The Americans (TV Series) Mutually Assured Destruction (2013) User Reviews

Strong episode with great parallels between characters and the cold war

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 5 January 2021]

The Jennings' are requested to prevent a KGB assassin from carrying out an assignment.

I enjoyed this episode for the thrilling plot, character development and parallels between the Cold War and the Jennings' marriage.

The plot has some excellent action thriller sequences and intriguing moments from the 'mission of the week' but, as always, it leaves room for plenty of focus on the lead characters and their relationship.

Many characters have their mental states conveyed in quite cinematic ways and this does make things pretty compelling as I want to find out what will happen to them.

I found the theme of Mutually Assured Destruction very well applied to the escalating tensions of the Cold War and how it reflects the state of the Phillip and Elizabeth's marriage.

The only part I found a bit weak was some obvious exposition dialogue near the start when Phillip explains the mission in conversation with Elizabeth for the benefit of the audience.

I thought this was an 8.5/10 but I like to round upward.

An action episode.

[mm-39 · 8/10 · 30 May 2013]

Everyone's favourite K G B couple is thrown into another ugly situation. The couple has to find an out source assassin who is contracted to kill American scientists. Mutually Assured Destruction unravels how the K G B agents track down the assassin, and how the assassin works. The confrontations and activities are quite violent. Mutually Assured Destruction is an adrenaline pumping episode. I bet the K G B agents enjoy their work. The hotel scene is memorable. The episode resonates with the viewer. The assassin enjoys his work and refuses to give up the hunt. This episode is a turning point episode as it turns the heat up on the series. I give M A D an eight out of ten.

Powerful

[gmoore44 · 9/10 · 23 July 2019]

So many facets come out. Amador, who is all for extra judicial action. he is really the author of his own misfortune. Following his former girlfriend Martha and keeping her under surveillance all night, makes him a jealous stalker. Trying to apprehend Philip could have been the end for him. Amador is up for extra judicial action, since he tried to kill Philip in the strugle, or would have killed him on the drive to headquarters ig he had surrendered, since he was sleeping with Martha. Beeman had really shown another side also. Dead set against extra judicial action. but when Amador is missing and presumed taken by someone in the Soviet embassy, he sure changes that stance. And the fact that the low level agent they killed had nothing to do with the action, and the real killer of the FBI agents was blown up by Philip and Elizabeth made the killing so unnecessary. And the fast that's he's sleeping with Nina, his mole in the Soviet embassy, is really taking this series into fascinating territory. It's very compelling, and just goes to show that no one is a true white hatted hero.

The Americans Mutually Assured Destruction

[dalydj-918-255175 · 20 March 2013]

With most American marriages sometime the husband and wife get divorced and Philip and Elizabeth have been together for such a long time and now they seem to be separating to keep their mission first over feelings which lately is all Elizabeth has seemed to be doing. Elizabeth found the truth of Philip with Irena which really pushed her to her final decision. The search for the KGB mole has seemed to slow down keeping Nina safe for the moment and she gets to have some fun with Stan with the new apartment they meet in. Philip spent most of the episode as Clarke as he slept with Martha twice even though she works closely in the FBI which lead to a jealous Chris following her home which cannot be good thing for Philip as his identity could be blown. The story line involving Stan was maybe a bit better but I still find him a weak part to the show and Margo in her one scene per episode is nice because on screen she is compelling as she makes this small role as a KGB officer a nice addition especially when Claudia speaks with Elizabeth in the car. Nice episode but not one of their best ever.

EPISODE GRADE: B- (MVP: Kerri Russell)