In the twelfth episode of the second season of The Strain, Eph must choose between Zack’s safety and the safety of the citizens of NYC.  Meanwhile, his relationship with Nora reaches a critical impasse, and Gus and Angel assemble an unlikely gang of Sun-hunters.

When Eph met Nora, that could be the subtitle of this episode which jumps between the present and past exploring the relationship between Eph and Nora. We get to see how they met, and how it evolved, which compared to the present events, it gets interesting.

It’s also interesting to see how that relationship compares to Dutch and Fet, who are dealing with Dutch’s recent kidnapping and her rather tumultuous relationships.

The third interesting relationship is between Justine and the Mayor who play politics over the safety of the city and her plan to tax the rich to pay those fighting the infection. There’s some things that are said by others that makes me think there’s WAY more than we’re seeing as far as what’s going on (and there’s a hell of a twist here that I didn’t see coming). Talk of Homeland/Fatherland, and it leading to murder… it has echoes of statements from Fear the Walking Dead.

The relationships have been an interesting thing throughout the series. When the series focuses on it, it does really well, but it hasn’t always been as upfront as other series. How this episode handles it is quite good, and I hope there’s some more focus on that.

Angel and Gus recruit an interesting bunch, and of course things don’t go well. It’s an interesting recruiting strategy, and it’s one I’d think is a smart one, as the team assembled is pretty hardcore when it comes to fighting at least. Whether they really listen to orders is a whole other thing.

The episode dives more into the politics of it all, especially as the city (and society) crumbles. To me, this is the most interesting aspect of the show. It questions what we’ll do for our safety, how far we’ll go. It doesn’t do it as in your face as other series, but it’s subtlety is a strength. Late into the second season, the series is getting really interesting.

Overall rating: 8.5

In the eleventh episode of the second season of The Strain, Dutch fights for her life against Eichhorst as Fet, Nora, and Eph frantically search the city for her. Setrakian confronts an old acquaintance on his search for the Occido Lumen, while Gus helps the Guptas escape across the border to safety. Written by Carlton Cuse and Regina Corrado; directed by Phil Abraham.

This week’s episode is interesting in that we have three stories that play off each other a bit. Dutch is held by Eichhorst, and Setrakian is held as well. Also, we learn about Eichhorst’s past and his failed love life, and we have Gus and his relationship as well. The three stories play off of each other quite well. Most of the episode is focused on Eichhorst, so we’ll come to that last.

Setrakian’s part of the episode is pretty brief. He’s captured. The Lumen is there. We learn who has it, and that’s about it. It’s a lead up for what’s to come.

Gus is still with the Guptas, and is getting them across the border to safety. We learn that he’s not quite the bad guy and shit head of the past. And there’s a bit of a romantic there. It’s a nice touch, and again, like Setrakian, it’s a small part of the story, and will be explored more later.

Eichhorst is the main focus, in that the episode explores his holding Dutch captive, but also focuses back at his time in Germany. We learn a lot of how he became a Nazi, and how he was utterly worthless before that. We learn a lot about him, and it sheds a lot of light on why he is the way he is, and how cold and ruthless he is.

The Dutch part of it is straight up horror story. The direction is so different from previous episodes, it’s what I’d expect in a horror film. Her running, her psychological torture, it’s all really fascinating to see.

The episode is so good on so many levels, and shows the series can be so much more than some past episodes. Probably the best episode of the season.

Overall rating: 8.5

In the tenth episode of the second season of The Strain, Eph and Dutch work together to thwart the Master’s greatest ally. Justine runs into trouble with the Mayor while Setrakian tracks down the real owner of the Lumen.

Well this episode is one that really goes sideways in many ways. There’s Setrakian tracking down the Lumen, which is fine and dandy, but really the episode is about Eph and Dutch and Justine.

Lets start with Eph and Dutch who act on their plan to kill Elritch Palmer. What happens is very predictable, but where that takes the two characters isn’t. There’s many moments here that actually had me wondering what would happen. I didn’t have a clue who might be turned, and where things were going. There’s some tense moments, and some pretty awesome ones too. Predictable, yes. Still entertaining though.

