Elizabeth has a huge workload including some quite difficult missions.
This is a strong character focussed episode that continues to present Elizabeth's commitment to fighting the Cold War whilst underlying many scenes with her black and white thinking on the subject.
The plot shows Elizabeth very busy and visually stressed whilst continuing to perform her duties. There are a number of scenes that are awkward, uncomfortable and even difficult to watch as they present a character so utterly single minded that she and her family might be heading for nothing but tragedy.
Elizabeth's dogmatic way of justifying everything for the Soviet cause has been one of the main plot drivers throughout the entire series and been a way for the writers to explore a number of psychological themes. This episode does that quite well, particularly in her scenes with Erica and one quite painfully ironic bit of dialogue between her and Paige. The final scene of the episode goes without saying so it is very intriguing to find out what the fallout will be.
I know people with this kind mindset in their blinkered approach to a perceived duty or cause. None of them are homicidal spies (hopefully), but they do have a similar tendency to put a cause or duty like work, competition, parental ambition so far above everything because they see everything in black and white. They can justify neglecting family for work because work is most important. They can spend all hours on athletic training and doing things that will eventually destroy their body because to win is everything. They can stand on the sidelines of a children's soccer match screaming at match officials because their child must succeed. Individuals in that mindset are powerfully driven, hard to change and potentially very destructive.
Sub-plots came into focus a bit more in this episode with some intrigue into whether the newly happier lives of some characters might be about to change.
All production visuals are as strong as ever with great cinematography, editing and use of music.
Keri Russell gives another superb performance in this episode and I also thought Miriam Shor was excellent in her scenes.
For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.
This is a strong character focussed episode that continues to present Elizabeth's commitment to fighting the Cold War whilst underlying many scenes with her black and white thinking on the subject.
The plot shows Elizabeth very busy and visually stressed whilst continuing to perform her duties. There are a number of scenes that are awkward, uncomfortable and even difficult to watch as they present a character so utterly single minded that she and her family might be heading for nothing but tragedy.
Elizabeth's dogmatic way of justifying everything for the Soviet cause has been one of the main plot drivers throughout the entire series and been a way for the writers to explore a number of psychological themes. This episode does that quite well, particularly in her scenes with Erica and one quite painfully ironic bit of dialogue between her and Paige. The final scene of the episode goes without saying so it is very intriguing to find out what the fallout will be.
I know people with this kind mindset in their blinkered approach to a perceived duty or cause. None of them are homicidal spies (hopefully), but they do have a similar tendency to put a cause or duty like work, competition, parental ambition so far above everything because they see everything in black and white. They can justify neglecting family for work because work is most important. They can spend all hours on athletic training and doing things that will eventually destroy their body because to win is everything. They can stand on the sidelines of a children's soccer match screaming at match officials because their child must succeed. Individuals in that mindset are powerfully driven, hard to change and potentially very destructive.
Sub-plots came into focus a bit more in this episode with some intrigue into whether the newly happier lives of some characters might be about to change.
All production visuals are as strong as ever with great cinematography, editing and use of music.
Keri Russell gives another superb performance in this episode and I also thought Miriam Shor was excellent in her scenes.
For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.
