The Americans

:

Season 5
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 30, 2013
Season #: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 177 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 151 out of 177
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 177
  3. Negative: 13 out of 177
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User Reviews

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  1. ozymandias79
    May 30, 2017
    5
    Wow, this show has taken a swan dive into shallow water. Boring is the only word to describe season 5. The last 15 min of an episode was spent digging a hole. Was it to bury the show in? Another 15 min spent developing photos. Both fast-forward worthy. The subplot with Oleg Igorevich is more interesting. Lets see if "The Americans" goes out with a fizz in season 6.
  2. mark_sf
    May 22, 2017
    5
    Very mediocre season. There is almost no tension at all in any of the plot lines. 4 episodes to go and I have no investment in any of the characters of the outcomes. Kind of ridiculous the rating for a show is based on the first few episodes.
  3. EPMD
    May 11, 2017
    6
    I very much enjoyed Seasons 1-4. I am 9 episodes into Season 5, and it has been quite dull. The show still seems high quality, but not enough is happening. It just feels like filler to this point. The plot hasn't advanced at all, and the show's usual tension has been in short supply.
  4. gerry6992
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Such an amazing shot. It's powerful, interesting, gripping. You end up loving every scene and this premiere was beyond great. I loved how Keri and Matthew feel so real
  5. JorgeLestre
    Mar 10, 2017
    10
    'The Americans' continues to prove that it is one of the most thrilling dramas on television. Not only is the element of surprise quite endearing but also the way the narrative flows is absolutely marvelous.
  6. metaknightmare
    Apr 28, 2017
    10
    My wife and I love this show and have been watching together since we started dating. I think it is the best show on TV of its era, there is nothing else like it. The story, premise, themes and feelings are really innovative and unique compared to most television shows. Parts of it are Shakespearean while being suspenseful. With that said I have been kind of disappointed with Season 5 forMy wife and I love this show and have been watching together since we started dating. I think it is the best show on TV of its era, there is nothing else like it. The story, premise, themes and feelings are really innovative and unique compared to most television shows. Parts of it are Shakespearean while being suspenseful. With that said I have been kind of disappointed with Season 5 for the first few episodes because there seems to be not as much kinetic energy as the other seasons. Then I remember that this show never disappoints and this season is trying something new. All the best shows try something new every season and this season is a slow burner in every best way. Its a ticking bomb and everything is set up to explode and unravel by the end of it, leading us directly into a mayhem packed sixth and final season. With the extended cuts and internal conflicts only visible in the eyes, this season is slowing the show down, giving room for us to breath while embracing the remaining characters and their emotions before we witness their fate. I would recommend seeing this season after it all comes out so you can binge, the weekly watching of this "build-up season" makes you really want to see more as soon as possible. Get ready for the roller-coaster drop and an end of an era.… Expand
  7. Killsocket
    May 20, 2017
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Season 5 of The Americans is a let down to me when compared to previous seasons. I am not sure what the critics are watching but this feels like a disjointed season so far. In the grand scope of things, **SPOILER ALERT**, they dug a hole in the ground and killed someone, they killed someone before realizing the grains are being engineered to withstand insects instead of engineering insects to attack Soviet food supplies, Stan's Russian male informant is doing God-knows-what in Russia, their handler went back home, and they killed someone who they think is a traitor. Oh and Paige is a complete mess. And I am really supposed to suspend my disbelief that a child going to high school is alone enough with "flight attendent/pilot" parents not around? No one in The Americans world notices this? It feels like a meandering mess of a season when compared to previous seasons of the same show, but as harsh as this sounds, it's still a top show that I look forward to. I just hope the final season will be tighter and have a purpose.
    I just feel it is trying to do too much. There is way to much to explore before we have a 7 minute wedding scene in what appears to be a tomb, or a 4 minute montage of developing and reading pictures Paige took of Pastor's diary, track the asian kid for 6 minutes to find out he went to iHop and didn't do anything wrong, but speed by "is that lady who might be a traitor" surprise mission out of nowhere.
    Maybe I am missing something, but as a HUGE fan of the show, I am a little disappointed.    … Expand
  8. Pious24
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    The Americans starts season 5 off strong with lingering consequences from last season's finale. This show respects its viewers with good pacing and multifaceted characters.
  9. khoin
    Apr 19, 2017
    5
    I consider this series to be one of the best things I've seen on TV; however, Season 5 has disappointed. It moves way too slow and the characters haven't evolved or grown nor have any new characters been introduced worth following. That said, I am a HUGE fan of the first four seasons.
  10. PeterLuria
    Apr 12, 2017
    10
    You really can't review "The Americans" as traditional television "entertainment". In terms of acting; photography; writing and the seemingly modest musical score this is the best show to have ever appeared on television. For emotional impact and overall aesthetics (writing; directing; use of light imagery) only a few of the episodes from the original "Roots" and more recently "TheYou really can't review "The Americans" as traditional television "entertainment". In terms of acting; photography; writing and the seemingly modest musical score this is the best show to have ever appeared on television. For emotional impact and overall aesthetics (writing; directing; use of light imagery) only a few of the episodes from the original "Roots" and more recently "The Sopranos" come even close to equaling it. But really that misses the point. "The Americans" exists in a political and "moral " universe so different than anything else each individual viewer must come to his/her own conclusion. It is the television equivalent, in some sense, of "Five Easy Pieces"; an illustrated novel rather than a film or in this case a T.V. series. Anyone think I'm reading too much into the fact that the speedometer on the car Phillip and Elizabeth were using to deliver their kidnap victim for "ex-filtration" in Episode 1 read "666"? "The Possessed" by Dostoevsky ?… Expand
