As a huge TV fan, I remember the 2010s being such a fascinating, transitional decade. It felt like we were saying goodbye to some of the groundbreaking shows from TV’s ‘Golden Age’ – series like The Sopranos and The Wire had already finished, and others like Breaking Bad and Mad Men were wrapping up. But at the same time, it was an explosion of new content – everyone talked about ‘Peak TV’ because there were just so many scripted shows being made! And then, of course, streaming really took off, and it’s completely changed how we watch TV ever since. Honestly, with everything happening, it’s no wonder I (and probably a lot of us!) missed out on some amazing shows.
The FX series The Americans first aired on this day in 2013. Set during the Cold War, the show centered on Elizabeth and Philip Jennings (played by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys), a seemingly ordinary married couple with children who were, in reality, KGB spies. The series cleverly contrasted their covert work with their everyday suburban lives, and explored how those two worlds inevitably collided. The pilot episode, directed by Gavin O’Connor (known for Warrior and The Accountant) and written by creator Joe Weisberg (Falling Skies), was a gripping start to what became one of the best television shows ever made.
The Americans Is One Of TV’s Greatest Thrillers (With A Perfect Ending)
Despite being a critically beloved show with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Americans didn’t achieve widespread popularity. While the first season averaged 1.8 million viewers, ratings declined in later seasons. Though nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series twice, many felt it was snubbed during awards season, despite Rhys winning Best Actor for the show’s final season.
This show didn’t receive the same hype as popular thrillers like Breaking Bad or True Detective, but it’s just as compelling. The acting is superb across the board, especially from Russell, and the writing is consistently clever and concise. It expertly blends suspense, genuine emotion, and moments of humor. It’s unusual for a show to maintain such a high quality over six seasons, but this one does. While Season 5 might be a little weaker, it quickly recovers, culminating in a truly satisfying series finale – one of the best in recent years.
Is this show a tense spy story, or a moving family drama? As the characters’ pretend marriage turns genuine, and the boundaries between their personal and professional lives become increasingly unclear, the series becomes utterly captivating. The Americans is a strong contender for one of the greatest TV shows ever made. While it didn’t achieve the same widespread popularity as Breaking Bad on streaming platforms, it’s just as deserving of praise. If you haven’t seen it, or even if you have, it should be high on your list of shows to watch.
The Americans is available to stream in the U.S. on Hulu.
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2026-01-30 16:10