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Spoilers below forThe Americansseries finale.
The Americansis over, but one question remains unanswered:Is Renee a Russian spy?
Why would she do that if she didnt need him for access?
Shes gotta be a spy!
Or maybe she isnt.
Whatever the real answer may be, the finale keeps it well-hidden.
But according to actress Laurie Holden, who played Renee, there is an answer.
Renee serves a very specific function in the narrative.
Her purpose has been to stir up intrigue.
I know, but I will never tell, she told Vulture.
For his part, actor Noah Emmerich said that hed hate to pollute the waters with his theories.
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Meanwhile, co-executive producer Joel Fields suggests a more pragmatic reason for Renees ambiguous ending.
So, what was the point of Renee?
Why spend so much time nurturing that potential in her, only to leave it unaddressed?
Its easy enough to decide that, yes, she is a spy whose secret stays undisclosed.
But her role is first and foremost to serve intrigue, as Holden put it.
Renee is the shows ultimate unanswered question.
The best moment is one where shes not even there.
Im not sure, he says.
The rest of the finale is surprisingly definitive.
Its a masterful, quiet implosion.
When every question is answered, the narrative doors close and the story fades from your mind.
Reporting by Maria Elena Fernandez and Jen Chaney.
