We are thrilled to have had such a great introduction to the world of His Dark Materials this week! Seeing Lyra, Lord Asriel, the Master, the Gyptians, and of course Mrs. Coulter made us so happy! Plus: Pan and Stelmaria and that darn monkey daemon! Of course, this is S01E01 “Lyra’s Jordan”! It aired on November 4, 2019 on HBO, was written by Jack Thorne and directed by Tom Hooper. We have a few choice news items for you this week, beginning with Deadline profiling co-showrunner Bad Wolf’s Jane ...
Nov 16, 2019•1 hr 33 min
Welcome to Lyra’s world! We are Sara and Chip, hosts of the podcast Watching The Americans, which explored the world of Soviet spycraft in the 1980s on FX’s “The Americans”. Now we are turning to another place and time, that of our heroine Lyra Belacqua, and the adventures that lie ahead for her in the HBO/BBC series “His Dark Materials”. Every week our annotated podcast will do a deep dive into this strange new world, including scene breakdowns, extensive commentary on dialogue, plot, and chara...
Nov 16, 2019•19 min
Tovarishchi! After six amazing, incredible, and ultimately beautifully heartbreaking seasons, The Americans is done. There is so much richness in this show, and we want to take one last look at it all. To do so, we have our roundtable friends Kathleen (aka alternakat), Barb, Roland, & Chris to join the fun! We reflect on the series, compare the pilot to the finale, and discuss everything from favorite characters and scenes to best disguises and wigs of all time! Even though The Americans is ...
Jun 13, 2018•2 hr 2 min
The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 129 and contains our bonus feedback. Please check out Episode 127 to get the news and our episo...
Jun 08, 2018•1 hr 44 min
The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 128 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and part one of feedback. Please check out Ep...
Jun 05, 2018•1 hr 35 min
The Americans, our collective passion for 6 years, has finally come to an end. And what an ending! No one dies, yet everyone suffers mightily. A fitting conclusion to one of the best television shows in the modern era! Of course we could go on and on about S06E10 “START”, which aired on May 30, 2018. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 127 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of ...
Jun 04, 2018•1 hr 19 min
It was a gathering, a party (not communist exactly!), and a little bit of our The Americans community together at the end. The bitter and the sweet mingled as we ground our teeth, yelled out, and shed a few tears as the best show on TV came to its brilliant conclusion. Join us as the folks who could come to Raleigh introduce themselves, tell us their hopes for the show, and react immediately after the conclusion. Then we get back together the next morning and reflect on the episode after we coul...
Jun 03, 2018•1 hr 12 min
What can we say about the awesomeness that is our friend Kelly AuCoin? He got us started as our very first interviewee and then connected us with other with people working on The Americans! So who better to be the last of our series? Kelly shares his thoughts about Pastor Tim’s appearance this week, his place overall in The Americans, and his thoughts about the series as a whole. He also answers your questions and comments, and he talks a bit about the great arc for Dollar Bill on Season 3 of Sh...
May 30, 2018•1 hr 7 min
Could we be any more tense than we were this week? Could we have yelled at the TV any more? Could Philip be The Flash in an alternate universe? Well, The Americans universe is imploding, more characters are dying, and we are freaked out and exhausted by the end of S06E09 “Jennings, Elizabeth”! The penultimate episode of the best show on television aired May 23, 2018, was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 124 and contains our history, ...
May 29, 2018•1 hr 45 min
Could we be any more tense than we were this week? Could we have yelled at the TV any more? Could Philip be The Flash in an alternate universe? Well, The Americans universe is imploding, more characters are dying, and we are freaked out and exhausted by the end of S06E09 “Jennings, Elizabeth”! The penultimate episode of the best show on television aired May 23, 2018, was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 123 and contains the news and ...
May 27, 2018•1 hr 31 min
The end is nigh and the deck is clearing! So this week we have some major unexpected revelations from the start! Shocking twists! A mercy killing! A not killing! Has Philip finally gotten through to the human being in Elizabeth? Are they done for? And Claudia is evil. Again! So much to digest in a super-sized episode! It’s The Americans Season 6 Episode 8 “The Summit”, which aired May 16, 2018. It was written by Joshua Brand and directed by series veteran Sylvain White. This is Episode 122 and c...
