quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
I told my wife that I thought Elizabeth might die. She’s killed so many. She’s brought her daughter into the game. She used her husband to try and get him back into the game as well. As expressed in this forum many times, “Karma’s a bitch.” Somewhere, in this the last season, there has to be a “surprise” or twist. Her being killed is not far fetched

Beyond being a "true believer" Elizabeth is a sociopath. Her lack of empathy towards these last two victims and the fact that she used a knife indicated to me that her only concern towards the seven year old daughter of the two was whether or not she'd have time to scream before Elizabeth would find it necessary to take her out too. At no time did I think Elizabeth had the humanity within herself to relate to her victim's being the parents of that little girl and how finding them dead would affect her for the rest of her life.

What the future holds? I hope Paige makes it out of this mess alive and with a better understanding of the cruelty that's inherent within a communist/socialist run society. Listening to the BS that Elizabeth and Claudia were saying about the horrors of the war against the Nazis, while knowing that Stalin killed even more of his countrymen than Hitler, made me sick of what they were doing to this naive child.

I'm not sure Phillip has the strength within himself to stand up to Elizabeth for the future of their children. His warnings to Kimmie were so explicit as to make him an "Enemy of the People", if they got back to either Elizabeth or Claudia and I have no doubt they'd kill him off without remorse. I don't think Paige is too far gone yet, for some "tough love" to get her straightened out.

quote:

Originally posted by gw3971:
Yeah, I'm thinking Phillip will inform on Elizabeth to save Paige. Still not sure about the Line dancing? I love this show and will miss its story line long after its gone.

I agree. I will definately be purchasing the series on dvd.

How about this:
The KGB loyal to Gorbachev kill Elizabeth for working with the hard liners.

I missed the security guards at the warehouse. It was so dark you could not see what was going on.

I think the purpose of the line dancing is just to show how Amercanized Phillip has become. They also have made a point of showing him enjoying simple pleasures made possible by free markets such as being able to eat a bag of chips. A few seasons ago he purchased a hot rod, which was an indulgence his former self would not have approved of.

This most recent episode had some interesting scenes. Stan's Thanksgiving-dinner speech about the Reagan administration being willing to fight commie enemies being one of them in that I don't know how Philip took it. Was he empathetic, or did it put him on his defenses? Also, Phillip seemed taken aback when his son commented about how unhappy Elizabeth seemed, like that realization maybe re-kindled the family-man side of him a bit.

I'm really looking forward to the moment when Stan learns the truth about his neighbors. It's got the potential to be epic. Will Phillip confess and seek protection via Stan, or will he kill him? It's fun to think about the possibilities.

The preview for next week's episode made it seem like Phillip was going to confess, but I think that was just a yanking of our chains.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:

The preview for next week's episode made it seem like Phillip was going to confess, but I think that was just a yanking of our chains.

Yeah, with what, three episodes left, chain yanking.

Despite Phil's embrace of his American life, his business seems to be in trouble. Considering how well they live, no background as to why that may be happening. The producers setting up some kind of indictment of capitalism? Or setting up a justification for Phil's demise what with his weakness and heresy? Paige may also be wavering, bye bye?

Maybe rather than getting hers, Elizabeth will lose her family and slink back to the arms of Mother Russia.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:
The producers setting up some kind of indictment of capitalism?

I would be both shocked and disappointed if that was the case, at least as far as trying to set up some moral equivalence or painting of capitalism as being worse than socialism/communism. They've time and again shown how dysfunctional and corrupt the soviet system was over the years of the show thus far, so it would be very out of character.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:

Despite Phil's embrace of his American life, his business seems to be in trouble. Considering how well they live, no background as to why that may be happening.

He expanded the business with more space and employees and he's paying for college and boarding school. Employees aren't covering their cost and he lost at least one client who brought in decent business.

Looks like Stan is starting to put 2 and 2 together.

This is the only movie or television show that I've ever seen that I can't wait for it to end because it will be great. There are so many possibilities. Will Stan find out who they really are? If he does, what will he do? Will Elizabeth kill Phil? Will Phil turn Elizabeth in? Will Phil come clean or just move, take the kids and hide out? Will Elizabeth go back to Russia or remain with the family and try to live the American life? I love this show but the ending will be epic and I can't wait. I will miss it though.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Looks like Stan is starting to put 2 and 2 together.

Very much so. I keep returning to the thought that he will be face to face with Philip when he gets confirmation, and Philip will have to kill him with his bare hands, perhaps when Stan is snooping around again. Either that or maybe both Philip and Elizabeth will find him in their home and Philip will beg her not to kill him, but, well, we know how that will go.


I also wonder if Philip will give Paige a more clear picture of exactly what she's in for, such as having to hack off the hands and feet of your comrade after she gets shot in the head. Elizabeth always stops short of fully informing her of the brutality of the job.

I've only seen two episodes of the final season: Dumped cable, so I'll catch up when it appears on Netflix or Hulu. I think it's been a great show, especially if you remember the 1980's.

Here's how I think it will end: After a lot of stress and drama, Phillip and Elizabeth decide to go out to dinner with the kids. Paige is late and has trouble parking, but finally shows up. The family seems happy to be enjoying a meal together. Stan comes out of the restroom. Screen goes black.

(Hey, it's worked before!)

^^^^^

That would be really stupid, unless they play Don't Stop Believin'.

Anything short of a spectacular ending will be a HUGE disappointment.
All the ducks are lining up in a row, its up to the writers to make this the greatest ending any series has ever had.
I hope they pull it off.

^^^ How about Martha shows up and goes John Wick on all of them?

Ha,ha,that's a good one.

That would be good! Martha has reason to be pissed.

History tells us Reagan walks out of the summit, pretty much negating whatever this season's players are up to. I'd like to consider that a happy ending but I'll bet the producers will leave some threads hanging, some unfinished business, something to stick in my craw.

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
Anything short of a spectacular ending will be a HUGE disappointment.
All the ducks are lining up in a row, its up to the writers to make this the greatest ending any series has ever had.
I hope they pull it off.

How about the Soviet Union collapses and the Berlin Wall comes down

I'm assuming the scene with Elizabeth and the cyanide pill necklace was not there for nothing.

I don't think she will be the one to use it though.