As "The Americans" season 2 begins, spoilers regarding a newcomer replacing Margo Martindale's Claudia have surfaced.

According to TVLine, actress Wrenn Schmidt ("Boardwalk Empire") will premiere in season 2 episode 5 as Kate—Phillip and Elizabeth's new handler.

“We spent a lot of time talking about who the new handler should be,” says producer Joel Fields. “And we thought, ‘Well, if we’re running the center, and it didn’t work out with Claudia, who would we send? Let’s find Claudia’s polar opposite. Let’s send somebody who is going to keep Phillip and Elizabeth happy and encourage them to do their job well.”

“There’s no reason a handler has to be dishonest or particularly manipulative. There’s no reason not to try to be fundamentally open," adds executive producer Joe Weisberg.

So far, "The Americans" season 2 is a lot darker than season 1, with a greater threat to Phillip and Elizabeth's children, and spoilers confirm that will run throughout the season.

"In the first season, the Jennings thought their cover was so secure, they didn't really feel a physical threat to their children. It was always the threat of being arrested or killed and orphaning their kids," says Weisberg to The Daily Beast.

"But now you're getting into a whole new realm of fear and anxiety that's going to run throughout the season—and it's going to take some twists."

The producers also describe Nina as a genius spy, sometimes even fooling those writing the character!

"She's got the real spy skill to fool people. It's her genius as a spy. Which is maybe why everybody on the show thinks she's up to something else—even everybody working on the show."