Recap-TV Logo

Recap-TV

TV Show Summaries

Detailed recaps to help you catch up on your favorite shows. Never miss a beat!

Quick Links

  • Best Shows
  • Privacy
  • Terms

Browse by Genre

  • Drama
  • Comedy
  • Thriller
  • Science-Fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
  • Crime
  • Action
  • Romance
  • Mystery
  • Adventure
  • Family

About Us

Recap-TV is your go-to source for TV show recaps. Catch up on any show quickly with detailed episode summaries.

contact@recap-tv.com

Data and images from TVMaze (CC BY-SA)

© 2025 Recap-TV. All rights reserved.

The Americans - Season 3 Recap | Recap-TV
Home → The Americans → Season 3
The Americans

The Americans - Season 3 Recap

13 Episodes

Where to Watch

Find out which streaming platforms have this show
Season 1
13 Episodes
Season 2
13 Episodes
Season 3
13 Episodes
Season 4
13 Episodes
Season 5
13 Episodes
Season 6
10 Episodes

Short on time? Here's the essentials:

Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are deep-cover Soviet spies living as an American couple in the 1980s. Their mission is to infiltrate American society and gather intelligence for the KGB. Philip, a pragmatic operative, struggles with the moral compromises of their work, while Elizabeth is fiercely dedicated to the cause. Their primary goal is to maintain their cover and protect their family, including their two American-born children, Paige and Henry.

The season's central conflict revolves around the increasing pressure from their KGB handler to recruit their teenage daughter, Paige, into espionage. This directive creates a deep rift between Philip and Elizabeth, as they grapple with the potential consequences for Paige. Key turning points include Elizabeth brutally murdering Annelise to cover up a failed mission and Philip being forced to kill Gene to protect Martha and Stan. The season culminates with Paige discovering her parents are Soviet spies, a revelation that shatters her world and leaves the Jennings family's future in jeopardy.

Season 3 of The Americans covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:

Season 3, Episode 1: EST Men - Elizabeth narrowly escapes the FBI after a mission goes awry, losing a crucial list of operatives in the process. Meanwhile, Philip orchestrates a mission that results in the brutal murder of Annelise, who had fallen for her target. The episode concludes with Philip and Elizabeth debating the Centre's directive to begin grooming their daughter, Paige, for espionage.


Season 3, Episode 2: Baggage - Philip and Elizabeth grapple with the gruesome aftermath of a botched mission, breaking Annelise's bones to fit her body into a suitcase for disposal. Meanwhile, Nina faces harsh realities in a Moscow prison, and Stan welcomes a new Soviet defector, Zinaida, to the US. The episode concludes with Philip and Elizabeth at an impasse regarding Paige's future, highlighting their divergent parenting ideologies and the growing rift between them.


Season 3, Episode 3: Open House - Philip and Elizabeth attempt to bug Ted Paaswell, a key figure in the CIA's Afghan Group, leading to a tense chase by U.S. intelligence officers. Elizabeth endures a painful tooth extraction performed by Philip in their basement. The episode concludes with the revelation that Paaswell's babysitter is the daughter of Isaac Brelund, the head of the CIA's Afghan Group, presenting a new, dangerous opportunity.


Season 3, Episode 4: Dimebag - Philip is tasked with recruiting Kimberly, the teenage daughter of a CIA official, leading to discomfort over her young age. Meanwhile, Nina attempts to extract information from her new cellmate in Moscow, and Stan grapples with his personal life at an EST meeting. The episode culminates with Paige revealing her desire to be baptized, much to her parents' dismay.


Season 3, Episode 5: Salang Pass - Elizabeth kills a factory worker to secure Lisa's transfer to Northrop. Philip juggles Martha, Kimberly, and Paige, causing marital tension. Stan tries to trade a defector for Nina. Philip, after almost sleeping with Kimberly, escapes her house when her parents arrive. The episode ends with Philip and Elizabeth discussing the past, revealing the disturbing nature of their training.


