In February 2014, FX confirmed that the second episode of the season would be titled "Cardinal", and that it would be written by executive producer Joel Fields and series creator Joe Weisberg, and directed by Daniel Sackheim.
"[4] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "That battle between what's emotionally real versus what's important to the mission is one that's been part of the series from day one, but the stakes of this season – and the parallels we're seeing in Stan and Nina's relationship – have only magnified that conflict.
If 'Comrades' was the explosion, the violence that lurks over everything that follows, then 'Cardinal' is just like that electric box in the floor, the one that doesn’t immediately suggest its danger but packs more of a punch once you explore it further.
"[6] Matt Zoller Seitz of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Considering that the overwhelming majority of TV series, past and present, have no sense of global history at all, much less a point of view on it, The Americans' awareness of its fictional characters' place in the world seems all the more remarkable.
"[7] Carla Day of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.7 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "This hour was a mixed bag of events.