'The Americans' recap: What's a spy family to do? Visit Epcot

‘The Americans’ recap: What’s a spy family to do? Visit Epcot

By Alan Eyerly

March 31, 2016 6 AM PT

Pastor Tim (Kelly AuCoin) and his indiscreet wife, Alice (Suzy Jane Hunt), know an explosive truth about the parents of teenager Paige Jennings (Holly Taylor). Namely that her dad, Philip (Matthew Rhys), and mom, Elizabeth (Keri Russell), are Soviet spies.

This secret revealed by Paige when she turned to her church for guidance might amount to a death sentence for Tim and Alice on “Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow,” Episode 403 of “The Americans” on FX.

In trying to convince Tim that he should maintain their cover, Philip and Elizabeth claim that Moscow and the pastor’s activist flock share common goals, such as preventing nuclear war and ending racism.

“We fight for justice, for equal rights for everyone,” Elizabeth proudly says, “no matter who they are or what they believe.”

“Unless they’re religious,” Tim interjects, referring to the persecution of Jews and Catholics behind the Iron Curtain.

“I understand the need for secrecy, but let’s be clear,” Tim emphasizes. “A pastor’s obligation to keep parishioners’ secrets ends where his duty to the greater good begins. I cannot be a party to destruction.”

Fearing they’re on the verge of imprisonment, the Cold War spies rush to see their KGB handler Gabriel (Frank Langella). Philip wants to leave the U.S. “right now.” Elizabeth votes for homicide. And Gabriel decides to contact Moscow and wait for instructions.

Based on those orders, Gabriel tells Philip and Elizabeth to take Paige and her younger brother, Henry (Keidrich Sellati), to visit the new Epcot Center in Orlando.

“While you’re away,” Gabriel casually says, “the pastor and his wife will have an accident.”

At first Philip is adamantly opposed to this murderous plan, arguing that Paige will figure out what happened. But if their family flees to the Soviet Union, Elizabeth counters, the kids won’t know anyone and won’t speak the language.

“You don’t think they’d hate us then?” Elizabeth asks. Philip reluctantly agrees.

Shortly before their scheduled flight to Florida, the spies visit Gabriel’s safe house and find him bleeding and gasping for air. He’s been exposed to a bioweapon developed by William (Dylan Baker), a turncoat scientist employed by the Defense Department.

“You should have wrapped Gabriel in plastic and burned his body,” William says before injecting Philip and Elizabeth with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Now they must remain in quarantine for at least 36 hours, William insists, thus putting that family vacation on hold.

“I guess we’re not going to Epcot,” Philip laments.

In Moscow, meanwhile, Nina Sergeevna Krilova (Annet Mahendru) learns the penalty she might face for trying to help her friend Anton Baklanov (Michael Aronov), a kidnapped Jewish scientist forced to design stealth technology for the Soviet military.

Nina tried to send a message to Anton’s son so he’d know his father is alive, but the letter was turned over to authorities. Now Nina could be subjected to “exceptional punishment,” meaning execution. She’s frightened, alone and having nightmares.

Finally, Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) of FBI counterintelligence correctly theorizes that secretary Martha Hanson (Alison Wright) is the traitor who installed a KGB listening device in the office of her boss, Frank Gaad (Richard Thomas).

FBI officials believe that the culprit is computer expert Gene Craft (Luke Robertson), who supposedly confessed to espionage before committing suicide. He was actually killed by Philip, however, to shield Martha from arrest.

“You want to find out who really planted that bug?” Stan asks fellow agent Dennis Aderholt (Brandon J. Dirden). “Help me track Martha.”

Dennis refuses to conduct surveillance, contending there must be an innocent explanation for Martha’s behavior.

“But,” Dennis says with a smile, “I’ll take her to dinner.”