Pilot (30 Jan. 2013)

With Quarterflash's "Harden My Heart" playing in the background, we're swept away to a bar in Washington... See full synopsis »

Director:

Gavin O'Connor

Writers:

Joseph Weisberg (creator), Joseph Weisberg

Stars:

Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernández

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Keri Russell	...	Elizabeth Jennings
Matthew Rhys	...	Phillip Jennings
Maximiliano Hernández	...	Chris Amador
Holly Taylor	...	Paige Jennings
Keidrich Sellati	...	Henry Jennings
Noah Emmerich	...	Stan Beeman
Richard Thomas	...	Frank Gaad
David Vadim	...	Nikolai Timoshev
Michael Gaston	...	Agent Bartholomew
Olek Krupa	...	General Zhukov
Susan Misner	...	Sandra Beeman
Cotter Smith	...	Deputy Attorney General
Joe Urla	...	David R. Sepsill
Alison Wright	...	Martha Hanson
Daniel Flaherty	...	Matthew Beeman (as Danny Flaherty)

Storyline

With Quarterflash's "Harden My Heart" playing in the background, we're swept away to a bar in Washington... See full synopsis »

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 2013 (USA)

Filming Locations:

City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nemo Films, Amblin Television, Fox Television Studios

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

IBM Personal Computers are seen in the FBI offices. The series in set in early 1981 and the IBM PC was not introduced until August 1981.

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Connections

References Miami Vice (1984)

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Soundtracks

"In the Air Tonight"
(uncredited)
Written and performed by Phil Collins

User Reviews

The Americans Pilot

Washington 1981 and we get our first sight of Elizabeth (Kerri Russell) in a blonde wig as she try's to get some info for a man working close with the president. 3 days later this Intel has come in handy as she, Philip (Matthew Rhys) and another agent are waiting to abduct someone important from that Intel. The plan seems to go well except instead of an easy pick up Philip must chase down this guy. They catch him but they come up with some witnesses and a injury. Elizabeth and Philip are late to bring this guy to the checkpoint so must keep him in the back of their car. Flashback to 1969 and we see Elizabeth in training with Timochev and what he did to her. To present time and we learn that Philip and Elizabeth are Russians disguised as Americans with children of their own unaware of their parents past life's. Elizabeth is the stay at home mom while Philip must go out and see what people have heard about their missions, he is then named Clarke in a wig hearing all that is known is people took Timochev into the car. Elizabeth seems to be weaker then Philip as she seems to be losing the point of the mission. The family now has new neighbours who include FBI Counter-Intelligence Agent Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) as the husband which makes the pair suspicious. Another flashback to 1962 where Elizabeth and Philip first met getting ready for their mission. The FBI know about this guy being taken but they have no idea whom it might be. When Philip wants to make a deal with Timochev Elizabeth does not allow it to happen and the couple must fight him off getting bruised with him being killed. The pair get rid of the body which seems to turn the two on. Stan somehow out of no where believes the Jenning family seem different. Elizabeth and Philip may act as a couple but really then know nothing about each other only with some information coming out through bed talk. One final flashback as we see the first time the couple arrived in the states. Stan in the middle of the night broke into the Jennings house but when he finds nothing he just leaves. This was an interesting premise and while I can see this story told well over many years I found the pilot just fine with nothing special. The main actors are great but the character of Stan becoming suspicious so early confused me a bit.

EPISODE GRADE: B- (MVP: Kerri Russell)