Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are deep-cover KGB sleeper agents posing as a typical American suburban couple in the 1980s, tasked with undermining the U.S. government. Philip, often conflicted about his double life, and Elizabeth, fiercely loyal to the Motherland, navigate dangerous missions while raising their unsuspecting children. Their new neighbor, FBI agent Stan Beeman, becomes increasingly suspicious of them, adding constant pressure to their clandestine operations.

The Jennings' missions for the KGB are fraught with peril and moral compromises. Early on, Philip strangles a captive defector to death after learning of his past abuse of Elizabeth, solidifying their ruthless partnership. They coerce a maid to plant a bug in a high-ranking official's office, leading Philip to kill her brother. Their marriage faces strain as Elizabeth grapples with lingering feelings for a past associate, Gregory, who is later killed by police. The couple also endures a brutal loyalty test by their own handlers. The conflict escalates when Philip accidentally causes the death of FBI Agent Amador, prompting Stan Beeman to retaliate by executing Vlad, a KGB subordinate, in a shocking act of revenge.

As the season concludes, Philip, under the guise of "Clark," manipulates an FBI secretary, Martha, into planting a bug in her boss's office. Elizabeth is shot during a mission but is saved by Philip, highlighting their complex and interdependent relationship. Despite their personal and professional turmoil, they share a vulnerable moment, hinting at a potential for their strained marriage to become more genuine.

Season 1 of The Americans covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:

Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot - Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, KGB sleeper agents posing as a suburban couple, abduct a defector. Their new neighbor, FBI agent Stan Beeman, becomes suspicious. Philip contemplates defection, but Elizabeth insists on loyalty to the Motherland. Ultimately, Philip strangles the captive defector to death after learning of his past abuse of Elizabeth. The episode concludes with the Jenningses solidifying their partnership and facing the growing threat of Stan's investigation.

Season 1, Episode 2: The Clock - Philip and Elizabeth must plant a bug in Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger's office within three days. They coerce Viola, Weinberger's maid, by poisoning her son and withholding the antidote. After Viola steals the clock, Philip is forced to brutally kill her brother when he attacks him. Meanwhile, Stan blackmails Nina into spying for the FBI. The episode concludes with the KGB obtaining intelligence about the U.S. missile shield.

Season 1, Episode 3: Gregory - Philip and Elizabeth must extract Robert's widow, Joyce, after discovering he had a secret family. Gregory, an associate Elizabeth had a past affair with, assists in the dangerous operation. Joyce is ultimately killed by the KGB, and Gregory is later apprehended by the FBI. The episode concludes with Elizabeth confessing her lingering feelings for Gregory to Philip, leading to a more honest, albeit tense, conversation about their marriage.

Season 1, Episode 4: In Control - Following the assassination attempt on President Reagan, Philip and Elizabeth scramble to determine if the KGB is involved, while also investigating potential nuclear launch codes. Philip overrides Elizabeth's urgency to report sensitive information, opting for caution. The episode concludes with Elizabeth killing a security guard who interrupts their surveillance, and Philip successfully relaying to Moscow that the assassination was not a KGB operation, thus averting a potential global crisis.

Season 1, Episode 5: COMINT - The KGB attempts to steal new FBI encryption codes as their informant, Adam Dorwin, becomes unstable. After Elizabeth retrieves the codes, the FBI changes them, revealing a mole within the KGB. Elizabeth is forced to execute Dorwin to prevent him from defecting, and the episode concludes with the realization that a mole is compromising KGB operations.

Season 1, Episode 6: Trust Me - Philip and Elizabeth are abducted and tortured by the KGB as a loyalty test. Meanwhile, their children, Paige and Henry, are picked up by a stranger, whom Henry incapacitates. Stan frames Vasili to protect Nina. The episode concludes with Philip and Elizabeth confronting their handler, Claudia, over the betrayal, and Elizabeth physically assaulting her.

Season 1, Episode 7: Duty and Honor - Philip is sent to New York to discredit a Polish dissident, reuniting him with his former lover, Irina. She claims they have a son and wants him to flee with her, but he refuses, choosing his family. Meanwhile, Stan sleeps with Nina, and Elizabeth confronts Claudia, leading to a strained, irreparable shift in their relationship. Philip returns home, and he and Elizabeth agree to try and make their marriage real, though he lies about his encounter with Irina.

Season 1, Episode 8: Mutually Assured Destruction - Philip and Elizabeth are tasked with stopping a KGB assassin targeting American scientists. The mission goes awry when the assassin uses a bomb in an FBI agent's radio, killing a scientist and three FBI agents. Meanwhile, Elizabeth learns Philip lied about sleeping with Irina, leading her to declare their marriage is merely an arrangement. The episode concludes with the assassin blowing himself up in his hotel room during a confrontation with the Jennings.

Season 1, Episode 9: Safe House - Philip and Elizabeth announce their separation to their children, a decision that causes significant emotional distress. Meanwhile, the FBI plans to assassinate KGB Resident Arkady, but Agent Amador is accidentally killed during a confrontation with Philip. In retaliation, Stan captures Vlad, a KGB subordinate, and Stan executes Vlad in a brutal act of revenge, leaving the situation volatile.

Season 1, Episode 10: Only You - As the FBI closes in on Gregory for Amador's murder, the KGB frames him and offers exfiltration to Moscow. Gregory, however, chooses suicide by cop, walking into a police shootout. Elizabeth is distraught by his death, while Philip grapples with the consequences of their actions. The episode concludes with a montage reflecting the characters' isolation and the irreversible nature of their choices.

Season 1, Episode 11: Covert War - Following the assassination of her mentor, General Zhukov, Elizabeth defies orders to seek revenge on the CIA official responsible, Richard Patterson. She abducts him but ultimately lets him go, realizing her mission was a mistake. Philip has moved into his own apartment, leaving Elizabeth feeling more alone than ever. Meanwhile, Stan's marriage deteriorates as his wife suspects his affair with Nina, who is also becoming more suspicious of Stan's involvement in Vlad's death. The episode concludes with Elizabeth confronting Claudia, suspecting manipulation.

Season 1, Episode 12: The Oath - Philip, posing as "Clark," proposes to Martha, who then plants a bug in her boss's office. Nina, promoted to oversee "illegals," takes a loyalty oath to Russia, suspecting Stan killed Vlad. Viola confesses to planting the bug in the Weinberger home, leading the FBI to discover the planted device. Martha is manipulated into committing treason by planting the bug, and Nina solidifies her allegiance to the KGB, seemingly becoming a triple agent.

Season 1, Episode 13: The Colonel - Philip meets with "The Colonel," who reveals the SDI project is likely a ruse. Meanwhile, the FBI sets a trap for Elizabeth during a mission to retrieve sensitive tapes. Elizabeth is shot during a harrowing escape, but Philip manages to get her to safety. Claudia, seeking revenge, assassinates a CIA official. The episode concludes with Elizabeth's recovery and a moment of vulnerability with Philip.