During the Cold War, espionage is in full swing and doesn’t stop at the backyard fence. You can currently stream what is arguably the best spy series of all time on Disney+.
The Americans on Disney+ is an intense spy thriller that manages to surprise in new ways over the course of six seasons. Series creator Joseph Weisberg (The Patient) has succeeded in staging a complex topic in a gripping way.
Terrific espionage thriller on Disney+: This is what The Americans is about
Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) live the perfect American suburban idyll in the 80s. At least that’s what it should look like. Behind the smiling facade are two KGB agents whose job it is to gather as much information as possible for the Soviet Union.
But the supposed married couple is in crisis, because Philip longs to make their fake life come true, while Elizabeth is loyal to their mission.
Things get really dicey when Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), an FBI agent whose job it is to uncover Soviet espionage activities, moves into the house next door.
The Americans on Disney+ skillfully plays with the element of unpredictability
Although we as viewers have no illusions about who or what Elizabeth and Philipp are, not all secrets are revealed to us immediately. What makes this series so fascinating is the joy of piecing together a new enigmatic aspect of their double life, episode after episode.
It quickly becomes clear that even the Jennings don’t know everything about each other. Life as an undercover agent comes at a high price. The question of how far you’ll go for a greater good is on the table from the start and is just one of many morally disturbing topics raised.
In particular, leading actors Keri Russell (Diplomatic Relations) and Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason) skillfully balance the many facets of their characters, vividly depicting what it means to be trapped between two opposing identities.
Nostalgic spy series on Disney+: The Americans brings a dangerous era back to life
But it’s not just the authentic characters and the convincing build-up of suspense that contribute to the series’ special atmosphere. Set during the Cold War, the story impressively resurrects the 80s on camera through music, costume and set design.
In doing so, The Americans effortlessly conveys the political tensions and oppressive atmosphere that characterized this era. Gradually, we understand how these characters ended up in such a situation.
The Americans premiered on FX on January 30, 2013, and is included in the Disney+ subscription. The series comprises six seasons with a total of 75 episodes.
