Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are deep-cover KGB agents posing as an American couple. Their primary goal is to serve the Soviet Union by gathering intelligence and undermining the United States. Their teenage daughter, Paige, is increasingly aware of their dangerous double lives and is being trained in spycraft.

The season's central conflict revolves around Philip and Elizabeth's increasingly morally compromising missions. They are tasked with retrieving a deadly virus sample, which leads to the death of a fellow operative. Later, they are forced to kill a lab technician to cover their tracks. The pressure of their work and the moral toll it takes begins to fracture their resolve, especially after Philip realizes they killed an innocent man. A major turning point occurs when Elizabeth kills a suspected Nazi collaborator and her husband, leading her to suggest they return to Russia.

The season ends with Philip and Elizabeth facing the devastating consequences of their actions. They are horrified when a young boy, Pasha, attempts suicide due to their manipulation. Despite the mounting personal and professional crises, Elizabeth decides they cannot abandon their mission, leaving Philip torn and their future uncertain.

Season 5 of The Americans covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:

Season 5, Episode 1: Amber Waves - Philip and Elizabeth, posing as the Eckerts, befriend a Russian student, Pasha, under the direction of Tuan. Oleg returns to the USSR and begins investigating corruption. The Jennings learn of William's death and are tasked with retrieving a sample of his Lassa virus-infected body. During the exhumation, a fellow operative is killed to prevent exposure. The episode concludes with the body re-interred.

Season 5, Episode 2: Pests - Philip and Elizabeth investigate potential US sabotage of Soviet grain, with Elizabeth finding infested crops. Stan learns the CIA wants to exploit Oleg, causing him moral conflict. Paige's anxiety escalates, leading her parents to train her in spycraft to manage her emotions. The episode concludes with heightened paranoia on both sides.

Season 5, Episode 3: The Midges - Philip and Elizabeth investigate a lab in Oklahoma, discovering genetically engineered midges designed to destroy Soviet crops. They kill a lab technician, Randy, to cover their tracks. Oleg faces repercussions in Moscow, and Martha makes a silent reappearance. The episode concludes with Philip and Elizabeth disposing of the body, questioning if they should tell Paige about the killing.

Season 5, Episode 4: What's the Matter with Kansas? - Philip and Elizabeth are assigned to seduce Agricorp employees in Kansas, a task they both dread. Philip struggles to connect with Deirdre, while Elizabeth gets along with Ben. Stan risks his career to protect Oleg from a CIA blackmail attempt by confessing to killing Vlad. Mischa successfully sneaks into Austria. The episode concludes with Elizabeth expressing her belief that Ben is actively trying to destroy the Soviet Union.

Season 5, Episode 5: Lotus 1-2-3 - Philip and Elizabeth juggle their missions, sleeping with targets Deirdre and Ben. Mischa arrives in the US and contacts the KGB, but Gabriel forbids him from seeing Philip. Philip suspects Stan's girlfriend Renee is a KGB plant. Elizabeth learns the US isn't causing the USSR famine. Philip is shaken after realizing they killed an innocent man. The episode concludes with Philip and Elizabeth promising it won't happen again.

Season 5, Episode 6: Crossbreed - Gabriel announces his retirement and reveals a truth about Philip's father. Elizabeth learns the US is breeding pest-resistant wheat and is tasked to get a sample. Philip and Elizabeth introduce Paige to Gabriel. Oleg destroys incriminating evidence.

Season 5, Episode 7: The Committee on Human Rights - Paige meets Gabriel, solidifying her connection to her parents' world. Elizabeth steals files on Soviet dissidents. Philip questions Gabriel about past "terrible things". Paige, overwhelmed, breaks up with Matthew. Gabriel departs, admitting recruiting Paige was a mistake. The episode concludes with Philip grappling with Gabriel's revelations.

Season 5, Episode 8: Immersion - Philip grapples with Gabriel's warning about Paige, while Elizabeth shares her past trauma with her daughter. Oleg faces investigation in Moscow. The Jennings learn that Evgheniya is having an affair, and Tuan suggests a cruel plan to manipulate Pasha. Deirdre breaks up with Philip.

Season 5, Episode 9: IHOP - Philip extracts a tape from Kimmy's father revealing the Lassa virus may have been used as a weapon. Philip and Elizabeth track Tuan to an IHOP, confronting him about his absences. Tuan reveals he was checking on his sick foster brother. Henry wants to attend boarding school, causing tension. The episode concludes with Philip and Elizabeth questioning Tuan's motives.

Season 5, Episode 10: Darkroom - Philip and Elizabeth are officially married in a Russian Orthodox ceremony. Paige steals photos of Pastor Tim's diary, revealing his concerns about her parents. The Jennings family develops the photos together in a tense darkroom scene. Meanwhile, Stan and Aderholt's recruitment of Sofia bears fruit. The episode concludes with the family confronting the unsettling truths from Tim's diary, leaving Paige questioning her parents.

Season 5, Episode 11: Dyatkovo - Philip and Elizabeth investigate Natalie Granholm, suspected of being a Nazi collaborator named Anna Prokopchuk. Natalie confesses to being Anna, detailing how Nazis forced her to commit atrocities after killing her family. Elizabeth ultimately kills Natalie and her husband, John. Shattered, Elizabeth suggests they return to Russia.

Season 5, Episode 12: The World Council of Churches - Philip and Elizabeth secure Pastor Tim a job in Buenos Aires, prompting Paige to renounce her faith. Oleg faces scrutiny in Moscow, while the Morozovs suffer due to Tuan's actions. Tuan convinces Pasha to attempt suicide, leaving Philip and Elizabeth horrified as they rush to intervene. The episode concludes with the Jennings walking towards the Morozov's house.

Season 5, Episode 13: The Soviet Division - Philip and Elizabeth grapple with the fallout of Pasha's suicide attempt, which aimed to get his family back to Russia. Philip discovers that Kimmy's father is now head of the CIA's Soviet Division. Elizabeth decides they cannot leave, prioritizing the mission, while Philip is torn. Henry will not be going to boarding school.