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"We want you to find out what your wife is doing and tell us. And if you have to, stop her." Oleg Burov to Philip

Dead Hand is the season premiere of the final season of The Americans on FX, and the sixty-sixth episode overall.

Synopsis[]

It’s autumn 1987 and as a major arms control summit looms, Elizabeth is pushed to her limits as never before. Meanwhile, Philip has settled into running the newly expanded travel agency – until an unexpected visitor makes a disquieting request.

Plot[]

In the fall of 1987, Philip has devoted his efforts full-time to managing an expanded Dupont Circle Travel. Elizabeth is exhausted and resentful from handling a full KGB caseload alone. She smokes constantly. Paige is a student at George Washington University and also a Soviet agent in training. Henry attends St. Edward's Academy and is a star hockey player for the school. Stan has married Renee and transferred out of FBI counterintelligence, except for handling the now-married Sofia and Gennadi. Agent Aderholt is the head of counterintelligence. (♫ Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over ♫) Philip heads to St. Edward's to watch Henry play hockey but Elizabeth is too busy with work to go.

Dead Hand episode movie posters
Philip's new car.

Dead Hand episode Elizabeth
Elizabeth exhausted.

TA - 6.1-3 FULL
Paige surveiling as "Julie."

S06E01-Henry hockey
#9 - Jennings.


At Claudia's safe house, she, Paige and Elizabeth watch a Russian movie. Paige leaves and Claudia give Elizabeth orders from the Center to travel to Mexico City to meet with a General Kovtun of the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces. Claudia claims to not know what the meeting is about. In Moscow, Arkady, now deputy chief of Directorate S and a Gorbachev supporter, approaches Oleg, who now works for his father, Igor, at the Ministry of Transportation. Oleg is married with an infant son. Detailing that the KGB is divided in its support for Gorbachev, he appeals to Oleg to undertake a mission to the US to discover Elizabeth's activities for the anti-Gorbachev KGB faction by using Philip.



Dead Hand episode7.38.47 PM
You're lucky they didn't shoot you.
Kovtun tells Elizabeth about "Dead Hand," a nuclear doomsday device, and the KGB's plan to overthrow Gorbachev if it is traded for the US "Star Wars" program at an upcoming arms summit. (♫ Peter Gabriel - We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) ♫) Kovtun asks Elizabeth to spy on Soviet negotiator Fyodor Nesterenko, who is meeting with American negotiators including Glenn Haskard. In order to complete "Dead Hand", American technology will need to be stolen. Kovtun also gives Elizabeth a necklace containing a cyanide pill to take if captured. Philip gives the staff of the agency a pep talk, lauding the personal touches Lacey and Rick use in their pitches to clients.



S06E01-Liz and Kovtun
You can't be arrested.
Philip, Elizabeth and Paige have dinner at Stan's with Renee, Agent Aderholt, his wife Janine and baby son, Calvin. Stan and Paige argue about politics and discuss Henry's hockey prowess. After dinner, in private, Elizabeth hears Renee asking Janine about Gennadi and Sofia, who Stan is still running as sources with Aderholt. In Moscow, Oleg has decided to accept Arkady's mission, much to the dismay of his wife, Elina. Saying his mission will make a better future for Russia and his son, Elina sobs and doesn't believe he'll return. Oleg arrives in Washington while Elizabeth surveils the negotiators. Later, while posing as "Stephanie", a home nurse, Elizabeth brings dinner to Haskard's home where she is taking care of his wife, Erica, who is an artist and is terminally ill. (♫ Talking Heads - Listening Wind ♫)



S06E01-Dinner
I can handle a college student.
Relieving "Colleen", "Stephanie" looks at one of Erica's paintings and says she's not into art. In order to foster comradery at work, Philip has the staff of Dupont Circle Travel, including Stavos, Rick and Lacey join him for weekly country line dancing nights. (♫ Mel McDaniel - Louisiana Saturday Night ♫) "Stephanie" checks on a sleeping Erica and stares at one of her paintings. Oleg leaves a chalk mark on the side of a mail box. Driving to work the next morning, Philip sees the meeting signal Oleg left on the mail box. (♫ Fleetwood Mac - Gold Dust Woman ♫) Paige is part of the team surveiling the negotiators which includes Hank, Marilyn and Norm. Thinking about the signal, Philip tells Stavos he's leaving work early and picks up a dead drop left by Oleg.



S06E01-Line Dancing
Stavos' first time line dancing.
While Paige is on a surveillance detail, a young U.S. security officer tries to coerce her for a date by taking her fake college ID. Paige tells Elizabeth about the incident and she lies to Paige that it's not a concern. Elizabeth then stabs Hanley in the neck and recovers the ID. Having decoded the message in the dead drop, Oleg and a disguised Philip meet. Oleg tells him about the anti-Gorbachev faction in the KGB and appeals to Philip's patriotism. Saying he wants Philip to report on what Elizabeth is doing and stop her if necessary, Oleg tells Philip he has no immunity and is risking everything for a better Russia. Philip doesn't want to betray his wife and start spying again. Oleg says he'll wait to hear from him. That night, Philip expresses his concern for the toll spying is taking on Elizabeth and tries to tell her about meeting with Oleg. She won't listen to him and goes to bed.



S06E01-Liz kills Hanley
Elizabeth covers for Paige.

Notes[]

Music[]

Song Title Performer(s)
Don't Dream It's Over Crowded House
Quince Años Chilo Escobedo
We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) Peter Gabriel
Listening Wind Talking Heads
Louisiana Saturday Night Mel McDaniel
Gold Dust Woman Fleetwood Mac


Season Six
#601 "Dead Hand" #606 "Rififi"
#602 "Tchaikovsky" #607 "Harvest"
#603 "Urban Transport Planning" #608 "The Summit"
#604 "Mr. and Mrs. Teacup" #609 "Jennings, Elizabeth"
#605 "The Great Patriotic War" #610 "START"
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