Starring: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernandez, Noah Emmerich, Margo Martindale
Number of discs: 3
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes
Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Last year, I received a lot of emails and press releases from FX for their new show “The Americans”. I didn’t really give it a second look. Then a buddy of mine that never recommends any TV or movies to me says that he was obsessed with this show and I thought “Wait a second, I might need to check this show out”. Well, I am glad I did because is thrilling, smart and comes packed with a fantastic cast. Now that I am hooked on this series, I will be anxiously waiting the second season premiere on February 26, 2014.
Official Premise: Secrets can be deadly in this suspenseful thriller about undercover Russian spies in 1980s Washington, D.C. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) seem to be a typical suburban couple, but they’re actually lethal KGB agents plotting to bring down America. As the Cold War escalates, Philip and Elizabeth must take extreme measures to continue their mission and keep their true identities hidden. But when an FBI agent moves in across the street, they become ensnared in a pulse-pounding game of cat and mouse.
“The Americans” looks really sharp on Blu-ray. I love the cinematography in this show. It is show very well. The 1080p transfers really are awesome for these episodes which transform NYC into Washington D.C. Having worked in both of these locations, I loved trying to figure out where these episodes were shot. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks are also impressive as well. Nathan Barr’s score for this show is great. It is thrilling and adds great tension to the episodes.
There are great special features included for the Blu-ray release. There is an audio commentary track for the season finale, “The Colonel”, with Joseph Weisberg, Joel Fields and Noah Emmerich. I would have loved to see a few more tracks but this episode was great and we get some great info. There are three featurettes going behind-the-scenes into the show with “Executive Order 2579: Exposing the Americans”, “Perfecting the Art of Espionage” and “Ingenuity Over Technology”. There is also a Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes included for this season.