The Americans

This period spy drama taps into all the paranoia of the Cold War even as it was in its last throes during the 1980s, but the genius of this show is that it makes espionage personal as we watch through the eyes of a Soviet spy couple trying to balance duty and family. The shifting alliances, double-crosses and dangerous liaisons are never-ending on this slow-burning series. And for those who dare to let themselves sink into this meticulously crafted world, sweet rewards await in every episode. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys do some of the best work of their careers.