True. He is still valuable, albeit probably less valuable than when he was with the Rezidentura.

I agree that he still cares deeply about his homeland and its people. If you believe, as I do, that thus far this season is largely about the main Russian characters coming to the realization that their country's economic system is fatally flawed, then it follows that the best way to help those people is to abandon…

That could be, and I had forgotten about the jacket. Still, that's a pretty lousy way to come by a jacket and a pair of boots.

Good point.

Regarding the Tina Fey comment, I would say that's 90% the publisher's fault for not having a decent-enough editor involved to ask, "Hey Alec, what did you mean by this? Can we try to clarify it?" The fact that there wasn't a ghost writer in this instance should have prompted the publisher to try a little harder to…

Did the book ever get written?

Puck from The Real World?

This sounds like an embarrassment for all involved. I don't know much about the publishing business, but how exactly does a book like this get released? Wouldn't it have been preferable to just put the manuscript in the shredder? Did Baldwin negotiate a large, non-refundable advance, such that the publisher was…

I skimmed over the article and comments. Then I went back to the top and stared at the "play" buttons of the two embedded videos for approximately twenty seconds before deciding I didn't care enough to watch either of them. And that's my take on this whole situation.

I love the irony that the CIA has backed off of Oleg because of Stan's threat just as Oleg is showing a willingness to cooperate. Frankly, I feel like he'd probably consider turning even without being blackmailed, but I'm wondering what he really has to offer the CIA at this point. He seems to be cloistered away in…

I agree that the flashbacks don't necessarily indicate that every moment of his childhood was miserable, but that's not the point. These flashbacks are meant to illustrate the awful things that his father had to do just to procure the basic necessities to support his family. Contrast this with Philip's career as an…

I commented elsewhere on what I think is the "leitmotif" of this season thus far, which is that the primary Russian characters are rapidly losing faith in their country. So for me, the unspoken second half of Philip's comment would probably be, "We have so many things [here in America because the American system is…

The writers are definitely setting her up to be the bad guy…again.

I think he is releasing them psychologically, making it far more likely that they'll take the necessary steps to get out of the game. Whether that means attempting to defect or asking to return home, we shall see.

In a vacuum, I might agree with your interpretation of the scene. However, the writers are consistently showing us this season how circumstances are chipping away at the beliefs and, therefore, the resolve of the main Russian characters. I think the scene was yet another variation on that theme.

The theme of slavery was prevalent in this episode. Since we know Gabriel admires Lincoln, I interpreted his reflective visit to the memorial - where he first looked at Lincoln before literally gazing at the reflecting pool of the Washington Monument - as the moment he decided to "emancipate" the Jenningses by going…

Recall last week when hippie scientist guy offhandedly informed Elizabeth that his research is funded by a company that hopes to sell his super-wheat for profit. I interpreted her reaction as a mini-revelation, as in "maybe this whole capitalism thing isn't so bad after all." Also, more than once this season, a…

You just blew my mind.

Wow, I didn't know that until now. J.D. from the University of Chicago. Talk about squandering a good education.

Mike, I may not agree with what you said, but I'll fight to the death to preserve your right to say it.