The first is an exciting KGB vs. FBI pursuit of everyones favorite unwitting secretary turned mole Martha.
The second is essentially a marriage drama in which Clark is forced to finally break up with Martha.
Both aspects of the episode work on their own but the sum isnt equal to the parts.
Travel Agents feels more like two distinct blocks rather than one cohesive narrative.
attempt to think of how many times a character has flat out run inThe Americans.
Elizabeth did so last season when she was being pursed by Agent Aderholt.
Beyond that, Im hard-pressed to think of many other examples.
Good spies dont run.
And as such, they operate with calculated precision instead of frantic scrambling.
If there were ever a time for frantic scrambling, it would be the mission to recover Martha.
She knows Philips face and as such could jeopardize the lives of the entire Jennings family.
A lot this requires just kind of sitting around.
Elizabeth heads out into the city to systematically run through Marthas known haunts.
Everything we know about the visual arts tells us that this should all be dreadfully boring.
The other characters reaction to the situation is telling as well.
Poor Agent Gad looks almost as miserable as Martha herself.
Its the first time hes had a taste from home in years.
But then the latest progress report from Elizabeth convinces him hes not hungry after all.
There is still, however, the human element.
The element that the KGB has so long ignored that got them into this whole Martha mess.
Philip…if she runs again, she begins.
I know, Philip says.
You should tell her that youll join her.
Shell need that hope to get on the plane.
Philip doesnt say anything in response to this and Elizabeth adds in the kicker.
But I think Philip misunderstands Elizabeths intent in asking…and maybe even Elizabeth fully doesnt understand either.
The presence of Martha has been like a conversational safety valve in the Jennings life.
One of them wants to run away; the other doesnt.
Its like theyre both operating under stereotypical assumptions about American citizens and not analyzing the human being involved.
**Id been calling Joan The Phone Lady for awhile now, not realizing she had a name.
