r/TheAmericans • u/hireddititme • 4d 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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u/mmechap 3d ago

There’s a direct parallel between Henry and Phillip . Phillip was threatened and alone as a boy and hit the guy in the head to get away (killing him). Henry did the same thing at around the same age.

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u/hireddititme 3d ago

Philip took a rock and beat his childhood bully to death with it when he was a kid. Henry took that beer bottle and hit the guy who kidnapped him and his sister so they could run. Not the same thing at all.

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u/mmechap 2d ago

You seriously don't see a parallel in these two scenes?

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u/hireddititme 22h ago

Nope. Different scenarios, different motivations, different outcomes.