Yeah, they almost seemed to be trying too hard to hint that she might be Russian, which I think is a red herring. I think a scenario where she figures it out (or at least notices a key clue that finally turns on the lightbulb for Stan) could end up being more likely. Especially after Stan basically tried to cockblock her from applying to the FBI.

Her being Russian would be way too deus ex machina for this show at this point. But I could definitely see she stumbling into the Jennings through simple dumb luck.

DannyDuberstein said:

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Yeah, they almost seemed to be trying too hard to hint that she might be Russian, which I think is a red herring. I think a scenario where she figures it out (or at least notices a key clue that finally turns on the lightbulb for Stan) could end up being more likely. Especially after Stan basically tried to cockblock her from applying to the FBI.

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Boy she wold never let Stan live that down either...

"Yeah honey you're a great agent...remember how you didn't even know Russian spies were living across the street from you.....and who figured it out??????"

If Stan does not die he will have to kill himself anyway. Can't live with that.

sepinwall asked the creators about the centre finaincing the jennings travel agency:

Quote:

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We base all of this loosely on how the KGB funded their illegals, although it wasn't always completely consistent. But in general, our understanding is that illegals got money to get their businesses off the ground, but were then expected to be self-supporting, except for their operations, which were funded by the Centre. So Philip and Elizabeth would have been expected to keep the travel agency afloat, and support themselves through it. But the KGB would have paid for anything spy-related any operations. None of this would have changed when Philip retired.
Philip and Elizabeth were able to run their travel agency and be spies all these years. They had to do both. It wasn't easy. They didn't get enough sleep! Although spying probably didn't take up as much time as it looked like on the show we televised the parts where they were busiest. They probably spent more time at the travel agency than they did spying. (For real illegals, this was even more true the cover work to spying ratio was much more strongly weighted towards cover work.)
We can't say for sure what would have happened if an illegals' business were going under. If a one time infusion of cash would have saved it, it seems likely the KGB would have done so. It also seems likely that, human nature being what it is, some officers may have hidden the truth from their bosses back home. In one historical case, an illegal made a fortune from his business, and sent all the excess money back to Moscow.

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Bunbury said:

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I always enjoyed Henry playing the doofus or oblivious younger child foil to Paige, but this episode was pretty great for him too. He basically dresses down Philip for poor business practice, and pretty cutting about his relationship with Elizabeth.

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When Elizabeth called Henry, she mentioned Houston was "hot"...I just checked the historical records....low in the mid-40s, high in mid-50s. Typical late November that most Houstonians enjoy.

For the rest of the episode, I was waiting for Henry to mention something about it...like after he saw a national weather map or something. Didn't happen....but it also means Elizabeth was a little sloppy about her cover.

Quote:

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When Elizabeth called Henry, she mentioned Houston was "hot"...I just checked the historical records....low in the mid-40s, high in mid-50s. Typical late November that most Houstonians enjoy.

For the rest of the episode, I was waiting for Henry to mention something about it...like after he saw a national weather map or something. Didn't happen....but it also means Elizabeth was a little sloppy about her cover.

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Haha...I think that got the attention of all Texans who were watching. After she said that, I thought "Well, it could just as easily have been 80 degrees as 30 degrees in late November" and I meant to check the historical data as well but then I got distracted.

One Louder said:

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Quote:

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When Elizabeth called Henry, she mentioned Houston was "hot"...I just checked the historical records....low in the mid-40s, high in mid-50s. Typical late November that most Houstonians enjoy.

For the rest of the episode, I was waiting for Henry to mention something about it...like after he saw a national weather map or something. Didn't happen....but it also means Elizabeth was a little sloppy about her cover.

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Haha...I think that got the attention of all Texans who were watching. After she said that, I thought "Well, it could just as easily have been 80 degrees as 30 degrees in late November" and I meant to check the historical data as well but then I got distracted.

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It actually looks like a cold front came through Houston the day after Thanksgiving in 1987...so it is possible that she was referring to the day before (Thanksgiving...in the 70s) or was just comparing the 50s to what it felt like in DC.

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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ellebee said:

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I think it's going to be Stan's girlfriend that discovers they are Russians.

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I've always had the feeling that Stan's girlfriend was a Russian!

