The Strain Season Two: Dead End

Eph, Fet and Nora try to locate and rescue Dutch before it is too late meanwhile Gus and Angel work to get the Guptas out of NY.

You know I thought there where going to be bigger plans for Dutch, maybe something involving Palmer, but I guess she was just going to be Eichorst's dinner. Parts of this episode where showing Eichorst torture Dutch but more in the psychological sense rather than the physical; they did a really good job of showing how much terror Eichorst was instilling in her, I guess he likes to play with his food before he eats it. Now I have a shrewd idea what Eichorst was planning to do with his tongue when he asked Dutch to take off her jeans and most of them involved hentai, tentacle stuff lol. We also got a really good chase scene between the two and again does a good job of showing Dutch is really afraid and just wants to get away; either through the looks of horror on her face to the constant dead ends. However a real highlight in their scenes where the Flashbacks to Eichorst's past as a salesman to a Nazi officer, it's been too long since we have had a Flashback involving his days as a human. It is nice seeing how Eichorst used to be just a humble salesman with barely any self - confidence to a Nazi who betrayed a girl he used to have feelings for though she was a Jew; you can tell he regretted that she was killed but that was when the last of his humanity went away and he became the hardened Nazi we saw in Season One Flashbacks. Now does this excuse what Eichorst is, no, because he is pure evil in the present day now but these gave us an understanding of how he became what he is now. The let down however was that the confrontation between Eichorst and Eph's group just ended in him fleeing once again, we didn't get to see even a little bit of a punch up.

A weak subplot this episode was Abraham's involving the Occido Lumen because after the cliff hanger last week the owner just turned out to be an ass who is only interested in money. Sure you can really tell Abraham's desperation at getting the book as he tried to convince the owner how important it is but at this point I just want him to get the book already so we can find out what all the fuss is about. I was surprised that there was no Coco and Palmer subplot this episode but it was made up with Gus and Angel back because I really like the team up with those two. Gus is shown as a more tragic character now, finding a woman he is in love with and a family he wants to protect but has to leave them now. I'm glad that he got the Guptas out of NY because it was a nice relief for Gus knowing he did this right rather than them being killed in an attack and it is just another thing he wants revenge for. I am also glad that Angel has decided to fight with Gus because as I said I like these to character together since Angel has now really come to trust Gus over the course of this season. Plus Angel does really have some guts, volunteering to stay in a warzone to kick some ass when he could have drove to safety!

Overall a good episode and since we are only two episodes away from the end of the season I am expecting things to pick up a lot now.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Dutch's torture and escaping
                   Eichorst Flashbacks
                   Gus and Angel subplot

Let - Downs: Could have had a better fight between Eichorst and Eph's group
                      Abraham's subplot was disappointing     

The Strain Season Two: The Assassin

Eph and Dutch try to assassinate Palmer meanwhile Abraham, Fet and Nora continue the search for the Occido Lumen.

This is the episode Eph finally enacts his plan to kill Palmer after promising to do it a few episodes ago and I admit I thought we wouldn't get it until the finale. Eph and Dutch's subplot in this episode was the best one because firstly besides from a few conversations these two characters haven't really teamed up on a mission yet so it was nice to see that. It was funny how it first started off light-hearted with Dutch trying to make conversation about relationships and sex while they are staking out Palmer's office. Then they moved to the rooftop and that was a really intense moment; how Eph kept looking at his watch, his frustration at not getting a clear shot and Dutch making sure he saves the shot for the right moment. Then of course it was a big WTF moment when he accidently shot Coco instead! This episode I think is showing us that deep down Palmer still has some of his humanity left because of how he literally begged Coco to come back and the moments he stayed at her bedside, perhaps he is realizing he can't split his loyalties between Coco and the Master. It was predicable that the Master saved Coco and I am curious to see how she will react to now knowing what Palmer is really involved in but I wonder if it would have been better if she died? Think about it Eph will have to live with the guilt that his hatred and vengeance against Palmer cost an innocent woman her life and Palmer may go over the deep end and try some big, massive revenge scheme himself. Also thought I'd say the scene in the police station with those two confrontation each other was so well done; you can really feel the hatred these two have for each other in their dialogue.

As for everything else I am glad we got to continue more with Abraham's obsession with the Occido Lumen, he must really think it is the key to winning the war. We got some good vampire slaying from this group during their search as well as at the police station to save Eph and then Abraham getting knocked out by an unknown, I wonder if he will be dragged away some place or left there? Finally once again Feraldo is such a great character with how she is treating the upper class citizens of New York. You can tell the mayor has forced her to clear out their streets but she decides to give them a big F - U by making them pay for her services. I like this human conflict between her and the mayor and the upper class and I am really interesting in seeing how this plays out in the next episodes. Now a big let down however was something that wasn't in this episode this week and that was a subplot involving Gus and Quinlan. They weren't in last week's episode which I let slide because it was mostly focusing on Red Hook but I was really expecting them to least have a bit of screen time, especially since Quinlan has been a scene stealer ever since he was first introduced.

Overall a great episode which feature a strong Eph and Dutch subplot and with Dutch captured I wonder if we'll see a big raid on Palmer's headquarters soon? Also why did they get rid of the new opening? It was so much better!

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Eph and Dutch
                   Palmer and Coco
                   The scenes with Feraldo

Let - Downs: No Gus and Quinlan
                      Maybe it would have had more impact if Coco died?