"The Strain" Recap: "The Born"

Written by Scotty

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Trust is not something that is given easily, it is something that has to be earned.  Even with close friends, you are hesitant to trust them with your deepest and darkest secrets since you do not know what they will do with the information.  But when you find out who you can trust, you divulge everything to them since they will be your closest confidant and never cross you.  It is a hard decision that you have to make to trust someone and for so many people it does not come easy, knowing that there is someone out there that is looking to hurt you.

Fet and Dutch are enjoying their time together and making the best of a terrible situation.  When Dutch gets tired of wearing the same clothes day after day, she suggests that the couple head over to her apartment and pick up more of her wardrobe.  When arriving at the apartment however, they find that the door has been bolted shut from the inside.  Fearing the worse, Fet kicks the door in to find out who the intruder is, but is shocked to find that Nikki, Dutch’s girlfriend is hiding in fear.  Dutch is taken back and wants to go back to the old ways to ensure Nikki’s sanity, but Fet is not too keen on just sticking around.  With no important questions being asked about why she has not contacted anybody, he knows that he will be shelved as his role has been replaced by an old flame.

Eph has made it back to New York with a bullet hole in his shoulder and is ready to come back home, but thinks twice about it when he scopes the bar across the street.  Pounding down shot after shot, he finally arrives at the apartment only to see that the group has grown by another person.  Wanting to talk to Zach and Nora, Dutch suggests that he sleep it off before he says something stupid.  Waking up with Nora patching him up, Eph hears that Kelly has made another attempt on getting Zach and she was close to getting him this time.  Knowing that his bioweapon is not going to be produced, Eph is out of ideas, but finding out that Stoneheart was behind the hit on him, he has come up with a new target.

Eldritch Palmer is getting bored in his building and wants to get out.  Convincing his new assistant Coco to go along for a ride, the two are starting to truly bond.  Even when Coco asks him about the news that was delivered about Ephraim Goodweather, Palmer keeps his cool and tells her everything that she will be able to read in the newspaper.  But Palmer’s plans run deeper than he will allow Coco to understand, but the young woman is getting closer than any woman has ever been to the old man.  Wanting to find out more about Palmer, Coco takes him up to his room and even though he does not believe that he can please her, Coco has her mind set on making him feel young again. 

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Heading to a Stoneheart warehouse, Abraham and Fet have stumbled on to something that they did not expect to find, a breeding ground.  While inspecting the worm pit where the feelers were conceived, the two are attacked by the fast little vampires, until they see a stranger arrive at the door.  The Ancient’s new hunter, Mr. Quinlan looks over the area and is able to destroy the feeler threat unlike anyone has been able to do.  Knowing Abraham’s story, Quinlan wants to know how a mere mortal was able to hurt the Master.  Before the story can even be started, Quinlan senses the Master’s presence in the building and continues on with his hunt.  Finding the Master in his new body, Quinlan is ready to attack and complete his lifelong mission, but Fet is taking matters into his own hands by setting up explosives to take down the building.  Before the battle is able to commence, the ceiling drops separating the two vampires and the fight will be held off until another day.

This episode gave you a good look into the Ancient’s new hunter Quinlan’s past.  Seeing him on the gladiator stage killing a man twice his size with ease, Quinlan is said to be a half breed of man and demon.  The only reason he says in the city is to find out more about the humans and their tendencies.  Although the killing does not please him, he has made a name for himself and could never be defeated.  Keeping his skills sharp while hunting for the Master, many years later he is shown approaching a town that is being deserted.  As tales have traveled about a giant living in the castle who only comes out at night and attacks the towns’ people, he knows it is the Master, but he has shown up too late.  Now with his travels bringing him overseas to America, Quinlan is ready to end this chapter in his life and put an end to the Master once and for all.   He will need help, but right now with the Master getting away, he will not allow Abraham or Fet to further assist in the hunt.

I really liked how this episode brought some storylines together.  With Dutch finding her past love Nikki alive and well, the emotions that Fet has to deal with will change him going forward.  Even after having a drink with Eph, he might continue his quest to be happy with Dutch, but at this point, he is defeated and cares little about what is happening.  Young Zach is starting to bond more with the group and I don’t think we are getting to see it all.  With Abraham telling him all kinds of facts without Eph knowing about it, Zach seems to be curled up at the old professor’s feet looking for a bedtime story.  Palmer is starting to get some play, which is good since he has been near death his entire life, but what is Coco really looking for out of the relationship?  It will be interesting to see what comes out in the next episode since we know that Eph has put a target on Palmer’s chest for killing his friends in Washington, but producing the bioweapon should be his first priority since it is easier to kill a man than a vampire.  Stay Scared!

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