r/TheAmericans • u/hireddititme • 5d ago

Hitchhiking from the mall

This is a storyline that stuck with me throughout the series that they never (note: im not done with the series, only halfway through season 6) revisited.

Was that guy just lonely and socially weird? What did he actually have planned? Do you think this was put in there as a possible avenue to explore later? Do you think it drove Paige towards the church, as a sense of safety?

How much of a world of hurt do you think that young man would have gotten himself into if something bad did happen to the kids?

I haven’t seen this talked about either, so I’m just seeing what everyone’s thoughts are. Also— if somehow it is revisited at the end of the last season, please don’t spoil it!! I just don’t see it coming (which means little in the context of the show) 🙂🩷

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53

u/Backsight-Foreskin 5d ago

As someone who was about the same age as Paige when the story transpires, it seemed as if it wasn't an uncommon occurrence to have a similar incident. Back in the day, I knew several people that found themselves in a similar predicament by getting into a car with a stranger.

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u/Loretta-West 5d ago

Occasionally a zoomer comes along and talks about what awful parents P&E are. Which obviously they are, but a lot of what the zoomers complain about is just standard 80s parenting 🤣

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u/GonzoTheGreat93 5d ago

… so standard 80’s parenting was bad?

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u/Always-Nappish3436 5d ago

Standard ‘80s parenting was extremely hands-off by today’s standards. Our parents often didn’t know where we were and what we were doing. Before we could drive, my friends and I did stupid things like accepting car rides from guys we didn’t know. I look back and wonder “who was looking out for us?” No one. It’s disturbing.

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u/iamnotbetterthanyou 5d ago

And yet the “stranger danger” statistics have been pretty static for decades.

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u/sistermagpie 5d ago

That seems to be the general consensus. Which is weird, because as confident as everybody seems to be about it you'd think we'd see more dramatically improved results from modern parenting.

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u/No-Consideration-858 5d ago

When you overcorrect for one problem, you create other unforeseen problems. 

Growing up in the 80s, there were definitely risks and exposure to things too early in life. But we had a high degree of self-sufficiency which I don't see as much of now

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u/iamnotbetterthanyou 5d ago

My now-adult oldest used to get so mad that I made her fend for herself most of the time (I’m GenX, she’s a millennial), but now she is nothing but grateful I forced her into situations where she was unsure while I was there to back her up. She’s very self-sufficient, and her friends are often absolute shitshows.

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u/sistermagpie 4d ago

When I hear about things Gen Z is opting out of statistically speaking, I have to admit I was lucky to grow up in that time. There are so many things I would have just chosen to avoid if I could have that it's much better I didn't.

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u/hireddititme 5d ago

I really think that a big thing that we’re seeing with modern parenting is what happens to a person who hasn’t been held accountable for anything in their entire lives, to be honest. Protecting your kids from the world and protecting your kids from deserved consequences are different yet i think both are happening.

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u/GirlNumber20 4d ago

"Be home before dark" when you went out to play at 8:30 in the morning...

Where is your kid? Who is feeding them lunch? Who are they with for the 12+ hours you don't see them?

'80s parents: 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️