Then there’s the whole Justine angle, which I didn’t see going the way it did at all. Redhook is generally under control, but not every area will get their hands dirty to help out. Justine goes a way with the well off that I didn’t expect at all. When I first saw the character, I was convinced she’s a politico under the control of the vampires, and now I seriously have no idea.

Last week was a mixed episode and this one is back to being awesome again. Who knows where it’s going from here.

Overall rating: 8

In the ninth episode of the second season of The Strain, Justine takes drastic measures to counter a surprise invasion. Nora and Fet perform a useful mission while Eph and Setrakian face off against an old foe.

This episode had some very good, and some very bad at the same time. The acting was very flat, but the action was solid. It’s a bit weird like that. The action, the story, it all feels very amped up with confrontations we haven’t seen yet in the series.

The infected are getting pretty bold and have their eyes set on Red Hook, which leads to an invasion, and some questions as to where the hell the waves came from. Yes, there’s holes in the plot, but still, to see the cops blasting away, and some folks attempting to stand up is all entertaining. There’s a lot of confrontations here, many coming for a while.

All that good is unfortunately hampered by rather poor acting. Some of it’s good, but it’s also not any just one character or actor who has moments where they come off rather dull. Something’s up with this one, it’s just very odd. The series has never been one with fantastic acting, but it’s pretty bad here.

The episode is full of action, and interesting developments, but with that good comes a whole lot of bad too.

Overall rating: 7

In the eighth episode of the second season of The Strain, Eph must protect Zack against a surprise intruder into Red Hook.  Gus convinces the Guptas to make a difficult choice.  Fet and Setrakian set out to acquire the Lumen but discover they are not the only potential buyer.

This episode is an interesting one, as it mostly feels like those moments where you’re screaming at the movie or television show over the idiotic decisions that are made.

Here’s the good. The make-up is pretty cool for some of the things that are going on. And, there’s some moments where various characters realize that games are being played and they’re likely being screwed over, or played. Really, the quiet moments are some of the best of the episode, and I particularly liked the Red Hook intruder aspect. How that was done was really cool.

The bad is the moments, and there’s a few, where decisions make no sense. The fight over the Lumen feels dragged out, and where so many other things are taken by force, why isn’t this one from the beginning? Then, there’s the fight at the end. Leaving the door open and having your back to it? Going down stairs that are open? Really!? That whole thing felt like a scene limited by budget as opposed to story.

Overall, the last few episodes have been solid, this one though feels like a step backwards a bit. Oh well, can’t be all winners.

Overall rating: 7

In the sixth episode of the second season of The Strain, Setrakian and Fet use Fitzwilliam’s info to attack the Master, but a mysterious new player arrives.  Dutch receives a surprise guest.  Eph returns to NYC frustrated but energized to go after the one person responsible for killing his friends. Teleplay by Chuck Hogan; directed by Howard Deutsch.

I’ve ragged on The Strain‘s special fx and make-up a lot of this season, but it looks like the seventh episode is where things really hit the ground full steam and running.

This episode has Fet and Setrakian heading to the industrial zone where the Master has been reborn and the bus full of blind kids wound up. There, they meet Quinlan, that mysterious vampire we’ve been teased the last couple of episodes. Quinlan, we get his history, which is actually pretty cool. And, you can see in those segments in the beginning of the episode, the production value has been increased. Quinlan is the bad ass we’ve been waiting for, for quite a while. That too is seen, with some awesome special fx.

While all of that is looking up, other things are looking down, including Eph’s return to New York City.

The episode is very much full of ups and downs and is easily the strongest episode of the season so far, and probably one of the best of the series too. The episode is full of action, some cool moments, and characters I’m starting to really like. It also is an episode that weaves the past and present quite well, spending a good amount of time on both. It also is bit more focused on fewer things. That seems to be the sweet spot for the series, a previous episode was stronger with that focus too.

Overall, the episode is starting to really pick things up, and I perked up in my interest. Onwards, now armed with a pretty bad ass character in tow.

Overall rating: 8.5

In the sixth episode of the second season of The Strain, Eph concocts a plan to make and distribute a bioweapon. Gus realizes Angel can be an unlikely ally, and Kelly comes after Nora and Zack.