  11. OlivierPiel
    Mar 23, 2017
    1
    The first seasons were really good, especially Philip's existential struggles . In season 5, any pretense of realism has been thrown out of the window. Just another show you prayed would have gracefully found a satisfying ending but has, instead, extended its welcome.
    Vastly overrated at this point
  12. BobaBay
    Aug 12, 2017
    0
    This is like, honestly, one of the worst seasons I've ever seen in my entire life, and I'm honestly 78 years old. This is just so bad on so many levels that I regret ever jumping into this series. SMH.
  13. flamini1314
    Apr 30, 2017
    6
    I tried it and tried it, and the result was the same- an intelligent show with fine performances but with a tired retread spy storyline and zero characters I liked. Not one of them did I care about, so why watch? Why tune it to see people you don't like pretending to be spies with setups and situations you've seen ad nauseum? Keri Russell is about as sexy as Mrs. Howell on Gilligan'sI tried it and tried it, and the result was the same- an intelligent show with fine performances but with a tired retread spy storyline and zero characters I liked. Not one of them did I care about, so why watch? Why tune it to see people you don't like pretending to be spies with setups and situations you've seen ad nauseum? Keri Russell is about as sexy as Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island, and Matthew Rhys is so damned smug and comes off so dislikable. And Johnboy Walton? Please, he's still a marginal actor.… Expand
  14. Wabdatl
    Mar 23, 2017
    5
    Where is the tension of the past four seasons? Husband and wife; happy. Mother and daughter; somewhat more happy then anyone I have ever known. What about the neighbors? FBI and KGB seem to be getting along fairly well. Maybe there is even a wedding in the future. Surely there is tension at work; nope. Don't get me wrong, The American has been my favorite show for four seasons but this isWhere is the tension of the past four seasons? Husband and wife; happy. Mother and daughter; somewhat more happy then anyone I have ever known. What about the neighbors? FBI and KGB seem to be getting along fairly well. Maybe there is even a wedding in the future. Surely there is tension at work; nope. Don't get me wrong, The American has been my favorite show for four seasons but this is not looking good for season five. Still comrade, I will hope.… Expand
  15. olimpia
    Mar 8, 2017
    1
    I know critics are obsessed with this show but I believe this one should be the final season. The missions are getting hard to believe. They are the only survivors among the buch of soviet agents we have been introduced all these years, the CIA has "the americans"s identik and nobody recongnize them . A humble opinion, sorry. Enough for me. I ll better wait till next year to see howI know critics are obsessed with this show but I believe this one should be the final season. The missions are getting hard to believe. They are the only survivors among the buch of soviet agents we have been introduced all these years, the CIA has "the americans"s identik and nobody recongnize them . A humble opinion, sorry. Enough for me. I ll better wait till next year to see how they manage to get an end for these two.… Expand
  16. ajone
    May 10, 2017
    7
    This show used to a 10/10 every season but last season and this one---What is the obsession with the teenage whining drama plot? Everytime things start getting good they put Paige on the screen and I want to fall asleep. I just fast forward it on the DVR. So frustrating.
  17. jaasieljunior
    Feb 13, 2018
    6
    A série The Americans é uma obra - prima? Sem dúvidas, mas ao decorrer das seasons, você percebe que a série não precisa repetir fórmulas anteriores para prender a atenção do espectador.É uma série de que nem tudo que é vitorioso possa ser vista como um fracasso. É de se reerguer e ver novas possibilidades para o futuro.Contudo,se a próxima season se torna mais dramática do que essaA série The Americans é uma obra - prima? Sem dúvidas, mas ao decorrer das seasons, você percebe que a série não precisa repetir fórmulas anteriores para prender a atenção do espectador.É uma série de que nem tudo que é vitorioso possa ser vista como um fracasso. É de se reerguer e ver novas possibilidades para o futuro.Contudo,se a próxima season se torna mais dramática do que essa season, veremos a queda da série.… Expand
  18. frankrog29
    Feb 7, 2018
    7
    The Americans started off really strongly but has gradually gotten worse as it has progressed. Season 5 was a disappointment; it no longer had the excitement, tension, and suspense that the previous seasons had. I'm tempted to give season 5 a 6/10, but I wouldn't feel right doing so since the writing is still intelligent. The show is still much better than most everything on TV. Here's toThe Americans started off really strongly but has gradually gotten worse as it has progressed. Season 5 was a disappointment; it no longer had the excitement, tension, and suspense that the previous seasons had. I'm tempted to give season 5 a 6/10, but I wouldn't feel right doing so since the writing is still intelligent. The show is still much better than most everything on TV. Here's to hoping that the only reason for season 5's existence was to set the stage for an exciting season 6.… Expand
  19. jb510
    May 18, 2017
    9
    Another strong season. The Americans deliver consistently great performances and compelling and complex storylines week after week and season after season.
  20. NotAmerican
    May 31, 2017
    4
    Boring fifth season. That's all I've got to say. The show is great, the actors are good, the costumes, but the story is not there. In fact, it's not that the story is boring, the truth is: there's no plot in this season. There's seriously no point in watching it. You could jump from season 4 to season 6 without an issue.

