We're finally feeling The Americans’ influence
In Emmy nominations for its stars and the plots of series like Star City and The Agency, one of the best TV series of the 2010s makes its impact known.
In recent months, fans of the FX spy series The Americans have been feeling the show's influence more strongly. After rewatching the six-season drama, the author found that it still packs an intimate punch with scenes like the one where Soviet sleeper agent Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) performs impromptu dental surgery for his partner, Elizabeth (Keri Russell).
Rhys and Russell, who never received Emmy recognition until season four, are now both nominated for the show's finale. This renewed attention comes as newer series like Star City and The Agency continue to draw inspiration from The Americans' unique blend of Cold War romance and espionage. Despite the oversaturated streaming market, both Star City and The Agency have a Jennings-like ability to fly under the radar, with their chilly atmospheres better suited for the cooler months.
Star City, set in an alternate history where the USSR landed on the moon first, features Soviet characters speaking English with British accents and an arranged marriage between two cosmonauts that mirrors Philip and Elizabeth's own fake-turned-real marriage. Likewise, The Agency deals with Russia, or rather, mercenaries who work in the shadows.
The parallels between these shows and The Americans lie in their ability to generate dramatic heat from opposites-attract couples thrown into perilous situations, making them prime examples of how to get viewers invested in this type of setup.
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