Plot Synopsis

Two KGB spies pose as an American couple in suburban Washington DC during the early 1980s, as they keep their children in the dark about their real identity, maintain contact with their network of spies, deal with a new neighbor who is an FBI Agent, and adjust to the historical events of the Reagan presidency. The arranged marriage of Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, who have two children -- 13-year-old Paige and 10-year-old Henry, who know nothing about their parents' true identity -- grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. Complicating their relationship further is Philip's growing sense of affinity for America's values and way of life. Tensions also heighten upon the arrival of a new neighbor, FBI agent Stan Beeman. Stan and his partner, Agent Chris Amador, are members of a new division of Counterintelligence tasked with fighting against foreign agents on U.S. soil, including KGB Directorate S illegals, Russian spies posing as Americans. THE AMERICANS was created and executive produced by Joe Weisberg, a former CIA agent. THE AMERICANS returned for its second season on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. Season 2 opened with Elizabeth back from her injury, while her daughter, Paige, becomes more suspicious of what her parents really do. Meanwhile, Stan continues to fall for a Russian agent. FX premiered the third season of THE AMERICANS on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT. In Season 3, the trickiest of Philip's sources continues to be Martha, the assistant to Special Agent Gaad. Last season, in order to ensure her continued loyalty, Philip, in the guise of FBI bureaucrat Clark, one of his numerous cover identities, married her, and things were going smoothly until Martha began pressuring Clark to start a family. Their neighbor, FBI Agent Stan Beeman, could also prove to be a renewed threat. Last season, when forced to choose between betraying his country or his KGB double-agent and paramour Nina, Stan chose the USA. Nina has been sent back to Moscow to face charges of treason, much to the dismay of her boss Arkady, Director of the KGB Rezidentura. In addition to his rededication to his mission of uncovering the identities of the Russian spies living among them, Stan is also attempting to rebuild a relationship with his estranged wife Sandra. Meanwhile, in the Jennings' house, Philip and Elizabeth find themselves at odds over Paige's future now that the KGB made it clear they want her to join the family business. Season 4 of THE AMERICANS premiered on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. The season opener, "Glanders," picks up on the heels of last season's finale. Philip and Elizabeth are dealing with the fallout of all they've wrought. Having revealed their true identities to their teenage daughter Paige (Holly Taylor), Philip and Elizabeth must keep their daughter's best interests at heart while ensuring that their cover identities, and thus their lives, remain protected. Stan's newfound dedication to wiping out Directorate S has also led him to become suspicious of Martha's uncharacteristic behavior. As he begins to investigate what's been in front of him all this time. What will happen when the FBI finds out about Gene's suicide? How will Pastor Tim deal with the revelation that they are Russian spies? And will they be able to handle a dangerous new bioweapons assignment? The 13-episode fifth season of THE AMERICANS premiered on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. Having revealed their true identities to their teenage daughter, Paige, Philip and Elizabeth's ability to protect their cover and their family's safety has become even more tenuous. Even as Paige pushes her parents to bring her deeper into their confidence, Philip and Elizabeth struggle to maintain normalcy in their family, especially around their son, Henry. Paige's budding romance with Matthew, the son of their neighbor, FBI Agent Stan Beeman, further complicates matters since Stan -- Philip's best friend -- remains the greatest threat to the Jennings' safety. He and his partner, Agent Dennis Aderholt are on the task force that seeks to uncover the Soviet Illegals living among them. After Stan's KGB lover/asset Nina was sent back to Moscow and executed for treason, he cultivated a relationship with KGB officer Oleg Burov, who, torn between duty and conscience, shared top Soviet secret intel with Stan that allowed the FBI to avert a potentially catastrophic loss of life. Disillusioned with the KGB, Oleg returned home to Russia, but he is finding it harder to escape his past transgressions than he had hoped. As the Cold War rages on, paranoia on both sides reaches new heights, making Philip and Elizabeth's work increasingly vital -- and eminently more perilous. The 10-episode sixth and final season of THE AMERICANS premiered on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. The arranged marriage of Philip and Elizabeth Jennings grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but as the pressures and demands of the job grow heavier, the personal toll becomes almost too exhausting to bear. Having revealed their true identities to their teenage daughter Paige, Philip and Elizabeth's ability to protect their cover and their family's safety deteriorates. After a particularly fraught mission, Philip and Elizabeth decide to end their tour and take their family home to Russia. However, a game-changing development in one of their ongoing cases forces them to abandon those plans for the sake of the motherland. Now, Paige delves deeper into the family business, even as Philip takes a step back from it. The Jennings struggle to maintain a smokescreen of normalcy, especially around their son, Henry, who remains blissfully ignorant of the spies in his midst. Their neighbor and Philip's best friend, FBI Agent Stan Beeman, has also yet to discover their true identities. Although he's transferred divisions, Stan remains their greatest threat since his friend and former partner, Agent Dennis Aderholt, leads the force tasked with uncovering the Soviet Illegals hiding in plain sight. With Gorbachev in power in the Soviet Union, the winds of change are sweeping through both Russia and America, creating new perils. A growing rift within the KGB draws disillusioned former officer Oleg Burov back into the fray, and may set Philip and Elizabeth on opposing sides as the Cold War reaches its boiling point.

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On Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 10-11:30pm ET/PT, FX premiered "START," the series finale of THE AMERICANS, written by Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg. In the 90-minute series ender, the Jennings face a choice that will change their lives forever.