‘The Americans’ season 4: Does that Paige cliffhanger do enough for you?

Last night, FX closed the book on “The Americans” season 3 in a way that will certainly be referred to as outstanding for many, and understandably so. After all, there are few series that will choose to end their season with anything close to as bold as what they did here with Paige informing Pastor Tim with the truth about her parents Philip and Elizabeth.

So why close the season in such a way? The simple answer is this: Flexibility. Think about all of the different directions that the writers and the show as a whole can go now that this secret is out there. They could opt to find a way to eliminate the Tim character, preserving the secret about Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell’s characters, but it will come at an enormous cost. However, at the same time you could go in a different direction and try to find a way to recruit Paige into the KGB, or have her come up with some excuse for “lying” to the Pastor about her parents. You could always go with the “I was young and angry” excuse, even though it wouldn’t probably fly.

The most important thing going into season 4 is that the stakes have been raised yet again, and it has happened organically and without the need to really rush into anything.

As for when the fourth season will premiere, think probably along the lines of late January / early February, otherwise known as the same exact time window as usual. Let’s take a moment here to thank FX, as well; this show is not even remotely a smash hit commercially, but they realize here that they have something so special, they are not even willing to make people think it could be in danger.