The Americans, Season 1
For the last decade and longer, the highest quality TV series have embraced complexity, subtlety, and innovation in storytelling with impressive sophistication. The intricate plots and deep character development of these long-form dramas stand up to comparisons with great literature – but how do we “read” TV? This weekly discussion group will analyze Season One of The Americans – much in the way a book group critiques a novel. The Americans, which many critics have called “the best drama on television,” follows two Russian spies living undercover as a suburban couple in 1980s’ Washington, D.C., raising questions about the gamesmanship embedded in everyday life and within a marriage. The show’s exploration of domestic conflict is as brilliant and heartbreaking as the cold-war espionage is suspenseful. Or is it? The group’s members will share their insights and reactions. Ketchum resident Mimi Avins, who covered pop culture in her years as a staff writer for The Los Angeles Times, will lead the discussion. Each session will explore several episodes of the show. The group is free, but advanced registration is requested. To sign up and receive the viewing schedule, please contact Scott Burton at sburton@comlib.org or 806-2621.
