The Strain - S3E3 - First Born

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Previously on The Strain, “Bad White”

The Strain S3E3 - First Born | Starring: David Bradley, Kevin Durand, Corey Stoll, Richard Sammell, Jack Kesy, Miguel Gomez, Ruta Gedmintas, Jonathan Hyde, Natalie Brown, Rupert Penry-Jones

The Chosen One

Kelly tells Zach the story of his birth in autotune. He was born via c-section and still in the caul, which is very rare. Kelly always thought this meant he was special and now that the Master has special plans for her son, she’s certain of it.

And just like that, I’m convinced the Master is going to take over this kid’s body and I hate everything.

The Stupid One

This show has no idea what to do with Gus. For some reason, they refuse to see he’s most interesting and useful when he’s actually a part of the team we care about. Last season, we had to suffer through episodes of him delivering takeout during the vampire apocalypse, and so far this season, we’re watching him deliver himself to his vampire mother. For reasons.

He passes out from the blood loss, but thankfully Angel breaks down the door to the apartment. Unfortunately, he’s not able to talk any sense into Gus (nothing to do with the blood loss, by the way) and the two literally fight over putting Gus’ mother down. Their tussle is interrupted by one of Faraldo’s sweep teams. Angel agrees to subdue and cover Gus’ mother and so they can try to smuggle her past the police. For reasons.

Of course, they’re busted and instead of giving up and admitting defeat, Angel decides to sacrifice cops just doing their damn jobs to Gus’ strigoi mother… who just ate for fuck’s sake!

They’re gripped up anyway, but instead of going to jail, they’re deputized to join sweep teams… which is what they should have been doing in the first damn place.

The Other Chosen One

Roman Countryside 58 AD

A woman named Anarchia frees a freakshow attraction called The Leech. She explains that he’s the seventh original Strix, who bears the mark of The Master, but is also prophesied to be his undoing. He is destined to thirst after those he was born to save. He alone can free the world of the scourge of the Master and his kind.

Oh. Is that all?

In present day, Quinlan explains his biological origins (pregnant mother infected) because Eph is obsessed with the Master’s sex organ or lack thereof.

Roman Countryside 60 AD

Anarchia trains Quintus to be a strigoi-killing badass, but insists he’s not yet ready to face the Master. So they flee their camp and take up residence in a cave. The Master eventually finds them, trapping them inside to test Quintus’ human tendencies. Can he resist feeding on the woman he’s come to view as a mother?

How long Quintus would have lasted, we’ll never know. A dying Anarchia offers herself to her starving son. He feeds, ending her suffering. Like raggedy-ass clockwork, the Master appears to gloat, but his plan has backfired. All this test has accomplished is strengthening Quintus’ resolve to kill his maker. Keeping his promise to Anarchia, he doesn’t fight the Master then, but promises they’ll meet again.

Eph and Quinlan find a strigoi to use to communicate with the Master. While Quinlan holds him still (and remains out of sight), Eph shows the Lumen and demands an exchange for Zach (alive and unturned). He only wants to see the Master, Zach, and Kelly.

Meanwhile, Abraham and Fet realize Quinlan has made off with the Lumen. While tracking a hidden GPS in the book, they also figure out Eph must be helping him since the book is crossing moving water. Abe understands being fueled by revenge, but vows to stick a silver grenade up Quinlan’s ass if he screws up his chance to kill the Master.

Welp.

The exchange for Zach goes about how we all expected. They didn’t really bring Zach, but a turned child with a hood over his head. As the Master watches from a distance, Eph fights Kelly and the child strigoi, losing the Lumen in the process. But before the Master can make his escape with the book, Quinlan appears with guns blazing, the turned Navy SEALs arrive (also shooting because strigoi can do that now), and Abraham and Fet show up like, “What the entire hell is going on?”

A perfectly lobbed silver grenade from Abraham incapacitates the Master long enough for Quinlan to cut off his head. His destiny fulfilled, Quinlan also dies… maybe. The Master’s… um… big worm wiggles into the sewer.

So, to recap: Bolivar Master is dead, Zach is still with his mommy, but the good guys retain the Lumen. Zach will become the new Master and now Eph (or somebody) will have no choice but to cut that kid’s head off.

I’m gonna go ahead and call this a win.