Well, we know the story payoff will be with her "boyfriend", Oleg, otherwise why cover the story back in Russia with his family.
Tin foil hat here:
He and Stan have been getting buddy-buddy.
As Stan gets closer to suspecting Philip and Elizabeth, he will convince Oleg (looking for revenge on Russia for killing her) to help him, exposing them.

quote:

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Doesn't seem like there was really any reason to shoot her inside like that... Made a huge mess.

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showrunners said they based it on real life events in how some of these were handled, down to the fact that they (the Russians) knew to have 2 people on each side of her to catch her because people tend to drop to their knees when they learn they are going to be shot. Also the person reading the judgment moves to the side immediately after reading so as to not get blood on themselves.

Also, note that the mop/bucket are there along the wall, in preparation for the shooting.

Those damn Russians were efficient.

A bad spot is on your new rug in front of your 4k tv. This was in a room with a hard floor, cinderblock walls, and a metal desk easy to wipe down. Outside of having her stand in front of a freshly dug grave, it was just fine.

Keri Russell must work out

Good episode but the Martha thing feels forced, wish that had ended instead of Nina.
They have also taken a deliberate approach this year away from action and intrigue and towards the interpersonal stuff. Wish they could go back to a better balance - every other scene is Paige or Martha crying about something. It's not Dana in homeland bad but feels like it needs a charge a bit.

Wow, that is a sound theory.

I think people are not appreciating the Martha storyline as much as they should.

First of all, she was a killer source. Somebody who planted a bug in the counter intelligence office? That is huge. Secondly, the way in which she was turned was gut wrenching. Taking a woman who is alone and giving her a fake love interest to the point of "marrying" her? That is low, and clearly it tears Phillip up. Could anybody here get themselves to do that to some poor woman? I'd think not. Now Phillip is trying to somehow make things right. It goes to show the ethical boundaries that line of work puts it's employees through. When applying for intelligence work, one of the first things they ask you is, "do you have any ethical problems breaking the laws of foreign countries?" If the answer is yes, then you are pretty much shown the door. Martha represents that unique aspect of intel work that is not seen almost anywhere else.

Secondly, this is not the Sopranos. Killing Martha would be a DISASTER for the Soviets. The Americans would make it widely known throughout the intelligence community that the Soviets use their sources and then kill them when they are done. Every Soviet source in every country would suddenly clam up, and the Soviets would find it extremely difficult to recruit new sources. Phillip, or whoever, would have to kill her and hide her body next to Jimmy Hoffa, but even then our sources within the Soviet government would find out eventually. The Center might look at this as a monumental F-up of epic proportions. Phillip is already in deep crap, if the Martha thing goes even more south, then he'd be in dangerous territory. They might even punish him as an example to save face for their other sources who get scared. On a personal level, having to kill Martha might send him over the deep end too.

I think cutting the Martha story short would be a big time writing mistake. If anything, they should do and have done a better job explaining Martha's importance and how deep crap they are in at the moment.