Everything is not what it seems when it comes to the plot and characters of “The Americans†on FX, a spy thriller that follows a pair of K.G.B. agents living undercover in the suburbs of Washington D.C. during the Reagan era, and that appears to be the case for the show’s ratings as well.
The drama’s series premiere on Jan. 30 posted strong numbers, with over 3.2 million total viewers tuning in, according to Nielsen data. That total was just enough to squeak by the Oct. 5, 2011 premiere of another FX series, “American Horror Story.†It was also the second highest-rated cable program for that night in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic, behind only the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners.â€
The second episode on Feb. 6 however, fell below 2 million total viewers, a 39 percent decline from the previous week, accompanied by a 32 percent drop in the 18-to-49 category. The quck drop was something of a surprise considering the favorable reception the show received among critics.
But there is one final twist. Based on early DVR returns, “The Americans†has performed particularly well, with a 44 percent gain in total viewers, reaching 4.6 million for the season premiere. And according to a press release from FX, it will become the most-watched series debut in the channel’s history when final numbers are available.
