Changes: Martha Hanson

Revision as of 19:14, 26 May 2019

Martha Ann Hanson is a main character on the FX series The Americans. She is the wife of one of Philip's aliases, Clark Westerfeld. Martha was the secretary for the head of the FBI counterintelligence department (Frank Gaad), and worked in the same office as Stan Beeman and Dennis Aderholt.

In love with Clark, she agreed to plant a bug in Frank's office, which was ultimately discovered. As an investigation ensued, Philip killed and falsely implicated the office technology specialist, in order to protect her. After Stan uncovered Martha's life with Clark Westerfeld, Philip forced the KGB to exfiltrate her to the Soviet Union.

Biography

Backstory

Martha is the daughter and only child of Bill and Elaine Hanson. She lived a less-than-fulfilling romantic life, which left her vulnerable to Clark's romantic advances. She had been dumped by her high-school sweetheart after becoming pregnant (she aborted the baby), and later dated co-worker Chris Amador, about whom she said "I was more involved with him than he was with me."

Throughout the series

For over ten years, Martha worked as a secretary in the counterintelligence unit of the FBI. She was approached by Philip, who posed as Clark Westerfeld, a supposed Federal employee conducting an internal audit of her department. During their encounters, Clark is able to use romance and ultimately sex to gradually overcome her reluctance to reveal information about her job. When Clark proposes marriage, Martha agrees to put a bug in her boss Frank Gaad's office.

After the bug was discovered, Martha's job and Philip's cover began to unravel quickly. Philip revealed his true appearance to her one evening, in an attempt to comfort her. However, because she could now identify Philip, these actions ultimately meant that Martha was unable to remain in the US. They also put her at risk of being killed by the KGB if she attempted to run or talk.

Stan Beeman initially became suspicious of Martha while under questioning from Walter Taffet. He started surveilling her, and after sharing his concerns with Dennis Aderholt, the two of them engaged in increasingly intrusive activities (Dennis takes her on a date so Stan can break into her apartment and snoop around). As Philip becomes aware that Martha is growing ever more at risk of discovery by the FBI, he forces The Center's hand in exfiltrating her to Russia.

The night before her departure, Philip was honest by stating he would not be joining her later, even to visit. Martha settled in Russia where she lived alone. She attempted to learn the language, and was introduced by Volodya to an orphaned girl. Martha appears briefly towards the beginning of Season Five, in a grocery store being investigated by Oleg Burov.

Although she is neither seen nor mentioned in the final season, it can be assumed that she adopted the orphaned girl and continued to reside in the Soviet Union.

Characteristics

Personality

Martha is a conscientious worker. She complained several times about the lax security measures in the FBI counterintelligence unit. This made her vulnerable to Clark posing as a Federal employee investigating security leaks in her office.

Martha's extraordinary tolerance for and acceptance of Clark was probably not due entirely to her own loneliness or desperation for a romantic companion. On many occasions she demonstrated compassion and non-judgment towards Clark; these are likely inherent personality traits. Over time, this caused Philip to feel he could tell Martha things he struggled to admit to others or even himself.

Martha could be a fearful person; after seeing news of the Connors family murders on TV, she purchased a gun and began to take shooting lessons. Martha often panicked under stress and had a difficult time acting calmly. When she could not reach Clark while filling out a job application, she left him increasingly hysterical phone messages, and ultimately decided to list him as her husband, even when she knew that could cost him his job. Her behavior during her exfiltration could have exposed multiple people (Clark, Elizabeth, Gabriel) and sent them to jail, or even gotten her killed by those who were trying to protect her.

Motivation

Her blind love for Clark Westerfeld.