This episode does something the entire season has been doing well, showing how bureaucracy is as much to blame for the situation in New York as anything else. You can see this with the obstacles of what Eph has to go through, and sign away, to get his bioweapon in front of the right people. To me, this aspect of the series and story is the most fascinating of them all, and makes me want to see a series completely focused on just this aspect.

The scenes with Gus and Angel are interesting. I’m trying to figure out where that’s completely going. There’s also some movement on the Master himself and those working to take him down. It’s best to watch those, I definitely don’t want to spoil the former.

The final major plot is Kelly going after Nora and Zack. As can be expected in these types of situations, choices made aren’t the best. Instead of closing doors and driving away, folks run, etc. It’s the usual silliness you expect from this sort of genre. But it also helps move along the plot and story.

I will say, there is a big disappointment in the episode and the series. Warning, this is a SPOILER!!!!

Ok, you’ve been warned.

Just as the series finds an African American character to join the group, he winds up getting killed off. While it’s an interesting emotional moment, the series seems to have an issue that plagues The Walking Dead, where those with darker skin tend to get killed off rather easily. This is also a character who had some interesting potential that could have been explored more.

END SPOILER!!!!

Overall, the episode is another solid one deepening the conspiracy and upping the action. Some of the make-up still has issues, it’s not as prevalent. Overall, The Strain continues to be an entertaining summer show, and this is another solid episode.

Overall rating: 7.5

In the fifth episode of the second season of The Strain, Eph changes his appearance to leave the city while Nora is left as the reluctant parent for Zack. Also, Dutch and Nora make a deal with Justine to secure Fet’s release from jail

This season has made it clear, it can no longer be denied — New York City is rapidly falling to an evil epidemic, and no one is coming to its rescue. Its citizens must fight or die.

That fact is put forth in the first segment of the episode which sees a police team attempt to exterminate some of the infected, who have gotten stranger and more powerful in ways since the previous season. The movement and action are really improved, even more than the last four episodes. There’s a horror movie like aspect to it all, and the quick action, keeping the team on their toes does the same for us.

The episode really focuses on Eph and his plan to stop the expansion of the infected. You can also call it “explain why he has a shaved head due to Ant-Man.” There’s some interesting stuff, like the fact that train travel seems to be relatively easy even though there’s a massive infection going on. It also sets up Eph meeting one of the government officials who turned on him. I think though the most interesting aspect of this part is Eph’s drinking. This is a character who’s spiraling down, and you wonder how much this will get in the way.

The episode overall is very focused compared to ones of the past. It takes on less plot points, and due to that, it’s much better than the rest of the season’s episodes. What’s interesting is, even with the focus, the episode still moves so many pieces forward. With a tighter episode, it still moves the overall story quite well, which is impressive to do.

The strongest episode of the season so far by far…. but you couldn’t film in Washington, DC?

Overall rating: 8

In the fourth episode of the second season of The Strain, Eph and Nora finally see their lethal virus in action. Fet takes the security of Red Hook into his own hands while Dutch and Setrakian set off for Staten Island to question Fitzwilliam, Palmer’s former bodyguard.

The issues as far as make-up that were prevelant in the last episode are gone in the fourth episode which has various characters go off in their own paths while also showing off more of the history especially about Setrakian and Palmer.

The episode is interesting in that it gives much more hope than I remember in the comic, mostly focused on the “cure” being worked on by Eph and Nora. That aspect is great and one of the best parts of the episode and even the season.

There’s absolutely some troubles in this episode, especially the flashbacks focused on a young Palmer and Setrakian. The make-up is horrendous, and the acting laughable. It’s really low budget, and just really bad. Like almost derails the episode bad. It’s focused on too much, and it just looks so bad.

Part of the reason it looks bad is that the rest of the episode is so good. The acting is better. The tasks everyone goes and does makes sense. Separated, everyone seems to be much stronger, especially as the episode focuses on fewer individuals in shorter segments. It’s a more focused episode in many ways limiting what it covers.

There’s a bit about a bad B-movie in the beginning which might not make sense, but for some reason I really enjoyed it, especially because what it involves shows off the characters’ humanity.

Much improvement over last week, and there’s some really solid stuff in the episode.

Overall rating: 7.5