The Strain - S3E8 - White Light

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Previously on The Strain, “Collaborators”

The Strain - S3E8 - “White Light” |Starring: David Bradley, Kevin Durand, Corey Stoll,Richard Sammell, Jack Kesy, Miguel Gomez, Ruta Gedmintas, Jonathan Hyde, Natalie Brown,Rupert Penry-Jones

Taking Care of Mama

After dropping Angel off at one of Palmer’s urgent care facilities, Gus heads home to look for his mother. Flashbacks to his childhood, when Gus’ uncles took care of Gus’ abusive father to save him and his mother, are meant to make us understand just how much she sacrificed for him and why he feels the need to care for her even when she’s a vampire.

Nah.

Everyone loves their mom, dude. Yes, taking some side work for Eichorst helped bring about the V-Poc, and it’s sad what happened to your mom, but let it go. You’re just being reckless. The flashbacks did nothing to make us better understand or agree with his poor decisions all season long.

Show of hands: Who thought Angel wasn’t going to make it out the freedom center alive? Me too. But he arrives at Gus’ and finds the place empty. He pops some meds and settles in for a nap. Show of hands: Who thought those pills were laced with the White? Just me. Basically, I’m surprised Angel made it out of this episode alive. Though, he almost didn’t.

He awakens to find Gus’ mom hovering over him. Before she can attack, Gus arrives and finally puts her down.

About.damn.time.

It was interesting getting a glimpse of the despair and organized chaos at one of the centers, but how do they factor in to the Master’s overall plan and those harvesting factories? Is Angel being in their system a bad sign? It can’t mean anything good.

Taking Care of Dutch

Eph and Dutch listen to the the black box recording, and hear what they wanted a little too well. The high-pitch signal knocks Dutch out and leaves her useless for much of the episode. Once she’s feeling better, she treats Eph to a sexy dance and then they have sex.

Listen. I know I’ve been shipping these two - they are infinitely more likable together than they ever were apart or with other people - but y’all can’t just be fucking in Fet’s house! Also, I wish the foreplay had been a lot less corny and more inline with the easy, smart banter they’ve established for the past few episodes.

Taking Care of Business

In one of the most disturbing cold-opens ever, Sanjay demonstrates to Eichorst the blood-draining process in one of their facilities. Unfortunately for his associate, Sanjay didn’t take into account that a sand dummy won’t squirm and struggle like a real human, so Eichorst puts the associate on the hook for the error. Literally. He squirms until his body is penetrated by dozens of needles and drained of blood.

Palmer is walking around looking like new money. There’s a fire in his eyes and a pep in his step. He gives Fet and Abe the address of the captain who ordered him off the ship; they hope he can tell them what was in the cargo and where it is. He wants in on the mission, but Abe says he still can’t sit with them.

Though it may be a trap, Eph and Abe decide to go alone and send Quinlan to meet with the Ancients to learn whether or not another Ancient would align with the Master. This isn’t Quinlan’s first choice seeing as how the last time he saw the Ancients he gave them his ass to kiss, but Quinlan is a team player.

He makes it clear speaking with them is the last place he wants to be, but he needs to know if their suspicions about the Master’s plans are valid. They twitch and admit it’s possible, and Quinlan tells them they’ll have to get down off of their U-Haul trollies and get their hands dirty if they hope to win. Even though they don’t want to work with Abraham, they agree. Quinlan promises to return that night with Abraham’s next move.

The captain folds easy enough and takes Fet and Abe to the blood harvesting factory, which is where the ship’s cargo was sent. They finally witness what the Master has planned, and note that Palmer’s company’s name is all over everything. They’re spotted and a shootout ensues, but Eichorst and Sanjay get away with the crate.

Eichorst has been tracking the strigoi hunters the Ancients use to hunt for their food and finally, with the help of the Feelers, thinks he knows where they’re holed up. Kelly is sure they’ll know for sure that night.

Abe and Fet confront Palmer about the slaughterhouses. There’s no shame in Palmer’s game, though. He admits there are 100 such facilities under construction in North America alone. Palmer is now tasked with finding out where the crate was taken. He’s confident he can do it, but I’m sure Eichorst is going to wonder how the hell they knew where to find the crate and why Palmer looks so spry.

When Quinlan returns to the Ancients, Eichorst and his army aren’t far behind. Through Eichorst, the Master informs the other Ancients that killing them is more a mercy than a victorious act. As his strigoi attack the Ancients and their guards, Eichorst backs out of the tunnel holding a ticking briefcase, which he leaves on the ground before making his exit. Quinlan follows, but he’s slowed down by being a badass slicing through the strigoi Matrix-style.

Surprisingly, the Ancients still have some moves and make short work of many of the strigoi, ripping off heads and slicing throats. But it’s not enough; Eichorst detonates the bomb when he’s clear and though Quinlan appears to have escaped, the Ancients weren’t so lucky.