Philip and Mischa are two characters from the popular FX television series The Americans. The show follows Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, two Soviet KGB agents living undercover as a married couple in suburban Washington D.C. during the Cold War. Philip and Mischa are their two children, who do not know their parents’ true identities.
Throughout the run of the show, Philip and Mischa have very few interactions. This leads many fans to wonder – do the two brothers ever actually meet within the timeline of the show? Let’s take a look at what happens with both characters over the course of the series to see if their paths ever cross.
Philip’s Storyline
Philip is the eldest son of Philip and Elizabeth. In the pilot episode, which is set in 1981, he is about 13 years old. Philip is a typical American teenager – he plays hockey, goes to the mall with friends, has crushes on girls at school. His parents try to shield him from their secret life as much as possible and portray themselves as travel agents.
In the second season, Philip begins to question some of the odd behaviors and frequent absences of his parents. He also feels increasingly distant from them, as they refuse to tell him the truth about who they really are. By season 3, Philip has become rebellious and gotten involved with a dangerous crowd, using drugs and alcohol.
After an incident where Philip shares too much with a friend about his parents’ mysterious background, Philip and Elizabeth realize they need to take drastic measures. They tell Philip the truth about being Russian agents, and prepare to take him back to live in the Soviet Union. However, Philip angrily rejects their ideology and ultimatum. He decides to stay in America but move out and live with his friend’s family instead.
For the next few seasons, Philip continues living a typical American teen life – going to school, finding romance, and planning for college. He remains estranged from his parents even after they try to make amends. In the final season, a now college-aged Philip has gained some perspective and maturity. He begins tentatively rebuilding a relationship with his parents.
Key Points about Philip:
- He is 13 years old in 1981 when the show begins
- He is kept unaware of his parents’ secret lives for many years
- After learning the truth, he rejects their Soviet ideology and remains in America
- He becomes emancipated as a teen and remains distant from his parents until adulthood
Mischa’s Storyline
Mischa is Philip and Elizabeth’s second son. He was born in the Soviet Union while his parents were on a mission abroad in late 1966. As U.S.-based deep cover operatives, Philip and Elizabeth knew they could not safely raise an infant. Upon his birth, Mischa was immediately given up to an orphanage in Russia.
Philip and Elizabeth planned to eventually go back to the Soviet Union and bring Mischa home when their mission was over. However, their assignment ended up continuing for decades longer than expected. Over the years, they received occasional updates on Mischa and photos as he grew up in the orphanage. But they were unable to make contact or reveal his true parentage.
In season 4, Mischa learns about his American birth parents from a Soviet official who suggests he may be able to reunite with them. Inspired by this possibility, the now teenage Mischa makes the dangerous decision to travel alone across Europe to the United States in search of his family.
After harrowing adventures crossing borders and sneaking passage on trains, Mischa finally reaches D.C. in season 5. He shows up unannounced at Philip and Elizabeth’s travel agency. They are shocked to meet him in person for the first time.
Philip and Elizabeth are thrilled Mischa found them, but alarmed at the risk he took. They let Mischa stay in their home briefly and get to know him. However, for his own safety they know he can’t stay in America permanently given their high-stakes intelligence work. In season 6, Mischa sadly returns to the Soviet Union after a brief time reuniting with his parents and learning he has an older brother in Philip.
Key Points about Mischa:
- He was born in 1966 in the Soviet Union but given up to an orphanage
- As a teen, he independently travels across Europe to find his American parents
- Mischa finally meets Philip and Elizabeth for the first time in season 5
- For his safety, he returns to Russia after briefly reuniting with his family
Do Philip and Mischa’s Storylines Intersect?
Based on following Philip and Mischa’s individual story arcs, it becomes clear their paths only directly intersect for a brief period. When Mischa arrives in America seeking his family, Philip is still a teenager living apart from his parents after learning their Soviet secret.
Philip and Mischa meet for the first time when Mischa shows up at Philip and Elizabeth’s travel agency in season 5. However, Mischa’s time in America is very limited. Within a few episodes he is on a plane back to Russia out of concern for his safety if he stays with his spy parents.
So in the end, Philip and Mischa only get to spend a short amount of time together in person. Their meeting was long-awaited, but lasted only about a season before Mischa had to return to the Soviet Union. They do not have an opportunity to truly get to know each other or bond as brothers. Their brief reunion represents the wistful, star-crossed nature of the Jennings family dynamic that the show explores.
Key Points about Philip and Mischa’s Interaction:
- They first meet when Mischa unexpectedly arrives in America in season 5
- Mischa stays with the family for a few episodes before having to return to Russia
- The brothers only get to spend a short time together before being separated again
Conclusion
In summary, Philip and Mischa are separated for nearly their entire lives. The two brothers, sons of undercover KGB agents Philip and Elizabeth, spend their childhoods continents apart – Philip growing up American and Mischa in a Soviet orphanage.
Their storylines finally intersect when teen Mischa independently travels to the U.S. to find his family. However, after a brief, bittersweet reunion, Mischa is forced to leave for his own safety. The brothers’ time together is fleeting. So ultimately, while Philip and Mischa briefly meet when Mischa comes to America, their interaction is very limited before circumstances tear them apart again. Their tragic story exemplifies the human cost of the Jennings’ life of lies and constant risk.