Clarks Place is indeed somewhat of a slow episode.
It could use a little nappy now.
The use of period-specific pop music onThe Americanshas always been stellar and deployed just sparingly enough to remain fresh.
Queen and David Bowies Under Pressure is no exception.
Then the music crescendos right as Elizabeth straddles Philip and they begin to have passionate, explosive sex.
The scene as constructed is just so sleek and stylish and cool in every possible way.
But thematically it also almost single-handedly turns around my perception of the episode itself.
Throughout Clarks Place its hard to imagine exactly why Martha continues to put herself through this.
First she finds out her husband isnt who he says he is.
Then she finds out hes killed someone on her behalf.
What is wrong with this woman?
Who would put themselves through such a ringer?
Under Pressure* in its refreshingly un-ambiguous way helps to answer exactly why.
One of the greatest pop songs ever, for sure.
But seriously nobody wanted to try just one more draft of the lyrics?
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS!
Thats why Martha is doing all of this: that dumb love thing.
Whether you work for the C.I.A.
or the Rezidentura or some combination of both, the world can still be a lonely, confusing place.
Because if she doesnt have love, what does she have?
Love is one of the reasons why Philip and Elizabeth are so devastatingly capable at what they do.
Philip, ever the dutiful soldier, begins Operation End Hostilities with Stan.
Stan is disarmingly honest in his reply.
I dont know if youve noticed but I dont have a lot of friends here.
Stan is successful in almost every sense.
Hes also crushingly alone and it led him to act out against Philip, one of his only friends.
Hopefully, now theyll be getting beers again soon.
Oleg, bless him, is equally alone now.
He returned to Russia for the funeral of his brother and while there received the news of Ninas death.
Arkady seems more disappointed with Nina for screwing up than with the U.S.S.R. for its brutality.
They dont execute people for nothing, Oleg, he says.
The look on Olegs face says Yeah, I think they kind of do.
Everyones looking for love on Clarks Place.
I dont know, she says.
Love with each other has brought Philip and Elizabeth relative peace at home and a sense of purpose.
Love for country has brought them literally a false religion.
Wait til Martha, Oleg and Stan figure that out.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5