May 22, 2018•1 hr 43 min
The end is nigh and the deck is clearing! So this week we have some major unexpected revelations from the start! Shocking twists! A mercy killing! A not killing! Has Philip finally gotten through to the human being in Elizabeth? Are they done for? And Claudia is evil. Again! So much to digest in a super-sized episode! It’s The Americans Season 6 Episode 8 “The Summit”, which aired May 16, 2018. It was written by Joshua Brand and directed by series veteran Sylvain White. This is Episode 121 and c...
May 21, 2018•1 hr 15 min
You knew we had to have at least one more gruesome spy thing, didn’t you? Well we sure did this week, along with Stan’s spidey-sense kicking in, Dennis’s frustration, and Elizabeth remaining winless this season! At least Philip was there to prevent an even worse outcome. Plus: Harvest meets the scythe and Marilyn meets the axe! All this and Erica, Henry and Paige too in The Americans Season 6 Episode 7 “Harvest”, which aired May 9, 2018. It was written by newcomer Sarah Nolen and directed by Ste...
May 16, 2018•1 hr 31 min
You knew we had to have at least one more gruesome spy thing, didn’t you? Well we sure did this week, along with Stan’s spidey-sense kicking in, Dennis’s frustration, and Elizabeth remaining winless this season! At least Philip was there to prevent an even worse outcome. Plus: Harvest meets the scythe and Marilyn meets the axe! All this and Erica, Henry and Paige too in The Americans Season 6 Episode 7 “Harvest”, which aired May 9, 2018. It was written by newcomer Sarah Nolen and directed by Ste...
May 14, 2018•1 hr 9 min
It has taken almost six seasons, and now Henry finally takes center stage! Maybe the only reason he isn’t completely messed up is because the family left him alone all this time! It’s Thanksgiving and we see almost everyone left back together for a meal at the Beemans! Things are starting to look dicey for the Russians, and just when you thought they might finally be done, Philip and Elizabeth may not be! All this and more are in The Americans Season 6 Episode 6 “Rififi” which aired May 2, 2018....
May 09, 2018•1 hr 37 min
It has taken almost six seasons, and now Henry finally takes center stage! Maybe the only reason he isn’t completely messed up is because the family left him alone all this time! It’s Thanksgiving and we see almost everyone left back together for a meal at the Beemans! Things are starting to look dicey for the Russians, and just when you thought they might finally be done, Philip and Elizabeth may not be! All this and more are in The Americans Season 6 Episode 6 “Rififi” which aired May 2, 2018....
May 07, 2018•1 hr 14 min
This is probably the first time since the death of Nina that we were left completely speechless by an episode of The Americans! Things are really coming apart at the seams, in every sense in every relationship, from Gennadi and Sofia to Paige, Elizabeth and Philip. We got a surprising and bitter return of Tatiana confronting Oleg! And the turn in the Kimmy and Jim relationship was unbearable. Top that off with Philip making a stand and you have one of the most amazing episodes in six seasons! Tr...
May 02, 2018•1 hr 26 min
This is probably the first time since the death of Nina that we were left completely speechless by an episode of The Americans! Things are really coming apart at the seams, in every sense in every relationship, from Gennadi and Sofia to Paige, Elizabeth and Philip. We got a surprising and bitter return of Tatiana confronting Oleg! And the turn in the Kimmy and Jim relationship was unbearable. Top that off with Philip making a stand and you have one of the most amazing episodes in six seasons! Tr...
Apr 30, 2018•1 hr 15 min
We thought last week was the most depressing episode yet of The Americans. Well, we were wrong! Nothing goes right this week, from travel agency finances and fancy school payments to sensor heists to trips to watch a World Series Game 6! And Philip can’t even get a snuggle from Elizabeth! Sadness abounds in The Americans Season 6 Episode 4 “Mr. and Mrs. Teacup” which aired April 18, 2018. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 114 and contains our history...
Apr 25, 2018•1 hr 34 min
We thought last week was the most depressing episode yet of The Americans. Well, we were wrong! Nothing goes right this week, from travel agency finances and fancy school payments to sensor heists to trips to watch a World Series Game 6! And Philip can’t even get a snuggle from Elizabeth! Sadness abounds in The Americans Season 6 Episode 4 “Mr. and Mrs. Teacup” which aired April 18, 2018. It was written by Peter Ackerman and directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 113 and contains the news an...
