The Americans: The Complete First Season [3 Discs] [Blu-ray]

Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are two KGB spies in an arranged marriage who are posing as Americans in suburban Washington, D.C., shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected president. The couple have two children, teenager Paige and preteen Henry, who are unaware of their parents' true identities. The complex marriage becomes more passionate and genuine each day but is continually tested as the Cold War escalates. As Philip begins to warm up to America's values and way of life, his relationship with Elizabeth becomes more complicated. Further complicating things is the arrival of the Jennings' new neighbour, FBI agent Stan Beeman, who is part of a new division of the agency tasked with fighting foreign agents on U.S. soil. The drama series was created by former CIA agent-turned-author Joe Weisberg.

In a time when television and film is saturated with tales of spies and their exploits, "The Americans" manages to turn the genre on its head and provide an angle that's rarely explored: the psyche and motivation of the 'villain', without (much) mustache-twirling villainous cliche. The protagonists are the Bad Guys, and the antagonists are the Badder Guys, and the Good Guys lurk on the periphery, almost acting as collateral damage resulting from the proceedings. All of them are three-dimensional and filled with convincing human emotions and behaviors. "The Americans" also resurrected Keri Russell's acting career in a way that no other project has since the demise of "Felicity", and that's a great thing. Finally broken free of the melodramatic college student role in front of a larger audience than she's had since the teen soap's heyday, she really shines.

This FX program is the first TV program that has been able to suck me in for one hour once a week for an entire season. TV hasn't been very good since the days of Cheers, Family Ties, Night Court, and Coach. The Americans feels more like a movie than a TV series. It is so well done. The story is so well written. I enjoy the suspense of the Jennings (Russian spies) and their next door neighbor friends (husband is a FBI agent). The Jennings are barely a step ahead of the FBI. The struggle and strain that is put on the Jennings marriage because of the cat and mouse game they are playing with the US government adds a little more to the plot. It's a root for the bad guys type show.

Every main actor delivers a strong performance. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are great as a married couple and undercover KGB spies. Margo Martindale delivers in many great scenes just as she did in another FX series, Justified. Every episode is enjoyable and pulls in the audience; however, there were a few story points/characters that felt rushed. The blu-ray version was very good. No noticeable problems regarding picture/sound. Special features were interesting enough if you enjoy behind-the-scenes information. The first season of The Americans was just as enjoyable for me as the first two seasons of Justified.

Outstanding TV show. One of my favorites from this period. Must see TV.

I had not seen this when it was on TV last year but I read some good reviews and some of my friends said that I would like it. They were correct. It is a great series and I look forward to more. The story line is excellent as well as the acting. I grew up in this era and so it brought back many memories of that time period. Even the supporting actors are on the mark. You care about them all. The show is intense at times as far as what will happen next.

This is a great show about undercover Russian spies in the 1980s. It is a different take on the cold war showing the perspective from the other side of things as well as from the U.S., the one we are used to. It is weird when you find yourself invested in the characters and somewhat rooting a little bit for both sides just to keep things going. I also love the 1980s setting where you get to see some of the old styles and hear some of that great music again in the show too.

"The American's" takes us back to a time when everything was done slower, and that's just how this series starts...slow. Each character has to be introduced and most aren't in any way memorable at first, so it take a bit to get into the show. That being said there are twists and swerves starting in about the third episode that are well thought out and unexpected. The pace of the show, being set in the 80's, recalls a slower time of "not so instant" communications. Everyone doesn't carry a cell phone with GPS and texting, and it lends itself to a more organic storytelling with dead drops and spy-craft front and center. The various alias of the characters are well done and the plots and subplots keep you guessing till the end.