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The Best Episodes of The Americans Season 1

Every episode of The Americans Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Americans Season 1!

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...
Genres:CrimeDrama
Network:FX

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Americans" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 3711 votes. Directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Joe Weisberg, it aired on 1/30/2013. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "The Clock".

  • Pilot
    8.2/103,711 votes

    #1 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/30/2013

    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

  • The Clock
    8.0/102,817 votes

    #2 - The Clock

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 2/6/2013

    When Philip and Elizabeth are given an urgent task to plant a bug in Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger's office, they risk exposure when an unwilling maid of the Weinberger home refuses to cooperate. Stan closes in on a member of the Soviet Rezidentura in an effort to uncover the identities of deep cover Directorate S operatives.

    Director: Adam Arkin

    Writer: Joe Weisberg

  • Gregory
    7.9/102,619 votes

    #3 - Gregory

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/13/2013

    Philip and Elizabeth discover that their murdered colleague Robert had a wife they never knew about. As they try to determine what she knows and where her allegiance lies, Stan's investigation into Robert's death puts him hot on their trail.

    Director: Thomas Schlamme

    Writer: Joel Fields

  • In Control
    8.1/102,465 votes

    #4 - In Control

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/20/2013

    When an assassin attempts to kill President Reagan, Philip and Elizabeth scramble to handle the fallout within the KGB. Meanwhile, Stan pressures his source within the Rezidentura to find out if the KGB was responsible for the attempted assassination.

    Director: Jean de Segonzac

    Writer: Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields

  • COMINT
    7.9/102,326 votes

    #5 - COMINT

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/27/2013

    A crucial agent crumbles under emotional distress and threatens to topple a valuable network of KGB informants. Professionally, Philip and Elizabeth are tasked with infiltrating the FBI's new communications encryption system while personally they are forced to grapple with one of the darker aspects of life as a spy.

    Director: Holly Dale

    Writer: Melissa James Gibson

  • Trust Me
    8.6/102,475 votes

    #6 - Trust Me

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 3/6/2013

    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

  • Duty and Honor
    7.9/102,250 votes

    #7 - Duty and Honor

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/13/2013

    Philip and Elizabeth's troubled marriage is further tested when a mission to discredit a Polish pro-democracy leader reunites Philip with his old flame.

    Director: Alex Chapple

    Writer: Joshua Brand

  • Mutually Assured Destruction
    7.9/102,176 votes

    #8 - Mutually Assured Destruction

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/20/2013

    Philip and Elizabeth must stop an assassin from taking out key US scientists, while Stan and the FBI hunt the same man. Grannie shocks Elizabeth with the truth of what happened between Philip and Irina in New York.

    Director: Bill Johnson

    Writer: Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields

  • Safe House
    8.4/102,225 votes

    #9 - Safe House

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 4/3/2013

    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

  • Only You
    8.3/102,177 votes

    #10 - Only You

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 4/10/2013

    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

  • Covert War
    7.9/102,063 votes

    #11 - Covert War

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 4/17/2013

    Events in Moscow strike a personal chord for Elizabeth, leading her to take on a dangerous mission she can't complete without Philip's help, and placing the couple on a collision course with both Grannie and the FBI.

    Director: Nicole Kassell

    Writer: Melissa James Gibson, Joshua Brand

  • The Oath
    8.2/102,055 votes

    #12 - The Oath

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 4/24/2013

    One of Elizabeth's agents has key intel for sale, but she and Philip find themselves taking increasingly greater risks for what could well be a set-up. Meanwhile, Stan's pursuit of Directorate S suddenly begins to yield unexpected results.

    Director: John Dahl

    Writer: Melissa James Gibson, Joshua Brand

  • The Colonel
    9.0/102,672 votes

    #13 - The Colonel

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 5/1/2013

    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

    Writer: Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields