Parallel to Kimmy's progress with her bunker phobia is how Kimmy relates to reverend figures —- actual reverends, false prophet weathermen, professors, any authority figures that society elevates w/o question. Until this review made the analogy between weatherman and reverends, I didn't see this progression. Hah!…

@MuddieMaeSuggins:disqus - I wanted to thank you for your kind encouraging compliment last week about my writing, but I can't find your original comment in this sea of 445 comments!

Thanks for your clarifying comment. My misunderstanding serves me right for watching inattentively after the episode's midnight release..

Came here to state I expected a tacky brothel and to cite the "threadbare" Moira's Playboy bunny suit as well. In the novel, the off-the-mark, soiled imitation of an elite sex club is why Jezebels stayed in my memory for years. Getting rid of the tacky decor erases two significant themes in Atwood's novel.

How does the idea of James Beard acclaim even survive in the future Republic of Gilead? Much less any awards that celebrate extravagance or innovation in a cold, austure world focused on population and food to feed them. Can we even imagine Pritzker, Tonys, MTV awards in Gilead?

Thanks. My comment re: age ambiguity concerned the character Tuan, not the actor Ivan Mok. Within the world of The Americans aka in-universe, I could not confirm if Tuan is an actual teenager, aged 16-19, or if the spy agencies used the 21 Jump Street model, wherein Tuan is an adult who poses as a teenager in order…

Hilarious! I'm in the middle of the latest Handmaid's Tale episode ("Jezebels"); but I can't wait to hear the final Slate podcast.
It's the last Wednesday pileup of excellent media to consume until we do it all again Spring 2018.

Re: Keri Russell's work commitment; Hollywood Star, Walk of Fame pic!
Caroline Framke, former AV Club staff now at Vox, did a longread Season 4 article requiring her to spend hours on set w Russell and Rhys. She shared an anecdote that pregnant, exhausted Russelll preferred to just nap an hour or so on the grass…

My S5 finale wish ungranted: That a clue of the Jennings' Russian identities entered Henry's orbit, even if Henry (1) didn't recognize this clue as evidence that his life was a sham, or (2) didn't act on it in s5e13.

I don't think Philip's nod was recognition. More maybe a nod of relief exchanged b/w two men who saved a suicidal boy's life in the nick of time. BUT, Philip *was* worried the CIA guy was suspicious of him. Didn't h?e report to Claudia how he made sure the guy didn't follow Philip (5x, irrc), to P&E's briefing?

After last week's episode sprung on us Philip/Misha's heretofore unknown brother __Pyotr __ , this series better have a way to mention this brother again. The two men even shared a resemblance. Don't drop this thread, S6, please !

Elizabeth, think about your even bigger closet of clothes at the safe house. Get your KGB spy lifestyle, girl. "'Brenda' and 'Dee's' wardrobes are keepers.

I thought Tuan was early 20 something, too. Then when the IHOP episode aired. Tuan's sadness for his sick adoptive brother and Tuan's unhappiness that the Jennings spent little time with him cast Tuan in a vulnerable light. I perceived Tuan as much younger, as an actual teenager.

Yep. Remember how ex-wife Sandra hated how Stan's job impacted their marriage? Her anger about his long hours, his secrecy, his vagueness about assignments, his strange moods? Even his EST girlfriend (Callie Thorne) was wary of The FBI's toll on their relationship

Who are these speculators with no heart? To watch The Americans with that degree of cynicism, I guess, means these viewers want the storylines to move in a Mr. and Mrs. Smith's Spy vs. Spy direction. For Elizabeth to play Philip, act as if she desires him.. huh?

Watching in this state of heightened vigilance is hell on the nerves, tho By now, I should have a handle on dread, and be prepared that stuff won't happen. But, no.

That Philip's teary-eyed, mournful face when Elizabeth says she knows how much he's suffering? That's our collective fan face after 4 years of waiting for Emmys to recognize Rhys.

So well put.

Me, too. Philip's gotta walk away thinking," I do not want to be around for this smackdown"

That's Semyon, to you. Now I wonder what is Claudia's actual Russian name.