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I did too but it seemed too obvious from the beginning. That could've been because of the TexAgs thread though. I just wonder if she's the one that starts planting the idea in Stan's head.

I am still on the fence with her being Russian, but she I think she is with some organization. Either that or he was just lucky that the smokeshow at the gym approached him.

They've spent a lot of time setting up the audience to wonder if she was a Sov (including having philip/elizabeth ask the Centre if she was one of them) only to have several wink/nods to the possibility but she has been with stan for like 3-4 yrs now and it seems like they only recently had a convo about her wanting to join very recently. So I think she is just going to be a storyline we don't end up resolving as this story of phil/eliz/stan wraps up.
If she does play a part in the ending of the series, I have confidence that the showrunners can tell that story in a way that makes sense.

So does Elizabeth take Chekov's gun "cyanide pill" and off herself after being made, to somehow save Philip and the kids cover?

The cyanide pill is definitely a Chekov device but how would a dead Elizabeth save Philip and Paige's cover? I'd she was 'made', Stan would undoubtedly see her pic and ID her.

Because Philip has 3 years of running the travel agency, no more traveling or disappearing.
if they can collect and destroy all evidence of his (fake IDs, costumes), the guilt can be directed solely onto Elizabeth. And that he was just an innocent, duped American..

That would be really disappointing

When they look into Phillip, he won't have parents, classmates that remember him, or childhood friends.

I'll play. My prediction.
Phillip signed his own death warrant when he told Elizabeth about warning Kimmie not to go to a communist country. She recognizes that he has turned against her cause and is a security risk. They go after each other in Chicago.

ItsA&InotA&M said:

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I'll play. My prediction.
Phillip signed his own death warrant when he told Elizabeth about warning Kimmie not to go to a communist country. She recognizes that he has turned against her cause and is a security risk. They go after each other in Chicago.

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That's exactly what I was thinking... Why did he tell her that??

I'm so scared about tonight..

4 episodes left

CoolaidWade said:

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ItsA&InotA&M said:

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I'll play. My prediction.
Phillip signed his own death warrant when he told Elizabeth about warning Kimmie not to go to a communist country. She recognizes that he has turned against her cause and is a security risk. They go after each other in Chicago.

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That's exactly what I was thinking... Why did he tell her that??

I'm so scared about tonight..

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I don't think so... almost too obvious and I believe the Chicago situation is legit based on what the Feds are saying.

But I think this is when something slips that leads to the downfall.... I always thought it would be partially because Elizabeth is soooo tired but maybe not. Maybe it's simply some pieces from this operation that tie back to DC and/or the infamous couple they've always been looking for. then Stan puts things together based on that and the sudden disappearance of both of them during this operation.

Don't know what will happen. Real life would dictate that they get made in Chicago, and are watched and Claudia/others gets added to the list, and then they all get picked up in one fell swoop/operation. They may already be under surveillance, don't know that yet.

Other possibility is that Philip and/or Oleg turns to Stan to stop the Dead Hand project/faction against Gorbachev. High possibility that Oleg does it since he isn't getting results that he knows of out of Philip. ETA: other high possibility is that Philip or Elizabeth show up on a fake ID that they are tracking down, or they find a safe house/disguises with papers w/ their pics on them.

I think there is more story to tell AFTER they are caught - Paige and Henry's story

lunchbox said:

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I did find it interesting that right after Stan is told about all the tradecraft they are discovering (including prepaid garage rentals), Philip is going in to one of them in order to figure out what Elizabeth is doing. I wonder if they got it on film...

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I was so nervous the entire time that Phillip was snooping through Elizabeth's stash houses. Thought for sure he was gonna get nabbed.

I rewatched episode 1-1.

I had forgotten that Phillip was ready to turn himself in to Stan thinking that Stan was sent from the FBI to live across the street. He was being lured with the thought of money and a new life. He then killed the kidnapped defector and that was a that.

Their car make model and color was ID'ed. Stan was suspicious and broke into the garage at night to look at the trunk. They had cleaned it out. He left. With Phillip hiding in the corner with a gun.

It's going full circle.

aggiedata said:

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I rewatched episode 1-1.

I had forgotten that Phillip was ready to turn himself in to Stan thinking that Stan was sent from the FBI to live across the street. He was being lured with the thought of money and a new life. He then killed the kidnapped defector and that was a that.

