What’s Worth Watching: The Americans: Welcome to the Evil Empire

The Americans, “March 8, 1983” (Wednesday, April 22, 10/9c, FX)

TV’s most emotionally taut spy/domestic drama ends its thrilling third season tonight, set on the date that President Reagan dubbed the USSR an “evil empire,” thereby escalating the Cold War. Deep cover Soviet spies Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) have so many balls in the air, gravity dictates some must come tumbling down. Among their worries: Martha (Allison Wright), the wife of Phillip’s alter ego Clark, is getting concerned about his identity; Philip may not be able to hold off having sex with the 15-year-old daughter of a CIA bigwig for much longer; and most importantly, what will they do about daughter Paige (Holly Taylor), who knows the truth about her parents.

The finale finds most of major characters in deep peril. Will Paige’s knowledge prove harmful or helpful when mother and daughter take a trip that puts them in treacherous territory? And will the plans made FBI Agent Stan (Noah Emmerich) to save Nina (Annet Mahendru), his asset turned lover turned betrayer, from the gulag crash and burn? We’ll happily keep the vodka chilled until next year to see what balls are still aloft.