The Americans - Episode 7 - Recap and Review - Duty and Honor

The Americans threw in an unsuspecting plot twist this week, a twist that dirtied up Phillip’s (Matthew Rhys) somewhat squeaky clean "American" image. “Duty and Honor” saw the return of Phillip’s long lost love, and a goodbye tryst that shook Phillip’s confidence in his ever complicated arranged marriage to Elizabeth (Keri Russell). In the end, who would he choose?

The episode opened with the televised introduction of Andrezj Bielawski, a Polish communist turned rebel leading the Eastern European crusade against the cause. In order to thwart his intentions, Phillip would have to work with none other than Irina, his former flame who he hadn’t seen nor heard from in over twenty years. Needless to say, this was not a good time for Elizabeth to be making amends for selling Phillip out to their KGB officers some time prior. Remember, last week he was tortured in the KGB's quest to find their mole. Bielawski couldn’t be killed. He was required to maintain the fiction of Polish independence.

Of course, we got a significant flashback explaining the workings of their past relationship. Phillip had been training for work in American when he happened upon Irina, a beauty quite opposite to Elizabeth. I thought it was almost more interesting to see how excited Phillip was to go through the academy training him for KGB work, knowing how unexpectedly happy he became posing as an American family man. Phillip had only intended for his separation due to training to last a year, but Irina inevitably broke things off out of the blue, claiming to have met a new love. Later, we’d discover that this was a lie made in order to protect another love.

Bielawski had become a Polish man of faith and advocate for freedom, even having sacrificed life with his family to pursue this goal. His plan was to formulate a new government from the safety of Paris. The KGB turned to their favorite weapon of choice; a hot female spy. In order to woo Bielawski, Irina would pretend to be a smitten American who’d hailed from Poland. This episode also saw the return of Charles, Phillip’s media connection who’d been posing as another reformed communist turned republican for some time.  The trio sat for drinks while Phillip waited in a nearby phone booth. Eventually, he phoned Charles away to work on some “emergency” business. In reality, it was important for Irina, codenamed “Ann,” to begin chipping away at Bielawski’s guard alone.

FX "The Americans"

Outside, the two strolled through the snow. Eventually, Bielawski felt comfortable enough to bid his bodyguards leave them be while he and “Ann” connected further. Phillip’s next step was to “mug” Irina, leaving her bloodied in the snow. The intention was to, of course, prompt the two to return to Bielawski’s hotel room to clean up Irina’s leg. There, she’d make her advances. Interesting, even after having been drugged and loaded up with liquor, Bielawski still refused to give in to Irina’s sexual persuasions. He truly was a man of his word, leaving Phillip and Irina feeling like utter crap.

After the man was passed out cold, Irina ventured to Phillip’s room. There, she admitted the truth to him. She had previously admitted to having a son, while Phillip boasted his own two children. Now we’d come to realize that her son... was also his son. The reason she’d ended the relationship with Phillip was so that he could follow his dreams of becoming a KGB officer. Admitting to praying to a God she didn’t believe in for a rekindling with Phillip, she offered herself up to him once more. Phillip, mostly silent, took to slapping her… and hard. Funny how this show manipulates these situations, right? We’d find out why this actually occurred the next morning, while I’m sure Phillip did indeed have some bottled-up aggression after Irina’s paternity bombshell.

The two inevitably slept together. You know, I’m not really fond of these “is she in the bed?” scenes shows like to throw in. Elizabeth called Phillip to say goodnight. In reality, she ended up asking him to come home. Any resentment left in Elizabeth had fizzled as a result of her longing for her husband. Of course, he’d just experienced the greatest indiscretion he could have committed.

FX "The Americans"

Meanwhile, Stan (Noah Emmerich) had found himself in a strikingly similar situation. Having been working late ever since his family arrived in DC, his partner Chris (Maximiliano Hernandez) pleaded with Stan to join him for a few drinks at a local bar. Stan declined at first, but was inevitably convinced to take a beat, at least for one night. At the bar, Chris advised Stan to find some willing chick to hit on and let loose with. Eventually, Stan did give in; however, it was Nina (Annet Mahendru) he ended up calling. The sexual tension had finally reached its breaking point, and the two spent the night together. Just as things had gone with Phillip, though, Stan knew things wouldn’t last. As Nina put it, once was enough. The Russians like things gray, as opposed to black and white. The next day, Stan would speak to his boss regarding releasing Nina as a source for good, as he'd promised her he would. As his superior put it, there was no telling whether Nina was actually enjoying Stan's company or chewing him up just before she spat him out. Still, he agreed to take some pressure off of her.

While Stan and Phillip had spent their evenings with other women, Elizabeth and Stan’s wife spent a quiet night chatting about their marriages. It was interesting to see that, although the two are in seemingly very different relationship, they would both come to suffer through the same indiscretion, whether their husbands ever admitted this to them or not.

Elizabeth’s story arc this episode followed her attempt at securing a new American missile spy. First, she’d have to set things straight with Claudia (Margo Martindale), who she quite brutally beat bloody during the prior episode following Claudia’s manipulative questioning methods. Claudia did apologize, but warned Elizabeth that death threats work both ways. Elizabeth’s target, Sanford, was plagued with gambling debts. A vice is always a great KGB in, of course. In exchange for paying off his debt when the price had actually become, well, his flesh, Elizabeth owned Sanford. Eh, she’s not so bad to work for, right? He handed her some valuable information surrounding recent advancements in U.S. laser missile work that had previously been nothing more than a failed attempt at manufacturing new weaponry.

After Irina and Phillip awoke the next day, it had been revealed that their plan worked successfully. In truth, Phillip had bruised Irina's face in order to frame Bielawski as a rapist. In order to cover up any investigation, Bielawski agreed to quietly step down publicly for unspecified reasons. Irina was disgusted with herself for ruining the reputation of a good man working towards freedom and decided to finally fly the KGB coop. Her plan was to run away, to live forever in hiding… with Phillip. Phillip declined her offer, citing his family as his reason for staying, and waved goodbye to his old lover forever.

At home that evening, Elizabeth truly apologized to Phillip for doubting him prior. She finally came around to dropping her guard and voiced her desire to attempt to make their marriage real. Only, she begged Phillip to be honest with her surrounding what had happened between him and Irina. Phillip lied, of course, and began his fresh attempt at a true marriage with Elizabeth. I guess we could be angry with Phillip surrounding what he'd done during "Duty and Honor," but we know that this situation is, indeed, a unique one. Maybe a clean slate for the both of them is what's best, considering neither had done enough prior to actually earn the trust most marriages are soundly founded on.

What did you all think of The Americans, Season 1 Episode 7, "Duty and Honor"? Did Phillip do the right thing in lying to Elizabeth? Are you hoping for more development between Stan and Nina (or his wife)?

Thanks for reading my Recap and Review of The Americans, Season 1 Episode 7, "Duty and Honor"!