Parents' Guide to

The Americans

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Period spy drama blends violence, sex, and '80s nostalgia.

TV FX Drama 2013
The Americans Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 14 parent reviews

age 18+

Don’t even give it a try.

We are people who fast forward bad scenes. The scenes in this come so quick and so fast that you can’t stop them quick enough because the really sensual bad stuff is already in full moan... mhmm... if you could take away the sensual scenes and story lines and just keep it as a spy thriller that implies things we wouldn’t have had to stop watching but watching this is like leading a double life simply by watching (even while trying to avoid the scenes) so do not touch. Not for kids not for adults not for anyone who cares about sexual immorality. Don’t touch. Danger.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
3 people found this helpful.
age 18+

BRUTAL RAPE SCENE IN EPISODE 1!!! UPDATE THE REVIEW!

I am appalled! I started watching this with my girlfriend, who has been a victim of sexual violence numerous times in the past, and 10 minutes in, we witness a brutal and incredibly upsetting rape. We see nudity, screams, and the woman not being helped by a bystander. I am appalled and disgusted! FIX THE REVIEW! THIS MUST BE MENTIONED!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
3 people found this helpful.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Created and executive produced by a former CIA agent, The Americans not only takes on a complicated topic but also asks viewers to do something they normally wouldn't: root for the "bad guys" (in this case, Russian spies). Back in the '80s, when Cold War tensions were coming to a head, a show that pushed a pair of KGB agents as protagonists would never have aired on American TV. But 30 years later, with the Iron Curtain lifted, it's a very different world -- and America has very different enemies.

So the concept is certainly intriguing -- and the bad '80s fashion is often amusing. Rhys and Russell make a pretty good team, too, stirring up strains of '80s TV duos like Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Hart to Hart, albeit much darker. But in the end, The Americans isn't as successful as it could be, thanks to flashbacks that feel less than real and choppy plots that make the action hard to follow. It's not the best choice for family viewing either.

TV Details

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