Source
r/TheAmericans•
Inkus

Elizabeth: putting mission first, or not?

I'm used to thinking of Elizabeth as someone who puts the mission before everything, including her own family, but I'm starting to question that, based on how she's training Paige.

For example, does she really think that an agent should never run to help another but always stick to the plan (as she told Paige)? Or is she just saying that because she's unwilling for Paige to know about the killing side of things so (1) she's not trained Paige in any way to be useful in this kind of situation (Philip would have been useful), so running in potentially endangers Paige, (2) She's hiding the fact that she kills from Paige, which limits her ability to be useful.

So now, she's beaten a "rule" into Paige's head to always stick to the plan no matter what. Maybe that's a useful rule, but I think she made it up to make sure she can work with Paige but still hide aspects from her. She'd cut another new trainee whom she had to coddle so much. Maybe the long game is just to get the 2nd gen spy who will do white collar spying, but then, that's what she should be trained for, not field work.

I think Elizabeth thinks she's hardcore, but her mania for making Paige a spy is blinding her to the fact that there's a lot of it she's unwilling to admit.

Posted Apr 14, 2018, 1:29 AM UTC

1410
LackingLack•

I agree. Elizabeth has already shown Paige that she is willing to be very violent and has implicitly admitted to using sex as a tool as well. At this point Elizabeth's refusal to more deeply involve Paige can be seen as "bourgeois" coddling, and giving special favors to relatives that don't even prepare them all that well for the job. Probably why in general new spies don't get trained by their damn parents

19
TengoPesos•

That whole story line is so implausible that it's a disappointment. I can't imagine this really happening. And P is so clearly not cut out for field work. She would never be as far as she is with E with another mentor.

Also, I took a lot of E's coddling of P to be more about protecting herself and not having to be introspective about her job and less about protecting P.

7
Shotokanguy•

She's trying to do the mission and (perhaps unconsciously) protect her daughter at the same time. That's what creates the conflict, though. Elizabeth can't see what we can - this isn't something Paige should be doing.

14
rockvillejoe99•

Anybody think later this season Elizabeth will buy the farm because Paige will now do as she was told? The whole premise is ridiculous. Paige looks ridiculous in those “disguised”. She looks like Paige no matter what. And, if I may, what purpose is it to have her learn this low gritty end of spycraft? She is being groomed to be a cia mole. Why jeopardize her future? To see her mother kick some ass? Please. If anything, Paige will be spooked out of being a spook. Thank you comrades. Spacebo.

11
nsfwdreamer•

Elizabeth and Paige grew up differently, and I doubt that Paige will ever be able to do the job.

6
formerlymyself•

I think it probably is the rule (at least for junior operatives because they are playing a supporting role). It makes it more dangerous for everyone for a junior person to leave their position and potentially interrupt a meeting. If E had been the one who had gotten shot, Paige would have put herself in danger, if it was the authorities closing in, she could have gotten arrested.

I agree that I am not sure I understand the utility of her doing this sort of supporting role work if her ultimate goal is to be working for the CIA or FBI. That seems like a completely different "track", although I guess there is some overlap and it might be useful for her to know how information is gathered "on the street" and just generally how to be unobtrusive, poker faced, calm in tense situations, etc. since she would have to steal documents and so forth as a government employee.

2
toragirl•

Who was that keen young agent a few seasons ago? All he did was these observational ops that Paige is doing now.

2
TengoPesos•

Hans. The one E shot when they were digging the hole to find William's body.

2
toragirl•

Right. He did a lot of the same work that P is doing now. Hans did nothing but observational for it seemed like a few years.

2
Whaduzitake•

It's like Elizabeth doesn't want Paige to know what horrible things she does, could it be some kind of maternal flame burning, even if ever so dimly?

1