The Strain Recap: "The Master"

Written by Scotty

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

When all is lost, or seeming like it will be, what is left to fight for?  Why should you risk your wellbeing to help someone that may or may not even know you?   There is something in our heads that makes us want to help our fellow person in need, no matter what and that is one of the defining elements that makes humans a very special race.  The needs of many outweigh the needs of the few, or something like that.

After being driven out of the pawn shop, Eph and Fet are looking trying to devise a plan to find out what was so important about the cavern that many infected were hiding out in.  Looking at an old city map, they believed that they had pinpointed the exact location and will go and do a little bit of scouting.  Finding out it was an old theater that rock star Gabriel Bolivar, one of the first infected, had purchased, Fet has an unknown amount of knowledge about the building and was able to find a bootleggers passage to grant the two easy access to the building.  Seeing the coffin that Abraham had smashed to pieces, they know that the Master is not far and head back to their new safe house to plan their attack.

Gus wakes up in an unfamiliar room with a bag over his head.  When the bag is removed, he sees his abductor is another vampire and Gus will do anything to get away.  The old ‘hunter’ however has a different plan in store for the powerful man, but has to get Gus to stop and listen before he can truly understand what he is doing in a vampire palace.  At every twist and turn in the underground building, Gus tries to escape, but the ‘hunter’ is much stronger and faster than anyone he has ever faced before, with the exception of Eichorst. After creating enough distance, Gus is able to flee down the only lighted hallway, but ends up in a room with blood riddled on the floor.  When the lights come on, he is face to face with the sleeping elders and the reason for his kidnapping is let known.  Gus is to be the ‘hunters’ day walker and help them destroy the threat before it becomes too great to stop.

Eldritch Palmer is on his feet again and feeling as youthful as ever.  With new found life coursing through him, he takes a tour of the battered pawn shop, but bad news comes when he speaks to Eichorst about his new abilities, finding out that he is not completely turned yet.  Full of hatred for the Master, Palmer still has work to do to fulfill his bargain.  When planning his trip to the CDC, he gets into a fight with his trusted employee Mr. Fitzwilliam and with too much already done, Fitzwilliam leaves his post and allows Palmer to work alone.  Although he is not without clout, Palmer is able to get Eichorst to accompany him to the CDC and the two force a change in management that could leave New York City open for the taking and much more importantly, allow for the virus to escape.

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Upset about the loss of her mother, Nora is changing quickly and drastically.  When the plan is devised to attack the Master once again, she demands that Eph take his son Zach along for the ride.  As there is no protection that can be offered for anyone anymore, it is most important to keep your loved ones by your side at all times.  So the stage is set and everyone in the group is ready to take over the old theater and dispose of the Master at all costs. 

Upon entering the theater, the group is met with several infected that fling their stingers at will and are trying to draw first blood.  With the tools that Abraham Setrakian has provided, the group is able to fend off the attacks with no losses on their side and leave several dead vampires in their wake.  As Eph, Zach and Abraham move deeper into the building, they are able to find the Master and the showdown begins.  Without being able to get a single blow on the enormous beast with the silver blades, Eph and Zach resort to breaking windows and allowing the sun light to do its worst.  Although the sunlight makes the Master weaker, he still will not allow his body to be hit with silver and when Abraham says his final words to the Strigoi, the Master is able to escape…in the sunlight and will be alive to fight another day.

The rules have changed as the first season of The Strain has come to an end.  Thank goodness that there is another season that will be gracing our television screens in 2015.  With so much emotion in the final episode, I will be chomping at the bit to see what will come next as there are a few more characters that may be joining the fight.  Also, waiting to see how the characters develop during the break will be great as well, but who I really am waiting to see break out is Nora Martinez as she has been on the fence about killing the infected since the very beginning.  With the loss of her mother, I hope to see a mad killing machine come out of it.  There is so much more that I could ramble on about, but that will have to be another time.  If you have been a fan of show since the beginning, which I hope you all have been, you know how painful it is to see it go. It will be back and I cannot wait until it does.  Until next time, keep your silver swords out, UV flashlights charged and just for good measure, a nail gun from your local Home Depot, they are on sale this week.  Stay Scared!

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