Gallery

The Americans Characters
Main Characters
Elizabeth Jennings • Henry Jennings • Paige Jennings • Philip Jennings • Stan Beeman • "Clark Westerfeld"
KGB & Witting Agents
Abigail • Father Andrei • Annelise • Oleg Burov • Cal • Lucia Chena • Claudia • Emmett Connors • Jared Connors • Leanne Connors • William Crandall • Adam Dorwin • Charles Duluth • Gabriel • George • Hank • Hans • Joan • Kate • Vlad Kosygin • Nina Krilova • Major Kuznetsov • Helen Leavis • Marilyn • Robert McKenzie • Dan Murton • Reuben Ncgobo • Nikita • Vasili Nikolaevich • Norm • Zinaida Preobrazhenskaya • Sanford Prince • Rezident • Father Rivas • Ruslan • Irina Semenova • Captain Staponov • Gregory Thomas • Fred Timbrook • Nikolai Timoshev • Anatoli Victorovich • Volodya • Tatiana Vyazemtseva • Viktor Zhukov • Arkady Zotov
FBI
Agent Aderholt • Agent Amador • Agent Batholomew • Bernadette • Agent Brooks • Gene Craft • Agent Delluva • Agent Gaad • Agent Ganzel • Agent Halliwell • Martha Hanson • Agent Hill • Agent James • Agent Loeb • Mail Robot • Agent Milbank • Mike Orndorff • Agent Pedersen • Agent Samuels • Agent Wolfe
Recurring Characters
Janine Aderholt • Alice • Arthur • Anton Baklanov • Jackson Barber • Matthew Beeman • Sandra Beeman • Isaac Breland • Kimberly Breland • Alexander Burov • Elina Burova • Igor Burov • Yelena Burova • Yevgeny Burov • Sofia Bystrova • Carl • Chris • Claire Louise • Curtis • Bruce Dameran • Deputy Attorney General • Tuan Eckert • Elizabeth's Mother • Erica • Lydia Formina • Linh Gaad • Martin Gurrin • Bill Hanson • Elaine Hanson • Erica Haskard • Glenn Haskard • Howard • Ilia • Jackie • Viola Johnson • Kelli • Deirdre Kemp • Kendall • Lacey • Andrew Larrick • Lawrence • Lisa • Maurice • Patrick McCleesh • Alexei Morozov • Evgheniya Morozova • Pasha Morozov • Brad Mullin • Nancy • Neal • Fyodor Nesterenko • Ted Paaswell • Pastor Tim • Richard Patterson • Paul • Yousaf Rana • Lewis Rendell • Lyle Rennhull • Rick • Ekaterina Rikova • Mischa Semenov • Dmitri Sharanov • Don Seong • Young-Hee Seong • Evi Sneijder • Stavos • Benjamin Stobert • Walter Taffet • Thomas • Todd • Tori • Vaso • Eugene Venter • Wade • Mrs. Weinberger • Yossi • Zach
Minor Characters
Aaron • Abby • Calvin Aderholt • Albert • Alejandro • C. Aman • Jacob Baklanov • Stuart Batlet • Errol Bengoster • Andrzej Bielawski • Boris • Jeremy Branch • Brian • Charlotte • Randy Chilton • Jerry Clancy • Clark • Amelia Connors • Derek • Dmitri • Ray Fucci • Rabbi Gittelsen • John Granholm • Grayson • M. Hanley • Kevin Jeffries • Jenny • General Kovtun • Lana • Gary Lia • Matteen and Salar • Betsy McLellan • Nick • Nicole • Roy Oatway • Olya • Rich Perkins • Javid Pervez • K Portman • Anna Prokopchuk • Pyotr • Joyce Ramirez • Raymond • Rich • Thane Rosenbloom • Sarah • David Sato • Kurt Schultz • Robert Semel • Fyodor Semenov • Shane • John Skeevers • Dana Simon • Major Stoddard • Alan Streiter • Tamara • Bob Tanner • Christy Tanner • Terrified Busboy • Edgar Thompson • Tom • Tony • Andy Turner • Betty Turner • Evan Urqhardt • Father Viktor • Vince • Abassin Zadran • Zev
Historical Characters
Yuri Andropov • Marion Barry • George H W Bush • Konstantin Chernenko • Mikhail Gorbachev • Alexander Haig • Nikita Khrushchev • Vladimir Lenin • Sam Nunn • Ronald Reagan • Joseph Stalin • Caspar Weinberger