    I'm not going to be brutal with the score, but they need to fix    Boring fifth season. That's all I've got to say. The show is great, the actors are good, the costumes, but the story is not there. In fact, it's not that the story is boring, the truth is: there's no plot in this season. There's seriously no point in watching it. You could jump from season 4 to season 6 without an issue.

    I'm not going to be brutal with the score, but they need to fix it, because the show is in mortal danger at this point.

    The young asian character said it best, they're both petty-bourgeois people at this point. And I was sold that this would be a show about the best of the best of the Soviet Union's intelligence services. And I got plots worthy of sitcoms.    … Expand
  21. LaurentV
    Jul 19, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I can only stand alongside the other reviews that state the first seasons were pure dynamite, but this Season 5 is flaccid and fizzless.

    The earlier seasons had all the quality acting/production values AND were vibrating with tension. The earlier seasons were a chess game to the death with the FBI, bamboozling poor Martha into being a spy, planting bugs on robots, watching Agent Beeman spend all day in a war room full of sketches of Philip's and Elizabeth's alter egos, then going across the street after work for a beer. Bouncing between FBI and the Russian embassy/office as each lay plans and counter plans. Chases, quick thinking, careful preparations...great!

    Now the FBI war room is bare. Beeman and Aderholt mooch around looking for some poor Russian to turn. We keep bouncing to a pointless and unconnected side story with Oleg in Moscow. I never became that connected with Oleg to care too much about his life, especially when it means nothing to the main story in Washington. The lead characters are uncertain and a bit burned out on their mission, which radiates in every non-starting episode. Annoying teenage drivel all the time. Gabriel takes half the season to leave. Philip and Elizabeth's hated former handler returns and there's no spark or flare. We have the last two episodes of the season still to watch and I really don't give a squeak fart if I see them.    … Expand
  22. rachillustrate
    May 21, 2018
    9
    Season 5 takes its time with a slower pace than previous seasons. However, this season remains strong as it focuses on and builds up its characters in preparation for the final season. Where it lacks in action and intensity, it makes up for in strong character development.
  23. All_ButTrU4
    Dec 18, 2021
    8
    Irrespective of a perceptible lag this season is nothing if not an exercise in fidelity. Despite some listless arcs and dragged plots the show feels just as relevant and exciting as anything else that year . Breathtaking performances from an ensemble cast keep it intresting enough for you to return.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best TV Season of 2017
53
#53 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
78
#78 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Mar 7, 2017
    100
    As always, The Americans does complex work that never calls attention to its complexity. The associations and connections are there if you care to make them, but the show maintains plausible deniability as a good spy should, walking briskly from scene to scene as if it’s just here to get the job done and get out.
    Read full review
  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Mar 7, 2017
    100
    Fortunately, The Americans’ fifth season succeeds in addressing our current world by being its assiduously careful self. This is still a show about how, beyond politics, beyond economics, beyond nationalism, people are people. How beautiful, and how terrifying.
    Read full review
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Mar 7, 2017
    100
    The drama remains as tense as ever, with strong, careful writing and an abundance of fine performances.
    Read full review
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