeth is told by her KGB handler Claudia to prepare for Operation Christopher, which involves Russian agents engaging in guerrilla warfare in the event of a coup. Claudia tells Elizabeth that she does not believe the KGB were behind the shooting.
Stan calls Nina, demanding to meet with her. She tells KGB Resident Vasili Nikolaievich that she should go to a local bar to hear what congressional aides are saying—he lets her go but has her followed. Stan notices this as they are about to meet, and walks past her. They meet later and Nina tells him that the opinion at the Embassy is that Alexander Haig is staging a coup.
Philip hears from a nurse who treated Reagan in the hospital that he is expected to survive. They inform the Centre but are still told to map out targets. Philip and Elizabeth stake out Caspar Weinberger's house, but are interrupted by a security officer patrolling the streets. Elizabeth kills the officer after he tells her that he needs to run a police check on the van they are using. They listen to a recording from Weinberger's office, where they learn Haig may have the codes for the U.S.'s nuclear missiles. Philip suggests they wait to confirm the information, but Elizabeth says they need to report it to the Centre. Philip tells her that this could cause a catastrophic panic and that her commitment to the mission is blinding her judgment.
Philip and Elizabeth find out from Stan that Hinckley is mentally unbalanced and has nothing to do with the KGB. Philip sends this information to Moscow. Later, Elizabeth apologizes for not listening to him. Philip fears that Moscow will find out that they withheld the questionable information about Haig having the nuclear football and they agree to keep it a secret.
Production
Development
In February 2013, FX confirmed that the fourth episode of the series would be titled "In Control", and that it would be written by executive producer Joel Fields and series creator Joe Weisberg, and directed by Jean de Segonzac. This was de Segonzac's first directing credit.[1]