Apr 23, 2018•1 hr 8 min
Can Philip have a sadder face? He outdoes himself this week! Plus, Elizabeth gets to kill someone. Wha? And the Oleg-Stan bromance recommences! It awaits us in The Americans Season 6 Episode 3 “Urban Transport Planning” which aired April 11, 2018. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Dan Attias. This is Episode 112 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 111 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. We had to re...
Apr 18, 2018•1 hr 34 min
Can Philip have a sadder face? He outdoes himself this week! Plus, Elizabeth gets to kill someone. Wha? And the Oleg-Stan bromance recommences! It awaits us in The Americans Season 6 Episode 3 “Urban Transport Planning” which aired April 11, 2018. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Dan Attias. This is Episode 111 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 112. We have three...
Apr 16, 2018•1 hr 18 min
The fast-paced opening of Season 6 shifts into a more deliberate and devolving state for poor overworked Elizabeth! Philip loses a client, and Paige gets musical! We also get Stan: marriage counselor? Plus: FBI Mailbot makes his triumphant return! It’s all in The Americans Season 6 Episode 2 “Tchaikovsky” which aired April 4, 2018. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and was directed by Matthew Rhys. This is Episode 110 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, an...
Apr 11, 2018•1 hr 3 min
The fast-paced opening of Season 6 shifts into a more deliberate and devolving state for poor overworked Elizabeth! Philip loses a client, and Paige gets musical! We also get Stan: marriage counselor? Plus: FBI Mailbot makes his triumphant return! It’s all in The Americans Season 6 Episode 2 “Tchaikovsky” which aired April 4, 2018. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and was directed by Matthew Rhys. This is Episode 109 and contains the news and our episode breakdown ...
Apr 09, 2018•1 hr 15 min
Season 6 of The Americans is finally here! What are the Jennings wearing? Katie Irish, Costume Designer for the show knows all! Katie returns to answer our questions about the costumes in Season 6, fashion in the 1980s, and more! And of course she answers your wardrobe questions! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (we have replaced the operator!) at 919-907-0542. Follow u...
Apr 06, 2018•56 min
And so it begins…the last Season of The Americans! What a debut for us this week – we jump back to the future three years and enter a world familiar yet changed. We check in with the gang – Stan & Dennis, Oleg, and of course the Jennings. Plus we have surprising returns including Claudia and Arkady! And things aren’t looking so hot for Philip and Elizabeth who have diverged over the interim. It took a plus-sized show to set us up and we get one in The Americans Season 6 Episode 1 “Dead Hand”...
Apr 04, 2018•1 hr 7 min
And so it begins…the last Season of The Americans! What a debut for us this week – we jump back to the future three years and enter a world familiar yet changed. We check in with the gang – Stan & Dennis, Oleg, and of course the Jennings. Plus we have surprising returns including Claudia and Arkady! And things aren’t looking so hot for Philip and Elizabeth who have diverged over the interim. It took a plus-sized show to set us up and we get one in The Americans Season 6 Episode 1 “Dead Hand”...
Apr 02, 2018•1 hr 20 min
Tovarischi! The debut of the final season of The Americans is here at long last! Before we start our regular shows, we have finished our rewatch of the entire series and asked some of our long-term audio contributors to help us break down Seasons 4 and 5 and speculate about Season 6! Joining us this time are our friends and co-hosts Kathleen (aka alternakat), Roland, & Barb who help us go through themes. characters and major plot points from the first three seasons of our favorite show! We l...
Mar 29, 2018•1 hr 34 min
We are getting so close to the debut of the last season of The Americans, tovarischi! To prepare, we reached out to the man who gave us our first interview, our good friend Kelly AuCoin aka Pastor Tim! Kelly reveals nothing (don’t worry J’s!) about Season 6, and he does so in such entertaining fashion that you won’t mind a bit! Plus, he responds to your questions and comments and teases us a bit for his role as the nefarious Dollar Bill on Season 3 of Showtime’s “Billions”! We love to hear your ...
Mar 28, 2018•56 min
Tovarischi! We are closing in on the debut of the final season of The Americans! So we started a rewatch of the entire series and asked some of our long-term audio contributors to help us break down Seasons 1-3! Joining us this time are our friends and co-hosts Kathleen (aka alternakat), Roland, & Chris who help us go through themes. characters and major plot points from the first three seasons of our favorite show! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us!...
Feb 22, 2018•1 hr 39 min
