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Craig Blankenhorn/FX
From left, Maximiliano Hernández as FBI Agent Chris Amador, Noah Emmerich as FBI Agent Stan Beeman in “The Americans.”


A fitting epitaph for Chris Amador, the “lone wolf” FBI agent who, in stalking his ex-girlfriend, got himself killed by the KGB. Amador believed that having no personal attachments kept him alert and ready for the job.  But his death this week showed that acting alone and having no real connection to others could be fatal.

The only emotional connection we’ve seen him have came through flashbacks of the two FBI agents. Beeman became concerned when his work husband missed an earlier meeting and then didn’t show up at the office. Beeman goes to Amador’s house and listens to his voicemails. Apparently, Amador lives up to the translation of his name, with several women, including his mother, looking to spend time with the self-admitted “skirt chaser.” But when Beeman examines Amador’s car, he finds no prints at all on the vehicle. At this point it’s clear that Amador is going to die.

Earlier, Amador confronted a disguised Philip leaving Martha’s apartment, leaving it unclear whether he was actually suspicious of her or if he was, as Elizabeth pointed out, just a jealous suitor. Philip resists being questioned and a quick fight breaks out with Philip stabbing Amador in the stomach and putting him in the trunk of the car.

Craig Blankenhorn/FX
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in “The Americans.”

Elizabeth shows up at some random torture chamber/warehouse dressed like “Clark’s” twin sister (dusty blonde wig and glasses). They treat Amador’s wound, but not before Philip relays Martha’s news from breakfast in bed: the FBI plans to retaliate for the three agents killed in the house bombing by taking out an unknown KGB agent.

Meanwhile, Beeman’s spidey senses are tingling now and he goes into attack-dog mode, man-handling Nina and aggressively questioning her on Amador’s whereabouts even after she lovingly kisses him hello. Beeman’s warm fuzzies for her from a few weeks ago have cooled now that his partner is in danger. After an earlier reluctance, he joins the mission to assassinate Rezidentura director Arkady on his regular jog. That plan is diverted when an underling is spotted instead. Straight-arrow Beeman goes off book and takes the jogger.


Amador seems to recognize Elizabeth but can’t place where. His horndog ways haven’t been hurt by his injury as he tries to recall them sleeping together. Despite all their questioning, he only tells them, “We’re gonna kick your motherland’s marbled a—.”

Beeman’s hunting parable to Vlad the Underling is a real telling about Beeman’s transformation in this episode. The dutiful dog will bring back the wounded bird without damaging it. But the second that bird twitches, Beeman as the dutiful dog will not hesitate to chomp into Vlad the wounded prey. Vlad is scared, and rightly so. He hadn’t been trained for this type of work. He, like Nina, was an office worker and, like Nina, is pulled into some unforeseen drama he can’t escape.

Amador, however, chose the path he was on. I don’t think he expected to live to a ripe old age with a family and memories of the job. Where Amador asserts his lone wolf path, Beeman is living it under a mask. Like the Jenninges, he’s living his life outwardly one way, but internally he’s on another mission. He portrays himself as the straight-arrow with the wife and son. But underneath, he’s really alone. Of these four people, Amador was the only one being honest with himself. He saw being a loner as opportunity cost for his job. Beeman’s cover of a home life may be essentially false, but it’s a connection that somehow works.

Beeman tries to trade Vlad for Amador, but by then it’s too late. Amador, thinking that it’s past time for the hit to go down, tells Elizabeth and Philip that the intended target was Arkady. Elizabeth confirms that Arkady is still alive, but can’t question Amador any further because he’s already died of his wounds.

The FBI finds him lying in an alley. Beeman goes out for chicken. He gives Vlad a sandwich and offers him a drink, but instead shoots him in the back of the head. He kept to his promise earlier in the episode that Vlad would die if Amador did.

Side thoughts:

* The loneliness people felt was palpable this episode. Henry crying alone in his room; Philip sitting on the floor outside; Beeman waiting for his food order. No one really felt part of a group. Perhaps being a lone wolf isn’t the answer.

* But no matter how lonely everyone felt, they all still played roles on their appropriate teams. Beeman, who was against taking action against the Rezidentura, joined the FBI group when Amador was in trouble. Philip and Elizabeth, who announced their breakup over a fried-chicken dinner, still worked amazingly well together to handle Amador. The Cold War would not be won by one person.

* Beeman wasn’t the only one to go off book. Philip, reacting to Amador’s questioning, ended up stabbing and taking an FBI agent hostage. Claudia (who was sadly missing this episode) said there could be more consequences for their secret war if more deaths occurred on U.S. soil. What will the repercussions be for Philip’s mistake?

* Philip and Elizabeth, who were getting nowhere questioning Amador, take a break to discuss their kids. Paige blames Elizabeth for Philip leaving and Henry isn’t doing his homework. (His social studies paper about the Revolutionary War: “America won.” Like Elizabeth, he’s nothing if not efficient.)

* Also, was Philip taking responsibility for their situation with Amador also a way for him to own up to the problems he and Elizabeth are having at home? “I didn’t want this to happen, but it happened. Things got a little crazy, you know?” he said.

* Was anyone else amazed that Philip was able to sleep all night in that wig and it didn’t come off? Or how about watching him get breakfast in bed from Martha while Elizabeth is fussing over getting the kids ready for the morning?

So what did you think? What kind of runner doesn’t go out just because they have an injured hand (I’m looking at you, Arkady)? Will Paige and Henry adjust to the new life of separated parents? Will Philip continue to take out his loneliness on a seemingly desperate Martha? Will Beeman’s steeliness become more…steely?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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