A Roy Rogers in Franconia

There are three pieces to this week’s episode: Paige, the bio-weapon, and the FBI getting their act together.

As expected, Paige is shell shocked from the attempted mugging. She sees her mom in a new light and because of that, a level of naivete is taken away. She asks more questions, gets some details about the past (I like Elizabeth talking about her childhood) and becomes a bit more aggressive about things. She’s now starting to see herself as part of this and is walking into dangerous territory: she’s a dumb kid with no training and too much confidence. Elizabeth connects the dots that Paige has been reporting things to her and Philip, talking strategy. They’ve been treating her with kid gloves through this to keep her from freaking out, giving her basics to keep tabs on Pastor Tim. Now after the attack, Paige wants to know more. Seeing your mother drop a dude and kill another in front of you wakes you up to the world your parents are actually in. The mystery calls may not be a total mystery anymore as Philip relents to her heated questions and gives her the basics about meeting with someone to get info for a weapon. Elizabeth witnessed Paige probing Matt about Stan early in the episode and combined with this new fervor, it’s opening a whole new avenue of potential exposure for them. Philip and Elizabeth were recruited and trained extensively for years and this goofy girl thinks she’s got all the moves now. They have to reel her in.

Pilfering Don’s data paid off. They found access codes to get to access to Level 4 so it’s possible to get a sample of the bio-weapon. Phillip goes to meet Will to pass along the information and he flat out says no, I’m not going to get it. The potential of letting this stuff out is far too much on his conscious. He’s been working for the Soviet’s for most of his life and he draws the line here. Gabriel is brought in for negotiations and to my initial surprise, doesn’t try to talk Will into doing it. Gabriel sees Will as a burned out agent. Away from home for too long, his agenda no longer exactly matching what they need, he’s done. Will will be brought back and retired (not in the “he lives on a farm upstate” kind of way, actual retirement with benefits).

Finally, the FBI. Agent Alderholt found a loose thread and followed it back to the repair place where they fix the machines that they use in the office to ferry paperwork around. The location of the amazing scene where Elizabeth talks the owner’s mother into ODing. They find the bug in the machine there and snap into action. In full detective mode, they nab the woman bribed to swap the tapes every week (the Soviets tricked her into thinking it’s a mob operation and give her $500 for every drop). Oleg gets some info from Tatiana that makes him nervous enough to go to Stan and tips him off about the bio-weapon theft plan. They cross reference all their info to find who/where a theft could be done and they narrow it down to Will. While Will is in no danger of getting nabbed for doing the deed since he’s getting pulled, it’s all eyes on and around him. It’s not a complete burn but I doubt Will will be leaving the country and the danger of Philip getting put into the crosshairs is massive. Edit on 6/9: I misunderstood this. Will doesn’t want to do it, but it will be his last mission and he’ll be sent back to Soviet Russia.

Next week: The season finale.