Sexy Sex, Wild Wigs, And Spy Stuff: Catch Up On ‘The Americans’ With These Must-Watch Episodes

It’s a slow burn, but the pilot gives you a taste of the tension between Philip and Elizabeth as they come off a bad job, having to rid of a hostage and hide him from their new neighbor, Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), a decorated FBI counter-intelligence agent. It’s here we learn bits and pieces about Elizabeth’s dark past and the complexities of her arranged marriage to Philip. [Where to stream “Pilot”]

All you need to know going into this episode after the pilot and Episode Two, “The Clock,” is that Philip and Elizabeth had orders to plant a bug in the Secretary of Defense’s office, which they accomplished by threatening his cleaning lady, Viola. Stan confronts a Soviet Embassy clerk, Nina, and blackmails her into working as a double agent. It’s in this riveting episode, however, where we see how much Philip truly loves Elizabeth after hearing of her long-time affair with a KGB recruit named Gregory. [Where to stream “Gregory”]

President Reagan is shot, and the KGB and FBI are in a hurry to point fingers. Stan’s boss, Agent Gaad, is ready to take down the KGB in one fell swoop, believing they’re the ones responsible. Meanwhile, Philip and Elizabeth are given orders from their new supervisor Claudia (Margo Martindale) to mark key government officials for future sniper hits, including the Secretary of State. When Philip suggests they hold off until there’s more information about Reagan’s shooter, Elizabeth is hesitant, as this would be disobeying orders. [Where to stream “In Control”]

Philip and Elizabeth are abducted and questioned by two men who seem to be counter-intelligence agents. After refusing to give up any information about themselves or the KGB, it’s revealed that this was an ordered test from the Soviet Centre to seek out a mole. An outraged Elizabeth almost beats Claudia to death for being doubted by the motherland, and Philip blames Elizabeth for getting them into this mess in the first place. If she had never ratted him out to the Centre about his doubts about Soviet life, they would have never been attacked. Just when we think their relationship has hit a high point, it all quickly comes crashing down. [Where to stream “Trust Me”]

Philip is called to a “travel agents conference” in New York City to publicly shame a Polish figure, who’s partnering with the Reagan Administration to help take down the Soviets. Working the job with him is his former flame and fellow KGB operative, Irina, who, according to her, has raised Philip’s son for the last twenty years (we’re still not sure if this is true, though). After the two accomplish their goal of discrediting their subject, they hop in bed together, as do Stan and Nina (even though he’s married with a kid) back in Washington, D.C. After Philip leaves Irina at Grand Central and returns home, he lies to Elizabeth about what happened in hopes him they can start anew. [Where to stream “Duty and Honor”]

Catching you up to speed: Philip and Elizabeth have been living apart after Elizabeth finds out Philip lied to her about sleeping with Irina. They are, however, still working together, and the stakes are higher than ever. Stan and Nina have been seeing each other regularly, but Nina secretly turns against him after discovering he killed her friend, Vlad, in spite of the KGB killing his partner (who Philip accidentally offed). After Philip and Elizabeth split up on two separate missions, it becomes clear that one is a trap and Elizabeth is in serious danger with the FBI. After an intense getaway, we discover Elizabeth has been shot by Stan and has to be taken to a safe house where she weakly begs Philip to come home. [Where to stream “The Colonel”]

Elizabeth has recovered from being shot, and she and Philip are back in the swing of things with their longtime working partners Emmett and Leanne Connors, who are also married with two kids. Aww, KGB besties! But after a joint mission at the local amusement park leaves Emmett, Leanne, and their daughter, Amelia, dead, a murder mystery unfolds with Philip and Elizabeth not only fearing for their lives, but for Paige’s and Henry’s as well. [Where to stream “Comrades”]

After infiltrating a military base and killing a slew of Marines who threatened his safety, Philip deflates into a shell of himself. The job is proving to be too much, as is fatherhood, after a rebellious Paige joins the local youth church group and donates hundreds of dollars to their cause. Things are proving difficult for Stan as well, who learns his wife, Sandra, is having an affair. [Where to stream “Martial Eagle”]

Elizabeth discovers their new supervisor, Kate, has been meeting with Emmett and Leanne’s surviving son, Jared. Jared, like all children of KGB operatives, is supposed to be kept in the dark about his parents’ true identities, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. Meanwhile, double agent and loose cannon Andrew Larrick goes AWOL after he learns of the KGB taking out Marines at their base. Philip uncovers the secret to stealth technology from a former government engineer and seeks to deliver his newfound intelligence to the Centre. [Where to stream “Stealth”]

Emmett and Leanne’s killer is revealed, and Elizabeth and Philip are spared just in time for their next mission: to get their daughter, Paige, ready to join the force. We won’t spoil too much for you about this intense Season finale, but let’s just say, Season Three is looking up to be the most exciting yet. [Where to stream “Echo”]

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