The Strain - S2E12 - Fallen Light

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Previously on The Strain, ‘Dead End’

When Eph Met Nora

Ten years ago, Eph met Nora when she challenged him during a presentation he was giving. Intrigued, he offers her job without consulting with Jim, who believes Eph was motivated by his attraction to Nora and his problems at home with Kelly.

Finally, this series found a flashback story I don’t care about. 

In present day, Nora’s efforts to ditch New Zach has paid off: Kelly’s parents are located. They’re safe and they are willing to take in Zach. Eph doesn’t think this is a good idea. They shouldn’t run, but instead remain in New York to work on their bioweapon. Nora agrees, but leaving New Zach home alone (when The Master knows the address) is the very definition of shitty parenting. After Zach talks to his grandparents on the phone, he finally breaks down and cries because his life is terrible and he’s now ready to admit that to himself.

Nora convinces Eph to let his son go, and they head to see Feraldo so she can supply them with passes to leave the city and drop Zach off with his grandparents.

Dear Fet

Fet walks in on Dutch writing him a goodbye letter. She’s leaving to make it work with Nicky and Fet is the most understanding Friend with Benefits ever.

Mayor Petty

Justine still Justine’ing, taxing those rich bastards for the privilege of her protection. The mayor has had enough and announces he’s having her removed from office and possibly indicted. Maybe so, but not today. Today, Kowalski is escorting the mayor straight out the door.

Prison Break

Gus gotta be the first brother to break into prison.

He and Gus drive a school bus through the gates of the prison where Gus spent several years. His plan is to break some of his friends out so they can join Quinlan’s army. But first, they run into a guard who used to beat Gus and he’s locked inside a cell. He begs Gus to let him out, but Gus is like:

Gus’ boys are only too happy to be released, and they get even more excited when Gus presents them with guns. He assures them there’s a lot more where they came from if they join Quinlan. On the way out, two of the inmates can’t resist killing the guard, which wakes up the strigoi who’ve been nesting inside. They fight their way out - minus one guy - where one of Gus’ friends decides, “Hey, fuck Quinlan. I don’t know him. But, hey, thanks for letting us out!”

And by thanks I mean he tries to shoot Gus, but ends up with a hole in his gut courtesy of Angel, who has finally made himself useful.

Creme of the Crop

Abe and Fet stop by Creme’s to confirm that he has the Lumen. After a thorough examination, Abraham positively identifies the book they’ve been teasing us with all damn season. But Creme is no longer willing to give it up for a rare wristwatch. Palmer also wants the book and Creme is willing to hold an auction the next night so the two old white men can duke it out. I feel like this is payback for slavery so I’m cool with it.

However, if Abraham wins, Creme wants the remaining balance  - minus the value of the watch - in gold.

“Gold?” Fet asks, confirming these two ain’t got $4.50 between them, much less gold bars.

Palmer and Fet later meet with Quinlan, who agrees to supply the gold. However, The Ancients are a little hesitant to trust Abraham with the how-to book on killing them. Abraham swears he’s only after The Master and agrees to give them the book once he’s studied it.

Whodunit?

A detective brings Justine in for questioning. Turns out, the mayor was murdered and the cops heard about her fight with him earlier. She claims to be innocent, and when she’s alone with Kowalski, she asks if he did it. He insists he had nothing to do with it.

Palmer visits Feraldo to offer his support and the position of Special Director of Security for New York City, some shit they just made up. You might have been filled with tension watching this scene because you know Eph and Nora are on their way to see Feraldo, but you would have wasted that anxiety because they never cross paths. 

They do arrive at Feraldo’s appointment ceremony in time to hear her deliver a rousing speech, which Palmer and CoCo watch on TV in his office.

The White Stuff

Eichorst arrives and asks Palmer if he can control Feraldo. He says he can, but what he really wants to talk about is Creme’s auction. Eichorst will handle the auction since it’s too important to the Master. Palmer doesn’t like that plan, and neither does CoCo.

Eichorst tells CoCo to stay in her lane. The Master giveth, and Eichorst will taketh away. Palmer defends Coco’s honor and says he will not offer up any more support if CoCo is hurt. Eichorst threatens to withhold The Master’s essence if Palmer doesn’t catch a case of Act Right.

And that’s when Palmer and Coco both learn that the effects of the White are not permanent. If they don’t get more, they will die. Palmer is suddenly all about being helpful again, though CoCo warns they can’t trust Eichorst.

Political Favors

Eph and Nora get in to see Feraldo, and she agrees to help them get their bioweapon made and provide them with three tickets to D.C. to get the reactive agent and drop New Zach off with his grandparents.

For some reason they fail to mention that Palmer ain’t shit and she has no idea Eph was the one who tried to kill Palmer.

Okay.

Our final flashback shows that Eph and Nora began their romantic relationship when Kelly filed for divorce. In present day, Eph apologizes for hurting Nora and says he still loves her. Nora cries alone in her bed. And I’m like, “Girl, STAHP.”

Darling Nicky

Dutch arrives at Nicky’s mother’s house to find the two are about to leave town. She begs Nicky to stay and even promises to stay in and no longer hunt vampires, but Nicky is like:

Trust Issues

Quinlan meets with Gus and tells him he’ll have to take the Lumen from Abraham if he won’t honor their agreement… by any means necessary.

I have questions: 

• So, we just skipped over CoCo suddenly being okay with sucking down the Master’s essence?
• Why won’t they tell Feraldo that Palmer is helping to spread the “plague?”
• What is The Master doing? He still too busy to handle shit himself? Okay.
• Why are they still living in Fet’s apartment warehouse when the Master knows about it?
• Has Kelly just given up on New Zach?
• No, for real: WHY ARE THEY STILL LIVING IN THAT WAREHOUSE?
• Who was watching New Zach those two days they were out shooting people, getting arrested, looking for the Lumen, and rescuing Dutch?
• Why did it take 12 damn episodes to get us to a fucking auction? Can somebody just take the fucking book already?