The Americans backdrop
Crime•Drama

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!

Binge this in 10h 14m•Peaking at 9.0/10

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.

Airs on
FX
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons6

All123456

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Americans Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.3/10(4004 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Americans Season 1 Episode 2 - The Clock
    8.0/10(3034 votes)

    #2 - The Clock

    S1:E2

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Americans Season 1 Episode 3 - Gregory
    7.9/10(2815 votes)

    #3 - Gregory

    S1:E3

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Americans Season 1 Episode 4 - In Control
    8.1/10(2653 votes)

    #4 - In Control

    S1:E4

    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
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Americans Season 1 Episode 5 - COMINT
    7.9/10(2509 votes)

    #5 - COMINT

    S1:E5

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Americans Season 1 Episode 6 - Trust Me
    8.6/10(2657 votes)

    #6 - Trust Me

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Americans

    READ
  7. The Americans Season 1 Episode 7 - Duty and Honor
    7.9/10(2416 votes)

    #7 - Duty and Honor

    S1:E7

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Americans Season 1 Episode 8 - Mutually Assured Destruction
    7.9/10(2344 votes)

    #8 - Mutually Assured Destruction

    S1:E8

    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
    Writers:Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Americans Season 1 Episode 9 - Safe House
    8.4/10(2406 votes)

    #9 - Safe House

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Americans Season 1 Episode 10 - Only You
    8.3/10(2348 votes)

    #10 - Only You

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Americans Season 1 Episode 11 - Covert War
    7.9/10(2226 votes)

    #11 - Covert War

    S1:E11

    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
    Writers:Joshua Brand, Melissa James Gibson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Americans Season 1 Episode 12 - The Oath
    8.2/10(2221 votes)

    #12 - The Oath

    S1:E12

    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
    Writers:Joshua Brand, Melissa James Gibson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Americans Season 1 Episode 13 - The Colonel
    9.0/10(2884 votes)

    #13 - The Colonel

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Americans" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 4004 votes. Directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Joe Weisberg, it aired on 1/30/2013. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Clock".