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox_character
 |name = Martha Hanson
 |image = File:Americans-martha-hanson.jpg
 |Portrayed By = [[Alison Wright]]
+|Age = 30s
-|Occupation = FBI Counterintelligence Secretary
+|Occupation = FBI Counterintelligence Secretary<br>
-|Status = Exfiltrated to Soviet Union
+|Spouse = [[Philip's disguises|Clark Westerfeld]] ([[Philip Jennings]])
-|First Appearance = "[[Pilot]]"|Episode Count = 47|Last Seen = "[[The Midges]]"}}'''Martha Ann Hanson''' is a main character on the FX series ''[[The Americans]]''. She is the wife of one of [[Philip Jennings]]'s aliases, [[Philip Jennings|Clark Westerfeld]]. Martha was the secretary for the head of the FBI counterintelligence department ([[Frank Gaad]]), and workied in the same office as [[Stan Beeman]] and [[Dennis Aderholt]].
+|Children = [[Olya]] (adopted daughter)
+|Other Family = [[Bill Hanson]] (father), [[Elaine Hanson]] (mother), Alexandra ([[Claudia]]) (mother in law), Jennifer ([[Elizabeth Jennings]]) (sister in law)
+|Status = Alive
+Exfiltrated to Soviet Union
+|Episode Count = 47
+|First Appearance = "[[Pilot]]"
+|Last Seen = "[[The Soviet Division]]"
+}}'''Martha Ann Hanson''' is a main character on the FX series ''[[The Americans]]''. She is the wife of one of [[Philip Jennings|Philip's]] aliases, [[Philip's disguises#Appearances|Clark Westerfeld]]. Martha was the secretary for the head of the FBI counterintelligence department ([[Frank Gaad]]), and worked in the same office as [[Stan Beeman]] and [[Dennis Aderholt]].
-In love with Clark, she agreed to plant a bug in Frank's office, which was ultimately discovered. As an investigation ensued, [[List of Deaths on The Americans|Philip killed]] and falsely implicated the [[Gene|office technology specialist]], In order to protect his asset (Martha). Martha called in sick during the investigation, leading Stan to begin searching for her. After Stan uncovered Martha's life with Clark Westerfeld, Philip forced the KGB to exfiltrate her to the Soviet Union.
+In love with Clark, she agreed to plant a bug in Frank's office, which was ultimately discovered. As an investigation ensued, [[List of Deaths on The Americans|Philip killed]] and falsely implicated the [[Gene|office technology specialist]], in order to protect her. After Stan uncovered Martha's life with Clark Westerfeld, Philip forced the KGB to exfiltrate her to the Soviet Union.
 ==Biography==
-=== Backstory ===
+===Backstory===
 <span>Martha is the daughter and only child of [[Bill Hanson|Bill]] and [[Elaine Hanson|Elaine]] Hanson. She lived a less-than-fulfilling romantic life, which left her vulnerable to Clark's romantic advances. She had been dumped by her high-school sweetheart after becoming pregnant (she aborted the baby), and later dated co-worker [[Chris Amador]], about whom she said "I was more involved with him than he was with me."</span>
 === Throughout the series ===
-For over ten years, Martha worked as a secretary in the counterintelligence unit of the FBI. [[Pilot|She was approached]] by Philip, who posed as [[Philip Jennings|Clark Westerfeld]], a supposed Federal employee conducting an internal audit of her department. During their first several encounters, Clark is able to use romance and ultimately sex to gradually overcome her reluctance to reveal information about her job. [[The Oath|When Clark proposes marriage]], Martha agrees to put a bug in her boss [[Frank Gaad]]'s office.
+For over ten years, Martha worked as a secretary in the counterintelligence unit of the FBI. [[Pilot|She was approached]] by Philip, who posed as [[Philip Jennings|Clark Westerfeld]], a supposed Federal employee conducting an internal audit of her department. During their encounters, Clark is able to use romance and ultimately sex to gradually overcome her reluctance to reveal information about her job. [[The Oath|When Clark proposes marriage]], Martha agrees to put a bug in her boss [[Frank Gaad]]'s office.
-After [[Walter Taffet (Episode)|the bug was discovered]], Martha's job and Phillip's cover began to unravel quickly. [[I Am Abassin Zadran|Phillip revealed his true appearance to her one evening]], in an attempt to comfort her after informing her that [[March 8, 1983|he killed]] the [[Gene|technology specialist]] in order to protect her. However, because she could now identify Phillip, his actions ultimately meant that Martha was unable to remain in the US. They also put her at risk of being killed by the KGB if she attempted to run or talk.
+After [[Walter Taffet (Episode)|the bug was discovered]], Martha's job and Philip's cover began to unravel quickly. [[I Am Abassin Zadran|Philip revealed his true appearance to her one evening]], in an attempt to comfort her. However, because she could now identify Philip, these actions ultimately meant that Martha was unable to remain in the US. They also put her at risk of being killed by the KGB if she attempted to run or talk.
-[[Stan Beeman]] initially became suspicious of Martha [[Stingers|while under questioning]] from [[Walter Taffet]]. He started surveilling her, and after sharing his concerns with [[Dennis Aderholt]], the two of them engaged in increasingly intrusive activities ([[Chloramphenicol|Dennis takes her on a date so Stan can break into her apartment and snoop around]]). As Phillip becomes aware that Martha is growing evermore at risk of discovery by the FBI, he forces [[The Center]]'s hand in exfiltrating her to Russia.
+[[Stan Beeman]] initially became suspicious of Martha [[Stingers|while under questioning]] from [[Walter Taffet]]. He started surveilling her, and after sharing his concerns with [[Dennis Aderholt]], the two of them engaged in increasingly intrusive activities ([[Chloramphenicol|Dennis takes her on a date so Stan can break into her apartment and snoop around]]). As Philip becomes aware that Martha is growing ever more at risk of discovery by the FBI, he forces [[The Center]]'s hand in exfiltrating her to Russia.
-Martha left the US shortly after learning Phillip was working for KGB. The night before her departure, he was honest with her for the first time by stating he would not be joining her later, even to visit. Martha settled in Russia where she lived alone but was taught how to speak the language, soon getting to grips with it, while Gabriel kept an eye on her. Introduced by [[Volodya]] to [[Olya|an orphaned girl]]; it is implied she ultimately adopts her. Martha appears briefly towards the beginning of [[Season Five]], in a grocery store being investigated by [[Oleg Burov]].
+The night before her departure, Philip was honest by stating he would not be joining her later, even to visit. Martha settled in Russia where she lived alone. She attempted to learn the language, and was introduced by [[Volodya]] to [[Olya|an orphaned girl]]. Martha appears briefly towards the beginning of [[Season Five]], in a grocery store being investigated by [[Oleg Burov]].
 Although she is neither seen nor mentioned in the [[Season Six|final season]], it can be assumed that she adopted the orphaned girl and continued to reside in the Soviet Union.
@@ Line 30: / Line 38: @@
 Martha is a conscientious worker. She complained several times about the lax security measures in the FBI counterintelligence unit. This made her vulnerable to Clark posing as a Federal employee investigating security leaks in her office.
-Martha's extraordinary tolerance for and acceptance of Clark was probably not due entirely to her own loneliness or desperation for a romantic companion. On many occasions she demonstrated compassion and non-judgment towards Clark; these are likely inherent personality traits. Over time, this caused Phillip to feel he could tell Martha things he struggled to admit to others or even himself.
+Martha's extraordinary tolerance for and acceptance of Clark was probably not due entirely to her own loneliness or desperation for a romantic companion. On many occasions she demonstrated compassion and non-judgment towards Clark; these are likely inherent personality traits. Over time, this caused Philip to feel he could tell Martha things he struggled to admit to others or even himself.
-Martha could be a fearful person; after seeing news of the [[Comrades|Connors family murders]] on tv, she purchased a gun and began to take shooting lessons. Martha often panicked under stress and had a difficult time acting calmly. When she [[The Deal|could not reach Clark while filling out a job application]], she left him increasingly hysterical phone messages, and ultimately decided to list him as her husband, even when she knew that could cost him his job. Her behavior during her exfiltration could have exposed multiple people (Clark, Elizabeth, Gabriel) and sent them to jail, or even gotten her killed by those who were trying to protect her.
+Martha could be a fearful person; after seeing news of the [[Comrades|Connors family murders]] on TV, she purchased a gun and began to take shooting lessons. Martha often panicked under stress and had a difficult time acting calmly. When she [[The Deal|could not reach Clark while filling out a job application]], she left him increasingly hysterical phone messages, and ultimately decided to list him as her husband, even when she knew that could cost him his job. Her behavior during her exfiltration could have exposed multiple people (Clark, [[Elizabeth Jennings|Elizabeth]], [[Gabriel]]) and sent them to jail, or even gotten her killed by those who were trying to protect her.
 === Motivation ===
-Her blind love for [[Philip Jennings|Clark Westerfeld]].
+Her blind love for [[Philip's disguises|Clark Westerfeld]].
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+S01E01-Clark and Martha.jpg
+S01E11-With_the_Hansons.jpg
+S02E05-Martha Liz.jpg
+S02E13-Robot1.jpg
+Glanders Episode 11.jpg
+S04E08-Martha_on_plane.jpg
+The Midges Episode Martha shopping.jpg
+S05E09-Gabriel and Martha.jpg
+IHOP Episode Martha.jpg
+</gallery>
+{{Character Nav}}
 [[Category:FBI]]
 [[Category:KGB Informants]]
@@ Line 45: / Line 68: @@
 [[Category:Season 4 Characters]]
 [[Category:Americans]]
+[[Category:Characters]]
+[[Category:Images of Martha Hanson]]
+[[Category:Recurring Character]]