The Strain - S2E8 - Intruders

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Previously on The Strain, ‘The Born’

Strigoi Barbie

Someone has FINALLY realized that Kelly can’t keep going out in those Red Hook streets looking a hot-ass mess. Eichorst sits her down at his vanity table for a makeup tutorial. He also trains her how to not twitch and click like a damn crackhead. A wig, some foundation, and contacts… she’ll be a brand new woman… again.

Pillow Talk

In bed, CoCo presses Palmer about what’s going on with Eichorst (who she says stinks) and the book he’s looking for. Palmer can’t and won’t tell her anything, and it’s not because he doesn’t trust her; he wants to protect her. He asks for patience.

I ask for this gross scene to end.

Eph’s morning-after talk doesn’t go much better. Nora has heard about Barnes’ death and asks Eph if he saw or heard anything. Eph plays dumb… poorly. She wants to know the details of what happened in D.C., but he just says she was right and he was wrong; he shouldn’t have gone. Nora clearly isn’t satisfied with that answer.

Get Your Head in the Game

Fet and Abraham are driving out of Red Hook and Abe is worried they’ll be late for their appointment with an important man. Since Fet blew the tunnels, traffic is a bitch. Abe asks about Dutch, who was supposed to be with them. She’s helping Nicky find an apartment in a building they cleaned out in the neighborhood (squatting!). Abe warns Fet to get his head out of the Dutch’s skirt (read: ass) and focus.

Father-Son Time

On Fet’s recommendation, Eph heads to a dealer who can give him a long-range weapon to use on Palmer. Eph takes New Zach with him because that’s appropriate. On the way there, New Zach tells his dad he had a dream about Kelly, and in it she was normal. Eph wants his son to realize that it was only a dream and his mother isn’t coming back.

When they reach their location, they find the fence has been shot. His daughter begs for Eph to help, and he does using the medical supplies they have on hand. He saves the man’s life and takes a rifle as payment.

As they’re leaving, New Zach wonders what Eph needs the rifle for and asks if it’s for protection against Kelly. “If it comes to that,” Eph responds. New Zach thinks maybe his mother can be cured. Hell, Abe was wrong about sunlight killing The Master, maybe he’s wrong about Kelly. Then he stomps off and Eph is just walking around with a rifle over his shoulder like that’s a thing you do.

Let’s Make a Deal

Cardinal McNamara visits Palmer and CoCo listens as they haggle over the Lumen. They settle on $500K in gold, but the Cardinal lets it slip that there are other interested parties. Palmer knows one is Abe and isn’t happy. Eichorst arrives as the Cardinal is leaving, and wants to know what business Palmer has with him, but Palmer isn’t saying. CoCo is excused, again, so they can do more dick-measuring. When Palmer learns that Bolivar is the new Master, he gloats. Eichorst plays it cool, but leaves looking super butthurt.

Meanwhile, Gus and Angel head to pick up restaurant supplies and discuss God and how the Guptas are dedicated to their restaurant.

I don’t care! When did he start working for this fucking restaurant?

Fet and Abe arrive at the church to meet with the Cardinal. Abe says he represents a client who will pay whatever he wants for the Lumen. The Cardinal asks or $750K in gold. Done. The Cardinal will get back to him in 24 hours and it’s then Abe realizes he has other interested parties, namely Palmer. His warnings about Palmer go in one ear and out the other. After they leave, Abe reveals to Fet that they’re going to steal the Lumen before Palmer can.

That evening, Gus finally convinces the Guptas it’s best for them to leave the restaurant. Alone in the kitchen with Aanya, she asks him to go too, and they kiss. This is interrupted by Quinlan the Cockblocker who calls out Gus by his full government name.

“We need to talk.”

They step outside to the alley where Gus tries to break bad and fires a shot at Quinlan. Quinlan responds by quickly gripping Gus’ ass up and slamming him against the building. Then Gus has to reassure Aanya in his gripped up voice that everything will be okay.

Gus is a little more open to listening now, but still doesn’t want anything to do with Quinlan or The Ancients. Quinlan reminds him that he has crossed The Master and The Master doesn’t forget shit. He will go after Aanya. Gus needs to give her up … until they slay The Master.

“Why me?” Gus wants to know.

Gus, the audience is asking the same damn thing.

Checkpoint 

Kelly (looking like her old self) is stopped at a checkpoint as she tries to drive into Red Hook. She’s about to be discovered for what she really is, but the cops wave her through when they find a vampire in another vehicle. She parks indoors and releases The Feelers from the trunk of her car.

Let’s Make Another Deal

Eichorst lets himself into the Cardinal’s office and says he wants the Lumen. The Cardinal asks for $1 million. Eichorst is like, “How ’bout I don’t kill you instead?”

When things get a bit physical, Cardinal starts praying. And he won’t give up who has the Lumen and authorized him to sell it. Eichorst moves to the stinger action. As he’s telling the Cardinal how his transformation will lead to The Master learning the name of the person with the Lumen, Fet enters with guns blazing.

Eichorst dodges bullets like he’s in The Matrix. Fet lobs a glitter bomb (I know it’s sliver) and Eichorst jumps out the window and gets away. Abraham appeals to the dying Cardinal to tell him who has the book. It’s the young boy from the monastery who had the burned ear. Abraham puts the Cardinal out of his misery.

Pillow Talk to the Hand

As news of the Cardinal’s death makes the news, Coco has more questions. Palmer snaps at her to leave it alone so she leaves him alone. Literally.

Come to Mama

Eph and New Zach arrive home and the boy has an attitude. In private, Eph tells Nora how New Zach is acting brand new. She lays into him for being a shitty dad and keeping secrets. No one notices the Feelers and Kelly lurking at the windows.

Eph finally tells Nora the truth about Barnes and the pharmaceutical rep who “bled out in his arms.”

Kelly taps on the window and gets Zach’s attention. She coaxes him to open the door before Eph can stop him. Nora fires at Kelly, who hides. She then starts taunting Eph by saying he never wanted Zach and they should let him decide who wants to live with. Girl, bye! 

The Feelers get in without anyone noticing. Eph kills one, but he’s ambushed by Kelly who knocks him and Nora down. Before she can infect him, Nora whacks her with a giant metal hook.

This place is not child-friendly! 

Zach begs for his mother to leave Eph alone. Eph fires at Kelly, but the remaining Feeler dives in front of her and takes two or three for the team.

New Zach wouldn’t have taken a bullet for his mama.

Possibly rethinking why she wants this kid to begin with, Kelly takes off into the night.