The Day After (The Americans)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Episode 9
- "Winter Kills" by Yazoo
- "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling
| "The Day After" | |
|---|---|
| The Americans episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 9 |
| Directed by | Daniel Sackheim |
| Written by | Tracey Scott Wilson |
| Featured music |
|
| Cinematography by | Alex Nepomniaschy |
| Editing by | Sheri Bylander |
| Production code | BDU409 |
| Original air date | May 11, 2016 |
| Running time | 46 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Day After" is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the American period spy drama television series The Americans. It is the 48th overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer Tracey Scott Wilson, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. It was released on FX on May 11, 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, Elizabeth sees her friendship with Young Hee threatened with her new assignment. Everyone watches The Day After, which explores the effects of a nuclear warfare.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.90 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising Keri Russell's performance and the series' exploration of The Day After.
Philip (Matthew Rhys) takes Paige (Holly Taylor) to an empty parking lot to give her driving lessons. Afterwards, she says that the church is having their last meeting and that Pastor Tim (Kelly AuCoin) would like to see the Jennings attend. Philip later meets with William (Dylan Baker), who reports that his lab is working on a modified version of the Lassa virus. William is disturbed by the discovery and is doubting over reporting this to the Centre.
That night, everyone watches the television film, The Day After, which explores the conflict of a nuclear exchange. Oleg (Costa Ronin) watches it with Tatiana (Vera Cherny), and recounts how a nuclear false alarm incident almost led to similar events. Philip starts to believe in William's concern, but Elizabeth (Keri Russell) says the virus will be used against them. Elizabeth continues seeing Young Hee (Ruthie Ann Miles), babysitting her children in order to find anything incriminating in their house.
Realizing she will need to seduce Don (Rob Yang) in order to find more, Elizabeth decides to move forward, even knowing that this could ruin her friendship with Young Hee. She invites him to her apartment, where she kisses him and drugs his drink to lose consciousness. When he wakes up, he finds himself in bed with a naked Elizabeth, making him believe they had sex. Horrified, he leaves. Philip accompanies Paige to the church meeting, where Pastor Tim suggests they could talk in detail after he returns from missionary work in Ethiopia. Seeing that she has felt saddened, he takes her on another driving lesson, this time on his Camaro Z-28. When Elizabeth returns, Philip comforts her, as Elizabeth feels her friendship with Young Hee is over.
Production
Development
In April 2016, FX confirmed that the ninth episode of the season would be titled "The Day After", and that it would be written by co-producer Tracey Scott Wilson, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. This was Wilson's fifth writing credit, and Sackheim's seventh directing credit.[1]
Filming
Filming for the episode wrapped by January 29, 2016.[2]