10 Reasons The Americans Is The Best TV Show You've Never Seen

The synopsis of The Americans goes as much: two Russian spies, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, pose as Americans while they send information to the Russian government in secret. So, yes, it's a spy show, but don't pass it off as just that, because it's so, so much more than espionage.

At its heart, The Americans is a show about a loss of identity. The show follows the leads' journey as they work for their country, all while trying to pose as citizens of America with their two children. As the series progresses, they become more assimilated into American life. They're still tied to their Russian nationalism, but they grow so far away from their Russian roots that by the end of the series, they aren't truly American or Russian.

Aside from that, The Americans is also a show about family. While they do terrible things in secret, Philip and Elizabeth do their best to live a family life without their children knowing who they truly are. Of course, given the nature of their work (and the fact that their neighbor and friend, Stan Beeman, is an FBI agent), there's a sense of dread and inevitability of the family life they've built will come crashing down with each passing episode, which of course makes for enticing drama.