The Strain Recap: "Gone Smooth"

Written by Scotty

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

Another week has come and gone and the effects of the ‘virus’ contracted by the survivors from flight 753 is starting to become very aggressive.  We have seen the dead passengers return to their loved ones and at least one take a bite out of her father, but now the survivors are gaining a thirst that cannot be soothed without blood.  As they keep trying to tell everyone that they are ok, they are hearing a voice that they do not know and a beating sound that they cannot phase out. 

With Gabriel Bolivar having a hard time feeling like his old self, and biting one of his groupies in the jugular last week, he is being urged to get back onto the stage by his publicist.  As there is no such thing as bad publicity and he needs to capitalize on the fame and fortune right now.  Refusing to play, Bolivar calls in the help from his old doctor to get any sort of treatment, but the doctor is not trying to play upon the actual symptoms, he is just trying to Bolivar back to making his music.

Dr. Goodweather and Martinez are trying to figure out what happened with all 206 of the dead bodies taken of off flight 753.  No bodies can be located in the coroner’s office, and the coroner seems to be missing now as well.  Fearing that another government group is trying to cover-up what happened on the flight, Eph and Nora are afraid that the pilot of the flight might be in danger of disappearing as well and go and try to figure out what this virus is actually doing to the survivors.

Abraham Setrakian has had his court date and acts like an old man with no idea of the legal system.  Playing the race card, he is able to get out of anymore jail time by and is thinking of a way to hunt down the new threat that is about to unleash itself in the city.  Being confronted by Nora about what he knows, he pushes her away knowing that she is not ready to hear the truth of what is actually happening to the people from the flight.  Wanting to destroy every body of the dead, the survivors and now the families of the ill-fated flight 753 may seem extreme, but Setrakian knows that this must be done and soon.

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Vasiliy Fet is being called all around town as rats are being reported in mass numbers.  After his latest job was completed and he was ready to head home, he notices that there seems to be a migration of the rodents in the city.  As the critters are moving out of the sewers, Fet is curious about what is causing this, but still has to answer to his own boss if he finds anything.

Jim Kent is starting to have second thoughts about what he has done and goes to visit Palmer’s assistant and figure out what he is a part of.  When he threatens to go to the police, he is bribed with something he cannot resist, a possible treatment for his wife’s cancer.  With her name being put on a drug trial list that is so exclusive, he believes that this is best chance for her to get cured.  Being told that he is now employed by both his paying job at the CDC and now ‘The Master’ does not sit with Kent, but he has no choice as he has been accessory to something bigger than he can imagine.  

Another great episode and I am being far from disappointed in the direction that the series is taking us.  I am still undecided on Thomas Eichorst, the Master’s assistant, but the more screen time he has, the better.  He seems to have a power that nobody knows about and when you see him get made up for the day, you can understand why.  He is playing a pivotal role right now as the Master is gaining his power and will hopefully be fully involved in whatever happens when the eclipse hits.  Also a tasteful shot of Bolivar as his change is coming faster than any of the other survivors made this episode worth my while.  If you have not read the books or the comics you may not understand, but you do get a quick glance at him becoming a pale ken doll.  The Strain has me sucked in right now and with the slight variations from the novel, I am not looking back.  All of the episodes run too fast and leave you wanting more, but you just have to wait.  Stay Scared!

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