The Strain Season 1 Episode # 4 "It's Not for Everyone" - Recap and Review

This post discusses the episode in detail. Readers yet to watch the episode are recommended to skip it, if they wish to avoid spoilers.

Dr Eph Goodweather (Corey Stoll), Dr Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) and Jim Kent (Sean Astin) discuss their options about what to do with Captain Redfern's (Jonathan Potts) body. Eph wants to perform an autopsy to figure out what is going on. Jim expresses his concern, but is overridden when Nora supports Eph.

Ann-Marie Barbour (Alex Paxton-Beesley) and Ansel Barbour (Nikolai Witschl) decide to move their kids to someplace else. Ansel declines Ann's offer to call on their family doctor Dr. Barrett, but insists to keep their family German shepherd pet, Gertie with him.

Eldritch Palmer (Jonathan Hyde) hires Dutch Velders (Ruta Gedmintus), an internet hacker to create a retaliation campaign against major corporations through an online group (“Citizens for Liberty”). Dutch slows down/shuts downs internet servers and helps create an atmosphere of disinformation. It is also revealed that the individual murdered by Thomas Eichorst (Richard Sammel) was the CEO of Regis Air.

Eph cuts open Redfern's body and removes the six foot long stinger. Jim confesses about his involvement in moving the coffin to Jim and Nora.

Ann finds Gertie dead with a big entrance wound to her throat. Ann hears noises from inside the shed. She is terrified when she meets a transformed Ansel. He begs and then scares her to run away and never return to him.

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Gus Elizalde (Miguel Gomez) returns the clock (stolen by his brother Crispin) to an unappreciative Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley). He steals a SUV and sells it for 800 USD to silver toothed Alonso Creem (Jamie Hector).

As Ann grieves over her dead dog, a cranky neighbour Trip Taylor (Darrin Baker) comes over and threatens her with calling the police about the constant noises from the shed. Ann is pissed off when she learns that Trip had previously beat Gertie. She tricks Trip into entering the shedj and Ansel promptly feeds on him.

Eldritch informs Secretary Maggie Pierson about a biological agent being let loose in the airplane and attempts to secure her help. In the midst of the conversation, he collapses.

Jim and Nora rush to Emma Arnot's (Isabelle Nélisse) house. Emma attacks them with the stinger and is killed by Abraham Setrakian. He also kills her transformed father, Gary Arnot (Steven McCarthy).

Nora is shocked by Abraham's actions and leaves them to do the rest of the work.

The episode closes as Abraham asks Eph to get the gasoline. 

David Bradley remains the best of the bunch. Miguel Gomez also gives an arresting performance as Gus. 

The episode continues to suffer from the same drawback: The narrative is weak. The constant shifting between the characters robs the show of a gripping momentum, that came across really well in the books. 

Guillermo del Toro does not seem to have his heart in place for this show. Perhaps, he is busy with other projects (“Crimson Peak”??). Most of the actors (with a few exceptions) seem to be just sleepwalking through their roles to collect the paycheck.

Trivia

• The children's song “This Old Man” can be heard playing in the scene, when Eph and Nora enter Emma Arnot's house.

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Image Sources: FX Networks, TheTVDen.com

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The Strain Season 1 Episode # 3 "Gone Smooth" - Recap and Review

This post discusses the episode in detail. Readers yet to watch the episode are recommended to skip it, if they wish to avoid spoilers.

In the opening scene, classical music plays in the background, a man with a disfigured face puts on his make up of passing off as a normal human being. The man is revealed to be Thomas Eichorst (Richard Sammel), who declares that soon there will be no need for charade.

Dr Everett Barnes (Daniel Kash) is questioned by Dr Eph Goodweather (Corey Stoll), Dr Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) and Jim Kent (Sean Astin) about the missing corpses. Everett reminds Eph that officially he is no longer assigned to the case.

Ansel Barbour (Nikolai Witschl) discovers that something is wrong with this teeth. His high strung wife, Ann-Marie (Alex Paxton-Beesley) is concerned about his health and advises him to take rest.

Jim has his own doubts about the missing box and goes to visit Eldritch Palmer. Eichorst bribes Jim by proposing a very highly selective and rare medical treatment for Jim's wife, Slyvia (Melanie Merkosky).

Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley) faces the legal ramifications as a result of his outburst at the JFK airport. The judge pointedly asks about his silver sword and Abraham responds that it is an object of sentimental value to him. He promises to destroy it and is let go.

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Nora attends the court proceedings and tries to get more information about the corpses from Abraham. Abraham again asks her to destroy the corpses and anyone who might have come in contact with them.

In the court mandated session, Zachary Goodweather (Ben Hyland) suggests that he would prefer a weekly visit or two from Eph. Zack is convinced that Eph's job is more important to him.

Vasiliy Fet (Kevin Durand) notices a steep hike in reports about incidents involving rats. Fet's latest assignment involves the daughter of a person of influence. After taking care of the

Ansel's pet German Shepherd notices the change in it's master. Ansel drinks the blood from a refrigerated piece of meat, even as his horrified wife watches.

Eph visits Gary Arnot's house to check on him and his daughter. He notices the blood-red water in the bathtub. He gets a phone call and leaves in a hurry. Emma Arnot (Isabelle Nélisse) is seen hiding behind a door.

Goth celebrity Gabe Bolivar (Jack Kesy) notices something wrong with his private parts. His personal doctor advises him to see an urologist right away. Gabe's frontal genitalia parts are missing.

Abraham Setrakian secures the passenger manifest of Regis Air 573 and is determined to complete his mission of destroying the corpses.

Thomas Eichorst visits a man in his office and murders him with his own handgun, making it look like suicide.

Captain Redfern (Jonathan Potts) escapes just before his operation is about to begin. He has been transformed and attacks Jim and then Nora with his newly developed stinger. Eph subdues him with a fire extinguisher.

Finally, we are getting to see some action. David Bradley continues to give the best performance among the ensemble cast. Richard Sammel also makes an impact as the villanous Eichorst.

The rest of the cast are just about adequate. Gus Elizalde (Miguel Gomez) was absent in this episode. Looking forward to his return.

The scenes involving Emma Arnot reminded me of the movie, Mama. Isabelle stole the limelight in that movie, produced by Guillermo del Toro had produced that movie.

The plot development feels a tad slow. Redfern's transformation was long overdue.

The editing seems to be abrupt. The transition between scenes is quite abrupt and felt very sudden. For example, a scene involving Gabe was just too brief and did not contribute to his storyline.

The novel too had a similar flow - alternating between different characters, as they changed/reacted to the virus outbreak. But something seems to be lost in the translation to small screen. Hope the creative powers behind the show work out this drawback before the show loses the interest of the audience. 

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Image Sources: FX Networks, DelToroFilms.com

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