Their car make model and color was ID'ed. Stan was suspicious and broke into the garage at night to look at the trunk. They had cleaned it out. He left. With Phillip hiding in the corner with a gun.

It's going full circle.

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I just rewatched that too....so tense. and they left a lot of that behind (his wanting to defect and take the money) especially considering current money woes.

I too think it all comes back to the car and the descriptions/drawings too later on....

aggiedata said:

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I rewatched episode 1-1.

I had forgotten that Phillip was ready to turn himself in to Stan thinking that Stan was sent from the FBI to live across the street. He was being lured with the thought of money and a new life. He then killed the kidnapped defector and that was a that.

Their car make model and color was ID'ed. Stan was suspicious and broke into the garage at night to look at the trunk. They had cleaned it out. He left. With Phillip hiding in the corner with a gun.

It's going full circle.

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That was one of the best endings to one of the best pilots ever filmed. Loved the whole suspense build up with "Tusk" playing in the background. (At least I think that's what was playing)

FancyKetchup14 said:

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aggiedata said:

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I rewatched episode 1-1.

I had forgotten that Phillip was ready to turn himself in to Stan thinking that Stan was sent from the FBI to live across the street. He was being lured with the thought of money and a new life. He then killed the kidnapped defector and that was a that.

Their car make model and color was ID'ed. Stan was suspicious and broke into the garage at night to look at the trunk. They had cleaned it out. He left. With Phillip hiding in the corner with a gun.

It's going full circle.

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That was one of the best endings to one of the best pilots ever filmed. Loved the whole suspense build up with "Tusk" playing in the background. (At least I think that's what was playing)

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Yes but Tusk was also played early in that episode the music was amazing and hooked me early on.

Opening - HardenMy Heart by Quarterflash - Elizabeth picking up a DC hotshot in a bar

Tusk by Fleetwod Mac kicks in as she goes down on him... montage after in her car changing, etc., and Philip with another russian chasing down a guy and killing him, dumping their guy at hospital, hurrying to some meet up at the dock with captive, etc.

In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins later as they are driving after killing the captive - they dump his body and then they have sex in the car - lol - first sign that Elizabeth is not only psycho but a freak.

She's A Roller by April Wine - plays as Philip beats the crap out of the headbanger creep that hit on Paige at the mall and stick his BBQ fork through his hand

The music that plays over Stan sneaking in their garage, etc. is just tense mood music... but then it segues into an outro of Tusk again.

Great use of music there and in several other episodes.

Did he take the pill when Phillip wasnt looking?

Next week is when it's all going down for Stan, and then either Stan or Elizabeth won't survive episode 9.

Can't believe there's only 3 episodes left!!

I'm going to miss Elizabeth's heinie

SWCBonfire said:

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Ryno01 said:

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I'm going to miss Elizabeth's heinie

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Nina's

But all Stan has to do is check flight records to see if Philip and Elizabeth Jennings flew into DC from Houston.

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Yep thought the same about the airline tickets....too easy to verify really even pre 911.


Overall ominous and dark and somber episode - ugh - loved it though.

Really hit me though.....my prediction now is.....

• Stan figures it all out.... but doesn't have time to tell anyone before he dies somehow. First he doesn't want to be embarrassed if he is wrong about them OR if he is right since they are under his nose so he keeps it to himself and tries to resolve it personally.
• Elizabeth dies- probably at the hands of Stan when he discovers - so much foreshadowing with her conversation with Paige.
• Philip lives but has to dispose of Stan (ugh) and get a cover story for Elizabeth (maybe her death is chalked up to a random street crime like shot by a mugger).
• Aderholt is too messed up by Stan's death to continue and leaves the FBI
• And Paige has gotten into the State Department then - and Elizabeths death is her driving motivation. Maybe a flash forward a few years to show her in deep. Philip is her handler more or less but still out of it.
• Henry lives his life without knowing what they all do and Philip makes sure it stays that way
• Oleg... I don't know really. I think he somehow gives away or confirms to Stan about Philip and Elizabeth and he narrowly gets out of the country again in all the chaos or Stan helps him get out.

I still don't know about the new wife of Stan.....could be a red herring. Her absence is almost too convenient right now.

But thats my thoughts for now.