The showrunners, Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, established a "rule of realism": characters speak the language they would naturally use in that situation.
The subtitle strategy for The Americans (2013–2018) is a critical component of its storytelling, as the series frequently features extended dialogue in Russian to maintain historical and cultural authenticity.
These are English translations for Russian dialogue that appear automatically on-screen. They are essential for understanding pivotal plot points in the "Rezidentura" (the Soviet embassy).