Elizabeth and Paige go to Germany to visit Elizabeth's mother (which Gabriel is angry about when Philip tells him after the fact). Elizabeth is moved to see her mother, who is in a wheelchair, and they share a tearful reunion. Elizabeth's mother also reaches out to Paige. When Elizabeth finds Paige in the bathroom afterwards, Paige says she's praying for Elizabeth's mother, which Elizabeth seems to accept. However, Paige doesn't understand how her grandmother should just let Elizabeth go forever, and while Elizabeth assures Paige she would never do that to her, Paige doesn't look convinced. Moreover, when they get home, Paige doesn't feel like she can lie to anyone, and in her bedroom that night, she tearfully calls Pastor Tim and tells him her parents are Russians.
Arkady briefs the Rezidentura staff there should be no unauthorized assassinations or assassination attempts in the U.S. Oleg immediately knows this is referring to what he and Stan did to Zinaida, and tells Stan the news. Stan immediately goes to Gaad, plays him the recording of Oleg telling him this, and insists they should trade Zinaida to the Soviet Union for Nina. Gaad and other FBI agents do pick up Zinaida (who knows what's up when she sees Gaad), but he tells him the CIA will want to exchange a higher-ranked asset than Nina, and he doesn't think Stan should work in the FBI anymore. However, the assistant Attorney General ends up assuring Stan he can stay on, as he gets things done, though he also turns down Stan's request to trade for Nina.
In order to throw suspicion off of Martha, Philip sneaks into the apartment of Gene, the computer tech at the FBI, knocks him out, hangs him, and writes a suicide note on his computer.
Elsewhere, Nina and Anton continue to bond, Philip goes to an EST meeting on his own and ends up bonding with Stan there, Stan continues to bond with Henry, and he and Sandra divide up their possessions.
This episode contains examples of:
- All for Nothing: Though Stan did want to confirm his suspicions about Zinaida, ultimately, the main reason he set out to prove Zinaida was a Deep Cover Agent was to trade for Nina, and the fact the CIA decided to trade for someone else means, as far as Stan is concerned, it was all for nothing.
- Call-Back: When Stan gets called into a meeting with the Attorney General, he reminds Stan how this isn't the first time he's fought against bureaucracy.
- Continuity Nod: Sandra is still with Arthur, and tells Philip he was the one who got her to go to EST meetings in the first place.
- Foreshadowing: Paige's decision to tell Pastor Tim about her parents will have major consequences over the next season, as will Philip's murder of Gene.
- Frame-Up: In addition to killing Gene, Philip plants evidence to make him look like The Mole at the FBI, and therefore take suspicion off of Martha.
- Instant Sedation: Philip chloroforms Gene to knock him out.
- Manchild: Gene apparently was this; Philip tells Elizabeth about the toys he found in the apartment.
- Tears of Joy: Elizabeth and her mother each have this reaction when they see each other.
- Title by Year: The title, "March 8, 1983", refers to when then-President Ronald Reagan gave his "Evil Empire" speech, his strongest speech at the time against the Soviet Union (which also makes it an Event Title). Elizabeth watches it on TV and becomes angry and horrified.
- Worth It: Yousaf asks Philip if their efforts were worth it after the CIA breaks off ties with the mujahadeen. Philip admits while he's glad more people won't die in the war, he feels like shit over what happened to Annelise and others, so he's not sure.
