The Day After (The Americans)

"The Day After" is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the American period spy drama television series The Americans. It is the 48th overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer Tracey Scott Wilson, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. It was released on FX on May 11, 2016.

The series is set during the Cold War and follows Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet KGB intelligence officers posing as an American married couple living in Falls Church, a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., with their American-born children Paige and Henry. It also explores the conflict between Washington's FBI office and the KGB Rezidentura there, from the perspectives of agents on both sides, including the Jennings' neighbor Stan Beeman, an FBI agent working in counterintelligence. In the episode, Elizabeth sees her friendship with Young Hee threatened with her new assignment. Everyone watches The Day After, which explores the effects of a nuclear warfare.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.90 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising Keri Russell's performance and the series' exploration of The Day After.