The Americans ran for six consecutively great seasons. The series followed Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings, Russian spies deep undercover in American during the Cold War.
Each season had its own particular storyline that focused on the most recent job the Jennings were assigned to. The season finales were where these plot lines were brought to a head, tying up some threads while leaving others open for future seasons to address.
The Soviet Division (Season 5) 8.3
Phillip, Elizabeth, and Tuan rush to Morozov’s house in order to prevent Pasha from committing suicide. They manage to get an ambulance in time to save Pasha’s life, but the goal of Tuan’s plan works all the same, and the family is split up as a result. This plan takes a toll on Phillip and Elizabeth, and the strain of their job is more evident than ever. At this point, the Jennings really start to consider going home.
Their mission with Tuan has ended, and he expressed disappointment in their unwillingness to let Pasha die. Phillip, whose morality has long been chafing under his line of work, is enraged at Tuan’s callous manner, but Elizabeth is more understanding of his determination and cautions him not to continue to work alone. Phillip discovers that Kimmy’s father is being promoted to head of the Soviet Division, and it looks like the Jennings aren’t going anywhere, after all. However, Elizabeth gives Phillip the best gift she can give him: her blessing to quit.
Persona Non Grata (Season 4) 8.5
William catches surveillance when trying to hand the Lassers virus off to Phillip. The FBI chases him, and he infects himself with the virus before they take him in. Stan gets to speak to a KBG officer for the first time while watching him die and learning nothing beyond a glimpse into the psyche of this particular man.
Meanwhile, Paige thinks she’s ready to join her parent’s profession, just as a relationship with Matthew is blossoming… the son of the FBI agent that lives across the street.
March 8, 1983 (Season 3) 8.9
Elizabeth brings Paige with her to see her dying mother in an effort to help Paige feel more connected to her heritage. Elizabeth feels that this trip will also give Paige some insight as to who Elizabeth really is. However, Paige feels more torn than ever and does the unthinkable, calling Pastor Tim and telling him everything.
Stan tells Gaad about the investigation he’s been conducting on his own with Oleg, naively expecting to be rewarded for his efforts, but Gaad is angry that he disobeyed orders to do his own thing. Stan is so obsessed with what he did to Nina, his desperation to save her completely overshadows his judgment. All of his efforts go toward freeing another asset, as no one else in the FBI or CIA is as concerned about Nina’s safety as Stan is.
Echo (Season 2) 9.0
Paige’s involvement with the church in season two builds toward the bomb that gets dropped on Phillip and Elizabeth in the finale. Paige has become passionate about engaging in civil disobedience in order to help those who need it. Phillip and Elizabeth take Paige and Henry on an impromptu vacation, which was a cover for a job, where Larrick is waiting to ambush them.
Phillip and Elizabeth manage to disarm and kill Larrick, but not before he fatally shoots Jared, who confesses his true, disturbing role in all of this; he killed his family when he found out from an offer from the Center what secrets they’d been keeping from him. Stan has a choice to make: either give up Echo, or give up Nina. He chooses his country, and Nina suffers the consequences of yet another person deciding her usefulness has run out.
The Colonel (Season 1) 9.2
The Colonel is really just a great episode of The Americans. The plan that Phillip and Elizabeth have been working on is risky, but the skill they’ve established throughout the first season gives the audience confidence that they can pull it off. However, when it’s revealed that it’s a setup and that following through with the plan will mean certain failure, Arkady tries desperately to let his agents know before it’s too late.
Elizabeth is the one who’s really in danger here, and Phillip immediately rushes to her rescue. An exciting car chase ensues in which Stan shoots Elizabeth. Elizabeth, thinking she’s dying, expresses her wish for Phillip to finally come home.
START (Season 6) 9.8
START is possibly the greatest season finale of any show, ever. After decades of time deep undercover in America, Phillip and Elizabeth have finally been caught. Stan discovers that his best friend is one of the people he’s been searching for and fighting against all this time, and the betrayal cuts deep, which Noah Emmerich portrays beautifully.
His time in counterintelligence has only blurred the lines between what he knows is right and wrong, allowing him to let Phillip and Elizabeth escape with Paige. They leave Henry behind and ask Stan to look after him. Phillip leaves Stan with a parting gift: he suspects Renee is KGB. The program is all but dissolved, and it’s time for Phillip and Elizabeth to finally return home. One person who won’t be making the trip back is Oleg, whose selfless act in service of the greater good lands him in an American prison for a very long time.
