The Americans (2013-8)

The Americans is an extremely suspenseful Cold War-era spy thriller, perhaps the best TV has ever seen. Similar to Breaking Bad, The Americans excelled at character development of antiheroes, and at slow-burn long cons unfolding over the course of a whole season. The series follows two "illegals", Soviet sleeper agents posing as travel agents, living in Virginia (though recognizably filmed in New York) at the height of the Cold War with their two American-born children. Though not a true story, it is based in truth. The Soviet Union took espionage very seriously; it is kind of incredible (read: crazy) how integrated they were in American society. That combination of extreme dedication and pettiness is, I think, uniquely Russian, maybe also kind of Chinese. I think the inverse, the Russian version of the Americans, probably didn't work because it's unbelievable that American spies were so nuts.  They characteristically over react a lot, and devise wild over-the-top schemes to achieve small goals.

Philip says it best in Season 6, that they were always worried about what the Americans would do them, but in the end it was other Soviets that would ultimately be their downfall. Meanwhile, Stan (a stand-in for the bureaucracy generally) fails to see why Gorbachev's leadership matters. If he had asked someone at State, Gorbachev's opening up of the Soviet Union would be far more important than his mission to catch illegals--Stan fails to see the forest for the trees or is so focused on winning the battle he can't fathom winning the war. He is blinded by his narrow focus. Similarly, Elizabeth sees her job as a spy as purely ideological, so stone cold that she doesn't even realize the other tactical qualities it takes to be a spy. It's why she thinks Paige could become a spy herself, even though it is so obvious that she could not. 

Some highlights:

• The assassination attempt on Reagan as seen from Russia as a coup in motion was eye-opening
• The bio-weapon plot line is a clear example of defense spiral, the classic IR theory. The Soviets cannot discern the difference between offensive and defensive weapons, so when they discover that the Americans are developing bioweapons, allegedly serums for potential bioweapons, they must escalate their own stockpile, bound to spiral out of control. 
• Spying isn't all just assassinations, it's mostly intelligence gathhering
• Great use of 80s music
• Fantastic costumes and hair styling for the many disguises
  
• Mischa's son never really comes in to play. It's like they had plans for him but then forgot and left him hanging.  
• The first season is very exciting. I think it's the strongest season along with the last.
  
• The ending is brilliant. I called Henry's ending, but did not see Paige's gut-punch ending coming.
  

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes really stepped up the storytelling in this latest installment of the classic franchise.  It is thoughtful and intelligent and it sustains this level of brilliance throughout the two hours. The apes are complex in their emotions and their rationales. The human element of these apes is actually quite moving.  The audience really comes to care about these characters.  This all leads to a wholly satisfying ending that is perhaps not the happy one that you want, but the rational one that makes sense for the warring tribes of humans and apes.  This is a summer blockbuster that was not just pure action (though the culminating battle sequence is excellent).

The visual effects are stunning as usual.  Andy Serkis as Caesar is simply captivating.  It is a joy to just watch his expressions, which is an impressive feat itself.  He gives some brilliant speeches with genuine ideas about leadership that may apply to humans or apes.  That is what is so great about the genre of science fiction.  The premise may be so impossible, but the application to our own world is apparent and striking.