The series is set during the Cold War and follows Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet KGB intelligence officers posing as an American married couple living in Falls Church, a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., with their American-born children Paige and Henry.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.71 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
For the episode, Matthew Rhys received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Gabriel tells Claudia (Margo Martindale) that Mischa (Alex Ozerov) has returned to the USSR, although he still feels conflicted on his actions.
After visiting the Lincoln Memorial, Gabriel informs Philip and Elizabeth that he is officially retiring and will return to the USSR, as he feels tired.
In March 2017, FX confirmed that the sixth episode of the season would be titled "Crossbreed", and that it would be written by executive producer Stephen Schiff, and directed by Roxann Dawson.
The site's consensus states: "'Crossbreed' quietly heightens the stakes in The Americans' fifth season while opening the door to a beloved character's departure - and an unexpected meeting.
Written by Stephen Schiff and directed by Roxann Dawson, the episode was ambitious, weaving religion, psychoanalysis, Marxism and martial arts into a late-20th-century thematic tapestry.
From Elizabeth trying to find Young Hee to Gabriel telling Philip the truth about his father, everyone's attempts to reconcile with their past failed big time.
It's widening gyre time and no amount of psychiatrist side quests or Mischa setbacks can distract from this moral center and its inability to hold.
"[13] Matt Brennan of Paste gave the episode a 7.6 out of 10 and wrote, "For all its flaws, 'Crossbreed' depicts characters on the precipice of change they can neither predict nor prevent, and in this context, Gabriel's reflection gathers to it the power of a premonition.
"[14] At the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, Matthew Rhys submitted the episode to support his nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.