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The Best Episodes of The Americans

Every episode of The Americans ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Americans!

Binge this in 2d 12h•Peaking at 9.7/10

Set during the Cold War period in the 1980s, The Americans is the story of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet KGB officers posing as an American married couple in the suburbs of Washington D.C.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Americans Season 6 Episode 10 - START
    9.7/10(6586 votes)

    S6:E10

    The Jennings face a choice that will change their lives forever.

    Director:Chris Long
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  2. The Americans Season 6 Episode 9 - Jennings, Elizabeth
    9.4/10(2594 votes)

    S6:E9

    Elizabeth wrestles with competing loyalties, and Philip has an encounter that turns into much more than he had bargained for.

    Director:Chris Long
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  3. The Americans Season 6 Episode 7 - Harvest
    9.2/10(2249 votes)

    S6:E7

    Philip and Elizabeth come together for a perilous operation unlike any they've ever had before. Stan and Henry spend a little quality time together.

    Director:Stefan Schwartz
    Writer:Sarah Nolen

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  4. The Americans Season 1 Episode 13 - The Colonel
    9.0/10(3085 votes)

    S1:E13

    When Philip and Elizabeth are ordered to go through with a meeting that could potentially be a set-up, they find themselves confronted with unexpected truths about their relationship. Stan's investigation puts him and the FBI even closer to Philip and Elizabeth.

    Director:Adam Arkin
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  5. The Americans Season 3 Episode 10 - Stingers
    9.0/10(2285 votes)

    S3:E10

    Philip and Elizabeth deploy a plan for the C.I.A.’s Mujahideen visitors. Tensions at the Jennings’ home escalate.

    Director:Larysa Kondracki
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  6. The Americans Season 6 Episode 5 - The Great Patriotic War
    9.0/10(2113 votes)

    S6:E5

    Elizabeth investigates a Russian who has been spotted with a CIA agent.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Hilary Bettis

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Americans

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  7. The Americans Season 6 Episode 8 - The Summit
    9.0/10(1994 votes)

    S6:E8

    With the arms control summit under way, a shocking revelation from Philip throws Elizabeth - and her work - into turmoil. Stan follows a dangerous hunch.

    Director:Sylvain White
    Writer:Joshua Brand

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  8. The Americans Season 2 Episode 13 - Echo
    8.9/10(2334 votes)

    S2:E13

    No one is safe as Philip and Elizabeth evacuate their children while trying to complete the mission. Stan holds Nina's future in his hands.

    Director:Daniel Sackheim
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  9. The Americans Season 4 Episode 7 - Travel Agents
    8.9/10(1987 votes)

    S4:E7

    The KGB and the FBI both race to track down a vital agent… everything is at stake.

    Director:Dan Attias
    Writer:Tanya Barfield

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  10. The Americans Season 3 Episode 9 - Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?
    8.8/10(2270 votes)

    S3:E9

    Philip and Elizabeth are tasked with planting a bug in the mail robot. Stan and Oleg hatch a risky plan to help save Nina.

    Director:Stephen Williams
    Writer:Joshua Brand

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  11. The Americans Season 4 Episode 4 - Chloramphenicol
    8.8/10(2053 votes)

    S4:E4

    A devastating flaw during a mission forces Philip, Elizabeth, William and Gabriel to confront the depths of their patriotism… and their mortality. In Russia, in striving to be a better person, has Nina put her life on the line?

    Director:Stefan Schwartz
    Writer:Tracey Scott Wilson

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  12. The Americans Season 3 Episode 13 - March 8, 1983
    8.7/10(2041 votes)

    S3:E13

    Elizabeth and Paige take a trip that lands them in treacherous territory. After an emotionally charged mission, Philip turns to an unlikely source for solace. Stan’s plan to save Nina culminates in unforeseen ways.

    Director:Daniel Sackheim
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  13. The Americans Season 4 Episode 8 - The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears
    8.7/10(1966 votes)

    S4:E8

    The Jennings’s approach their breaking points as both Philip and Elizabeth must handle loyal agents. Will they make it through with their patriotism – and sanity – intact?

