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Recap / The Americans S2E2 - Cardinal

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Still freaked out about Emmett and Leanne getting murdered - and paranoid the FBI may be watching them - Philip goes to investigate Frank, the Lockheed employee who was Emmett and Leanne's contact. Philip, in disguise, ends up getting knocked out by a trap Frank had set up, but he's able to convince Frank he's working with Emmett.

The Rezidentura gets a walk in, and Nina tells Stan about him. Both the Rezidentura and the FBI try to figure out who the walk-in really is.

Elizabeth gets a distress call from Lucia (Aimee Carrero), an operative from Central America, who is with a congressional aide who accidentally overdosed. Elizabeth manages to help her, and tells her how she believes in her struggle. However, going out arouses Paige's suspicions, and she decides to get a number for the "Aunt Helen" Elizabeth and Philip were supposedly with.

This episode contains examples of:

  • Call-Back: The bug is still in Agent Gaad's office, and when she and Oleg are listening to the latest tape from there, Nina gets confirmation that Stan killed Vlad.
  • Foreshadowing: Paige's call at the end of the episode will become important, as does Lucia.
  • Harmless Electrocution: Played with; when Philip touches the metal box in Frank's room, he doesn't suffer permanent damage, but he is knocked out, and Frank is able to tie him up.
  • Premature Encapsulation: Though Dameran, the walk-in to the Rezidentura, is important to the episode, it's the next episode that's called "The Walk In".
  • Shout-Out: Elizabeth is playing Life with Paige and Henry at one point. Later, when Elizabeth has to go on an emergency meeting (see Spy Speak below), she takes Paige and Henry to see Raiders of the Lost Ark.note 
    • Oleg talks about how he wants to meet Blondie, though he thinks that's the name of the lead singer.
  • Something Only They Would Say: Philip manages to convince Frank he's friends with Emmett by bringing up Emmett's children (he notices Frank has bought a The Empire Strikes Back-related game).
  • Sore Loser: Apparently, Henry is like this; when he complains he's bored with the game he, Elizabeth and Paige are playing, Paige needles him that he's only bored when he's losing.
  • Spy Speak: Elizabeth has to go on an emergency mission to help Lucia, but she won't help her until she hears the correct password.

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