Season 3, Episode 6: Born Again - Paige's baptism deeply affects Philip and Elizabeth. Philip learns he has a son serving in Afghanistan, increasing his stress. He uses Paige's religious advice to avoid sleeping with Kimmy while planting a bug. Nina betrays her cellmate, leading to the cellmate's removal. Elizabeth takes Paige to Gregory's old neighborhood, revealing a sanitized version of her past.


Season 3, Episode 7: Walter Taffet - Agent Aderholt discovers Gaad's pen is bugged, sending Martha into a panic. Philip and Elizabeth follow up on KGB interests in South Africa, leading to Elizabeth shooting a South African agent. Martha asks to see "Clark's" apartment, increasing her suspicions. The episode concludes with Philip revealing to Elizabeth that he has a son.


Season 3, Episode 8: Divestment - Philip and Elizabeth interrogate Venter and Todd, leading to Venter's gruesome death by immolation. Todd reveals Venter's plan to bomb a campus, which they thwart. Martha confronts Clark about Taffet's investigation, testing their marriage. Nina is assigned to befriend Anton. The episode concludes with Philip and Martha in bed, their future uncertain.


Season 3, Episode 9: Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep? - Philip and Elizabeth must bug the FBI's mail robot, leading to a tragic encounter with an innocent woman, Betty, who Elizabeth ultimately allows to overdose. Hans, eager to prove himself, murders Todd to ensure their operation's secrecy. Stan and Oleg hatch a risky plan involving Zinaida. The episode concludes with Philip and Gabriel discussing the concept of love.


Season 3, Episode 10: Stingers - Philip and Elizabeth investigate a CIA operation involving the Mujahideen. Paige confronts her parents, leading to the revelation of their true identities as Soviet spies. Stan suspects Martha of being involved in the bugging of Gaad's office. Paige calls Pastor Tim but doesn't reveal the truth. The episode concludes with Paige staring intensely at Stan during dinner, realizing he is an FBI agent.


Season 3, Episode 11: One Day in the Life of Anton Baklanov - Philip and Elizabeth's personal and professional lives dangerously intertwine. Elizabeth learns her mother's health is failing. Nina gains Anton's trust while extracting information. Philip coaches Martha on how to lie convincingly during an interview. The episode concludes with Elizabeth and Philip having sex after she seduces a hotel owner to gain access to his office. Paige continues to struggle with the revelation of her parents' true identities.


Season 3, Episode 12: I Am Abassin Zadran - Philip and Elizabeth manipulate Mujahideen commander Abassin Zadran into killing his colleagues. Paige's distrust grows, leading Elizabeth to offer her a trip to Russia. Stan's suspicion of Martha intensifies. Cornered, Philip reveals his true face to Martha by removing his wig, leaving her shocked and the Jennings' future uncertain.


Season 3, Episode 13: March 8, 1983 - Elizabeth and Paige travel to West Germany to see Elizabeth's dying mother. Philip kills Gene to protect Martha and Stan. Paige tells Pastor Tim that her parents are Russians. The episode concludes with Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech juxtaposed with Paige's confession.

Featured in this recap

Keri Russell

Keri Russell

as Elizabeth Jennings

Matthew Rhys

Matthew Rhys

as Philip Jennings

Holly Taylor

Holly Taylor

as Paige Jennings

Costa Ronin

Costa Ronin

as Oleg Igorevich Burov

Alison Wright

Alison Wright

as Martha Hanson

Annet Mahendru

Annet Mahendru

as Nina Sergeevna Krilova

Popular Shows

  • Breaking Bad
    Breaking Bad 9.2
  • Game of Thrones
    Game of Thrones 8.9
  • Firefly
    Firefly 8.9
  • Person of Interest
← Season 2Back to The AmericansSeason 4 →
Person of Interest 8.8
  • Death Note
    Death Note 8.8
  • House
    House 8.8
  • The Wire
    The Wire 8.8
  • Stargate SG·1
    Stargate SG·1 8.8
  • Stargate Atlantis
    Stargate Atlantis 8.8
  • Rick and Morty
    Rick and Morty 8.8