    Director:Matthew Rhys
    Writer:Stephen Schiff

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  14. The Americans Season 5 Episode 11 - Dyatkovo
    8.7/10(1776 votes)

    S5:E11

    Philip and Elizabeth are assigned a revenge mission. Stan gives Henry a tour of the FBI.

    Director:Steph Green
    Writer:Joshua Brand

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  15. The Americans Season 1 Episode 6 - Trust Me
    8.6/10(2883 votes)

    S1:E6

    A mole hunt within the KGB causes suspicion amongst allies and shatters trust within the Jennings' marriage. Meanwhile, Stan's plan to keep his mole safe puts her at even greater risk of discovery.

    Director:Daniel Sackheim
    Writer:Sneha Koorse

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  16. The Americans Season 6 Episode 1 - Dead Hand
    8.6/10(2140 votes)

    S6:E1

    It’s autumn, 1987, and as a major arms control summit looms, Elizabeth is pushed to her limits as never before. Philip, meanwhile, has settled into running the newly expanded travel agency – until an unexpected visitor makes a disquieting request.

    Director:Chris Long
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

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  17. The Americans Season 6 Episode 6 - Rififi
    8.6/10(1873 votes)

    S6:E6

    A sudden assignment pulls Elizabeth away from her family at a crucial moment. At the FBI, a major development leads Aderholt to approach Stan about an urgent investigation.

    Director:Kevin Bray
    Writers:Stephen Schiff, Justin Weinberger

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  18. The Americans Season 2 Episode 9 - Martial Eagle
    8.5/10(2173 votes)

    S2:E9

    Philip and Elizabeth’s long-planned mission turns ugly, impacting each of them in different ways. Stan digs in deeper at work as his personal life continues to unravel.

    Director:Alik Sakharov
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Americans Season 3 Episode 12 - I Am Abassin Zadran
    8.5/10(1801 votes)

    S3:E12

    Martha hosts an unexpected guest. Philip and Elizabeth must work a formidable Mujahideen commander. Paige acts out.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writers:Peter Ackerman, Stuart Zicherman

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  20. The Americans Season 4 Episode 6 - The Rat
    8.5/10(1786 votes)

    S4:E6

    Martha must finally face the truth she has denied – and her life may never be the same. Plus, a chilling new development in William’s work forces the Jennings to face the realities of what a biological war would mean.

    Director:Kari Skogland
    Writer:Joshua Brand

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  21. The Americans Season 4 Episode 11 - Dinner for Seven
    8.5/10(1719 votes)

    S4:E11

    Elizabeth completes the last steps of a very personal operation… but at what cost?

    Director:Nicole Kassell
    Writer:Joshua Brand

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  22. The Americans Season 1 Episode 9 - Safe House
    8.4/10(2613 votes)

    S1:E9

    Philip and Elizabeth are put to the test when a routine mission goes horribly wrong. Stan and the FBI are pushed to their limit when one of their own goes missing.

    Director:Jim McKay
    Writer:Joshua Brand

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  23. The Americans Season 3 Episode 7 - Walter Taffet
    8.4/10(1854 votes)

    S3:E7

    Philip and Elizabeth feel the weight of a new family secret while following up on the KGB’s interests in South Africa. Stan faces struggles both at work and at home. Martha confronts a shocking development.

    Director:Noah Emmerich
    Writer:Lara Shapiro

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  24. The Americans Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.3/10(4389 votes)

    S1:E1

    The arranged marriage of Philip and Elizabeth Jennings grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War. Tensions heighten upon the arrival of a new neighbor, Stan Beeman, an FBI agent.

    Director:Gavin O'Connor
    Writer:Joe Weisberg

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  25. The Americans Season 1 Episode 10 - Only You
    8.3/10(2560 votes)

    S1:E10

    Stan pursues a lead that puts him on the trail to one of Gregory's crew members, closing the gap between him and Elizabeth, and reigniting some of the deepest conflicts between her and Philip.

    Director:Adam Arkin
    Writer:Bradford Winters

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Best Episodes Summary

"START" is the best rated episode of "The Americans". It scored 9.7/10 based on 6586 votes. Directed by Chris Long and written by Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg, it aired on 5/30/2018. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Jennings, Elizabeth".