The Strain‘s eighth episode kicks off right where the last one left off, the team in the subway figuring out they can’t easily defeat their enemy with bullets. They’ll need to take them on by simulating sun light some how. To get what they need though they need to break into a building where they meet the exterminator, Visily, who also has been having some vampire issues in his work.

Again, the series ramps up the scares, as the supply mission leads to a gas station where they’re quickly surrounded by vampires, forcing the team to do some battle. It’s a solid sequence, and I’ve noticed the series has been slowly increasing the threats as the vampire disease spreads. It feels natural and there’s not suddenly 100s of vampires attacking.

Not only has all of this brought our key players together, we also get to see the female hacker from the earlier episodes, and I totally forgot about her. But, as far as new connections, the most interesting is Visily and Abraham who quickly bond. Visily believing what’s going on, a believer, to Eph’s disbeliever. Visily brings an interesting perspective, as he is not only a believer, but he also looks at them like vermin.

There is some toe-curling moments, such as when a member is infected, and some impromptu surgery has to take place.

The episode is really the one that ramps everything up. There’s a choice of life and death with everyone forced to make some hard decisions about who and what they kill. There’s even a major death. Overall, the series is getting better with each episode.

Overall Score: 8.5