Unable to parlay its vast critical acclaim and buzz into audience growth, FX’s “The Americans” posted underwhelming ratings for its second season premiere.
The episode, which received critical marks as good as if not better than those offered throughout the first season, attracted 1.9 million viewers. The adults 18-49 rating is expected to clock in at 0.7.
Though up slightly from the first season finale’s performance (and that of many first season episodes), the numbers are both down markedly from last January’s series premiere. Airing on January 30, 2013, that series opener posted a 1.2 rating with 3.2 million viewers.
There was no reason to believe the second season premiere would mirror that performance, but given all the hype, there was reason to believe it would post a strong number than it did.
By delivering a performance on par with (or only slightly better than) its typical season one showing, the season two premiere proves that buzz over the FX series did not really drive any new viewers to the series.