Look, The Americans doesn’t have it in its DNA to be a “bad” show. The creators and the ensemble are just too damn good, and since I started reviewing the show for this website, I’ve never given any episode less than three and a half stars. But sometimes it can be a frustrating show. “Yousaf” was one of those times.
The title refers to a member of a Pakistani delegation that Philip and Elizabeth are tasked with getting information from. Luckily, he prefers “European women,” so it should be a cinch for Elizabeth to get him in bed, literally and figuratively. But Phillip insists on using Annelise (Gillian Avery), which is problematic for me because I didn’t remember who she was at first. As a reminder, Annelise was recruited by Philip’s Swedish Intelligence persona “Scott Berman,” and last seen in season one’s “The Clock.” Avery does a great job with the role, and Philip comes off looking like the pimp she accuses him of being, but it’s almost rendered moot because I was so frustrated that The Americans would put such an obscure character front and center.
Speaking of obscure characters, here’s the return of the myserious Phone Man, the guy who sits in a basement all day making coded phone calls. He’s quickly murdered by Larrick, who is turning out to be every bit as dangerous as the Jennings were warned he was. I like Andrew Larrick a lot; if the show has to have a “Big Bad,” I’m glad it’s him. The important development out of this is Larrick getting closer to finding out just who Philip and Elizabeth really are.
And so is Stan, although he doesn’t know. This was my favorite part of the episode, and again, I was frustrated because it was more or less shuffled off to the side. I’ve called Stan a bloodhound before, and “Yousaf” is another fine example of that. It’s nice to see Agent Gaad prove his mettle as well; on his first day back on the job, he finds a secret compartment in Emmet’s briefcase, leading he and Stan to believe they’re illegals. Stan goes to ask Jared about his parents, and does so with tact and caring. He asks Jared, “Have you ever seen these two people before?” and shows them sketches of Philip and Elizabeth in disguise. That’s what I can’t wait to see, and while “Yousaf” isn’t a bad episode, it’s still frustrating that we didn’t see more of its most interesting subplot.
A Few Thoughts
– “Yousaf” was directed by Stefan Schwartz, a veteran of Dexter and The Walking Dead. I think he has a nice eye for this material, and would like to see him return
– There will never be a better description of Nina than Oleg’s: “You seem like the kind of person who can do anything.”
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