The Strain: The Third Rail
September 22, 2014 5:54 AM - Season 1, Episode 11 - Subscribe
F, Abe, Fet, and Nora hunt The Master while Zack runs out for some cigarettes. Gus goes home forgetting the old adage, "you can never go home again."
All this time I thought Abe had something badass he was going to pull out to take down The Master. Nope, just his cane-sword. He really is delusional. That is sad because I believed in Abe.
There was no real fear that F's kid was going to die (it looked like F gave him both keys to the bolt) especially with his mom already gone. His running from the couple didn't make sense since they're hardly going to kill him and eat him. Especially when his other choice was a dark basement that contains monsters.
The tunnel was great, exciting, interesting. So, what, the last 5-7 minutes of the show? F shouldn't have been that easily tricked but this is F. The Master could stand some lessons on voice projection and not slurring his words. Without all the time fillers, this would have been an exciting 3-hour mini-series.
All this time I thought Abe had something badass he was going to pull out to take down The Master. Nope, just his cane-sword. He really is delusional. That is sad because I believed in Abe.
There was no real fear that F's kid was going to die (it looked like F gave him both keys to the bolt) especially with his mom already gone. His running from the couple didn't make sense since they're hardly going to kill him and eat him. Especially when his other choice was a dark basement that contains monsters.
The tunnel was great, exciting, interesting. So, what, the last 5-7 minutes of the show? F shouldn't have been that easily tricked but this is F. The Master could stand some lessons on voice projection and not slurring his words. Without all the time fillers, this would have been an exciting 3-hour mini-series.
Old man beats the shit out of a box.
Nora's mom is, by far, the worst character on the show. It was cruel to tease at her death and have a fake reveal that she's not only OK, but apparently getting a b-plot about her relationship with Eph's kid (who's a runner up for worst character).
Eph, predictably, acts as stupid as possible to endanger his far more interesting co-stars.
Long shots of The Master's face are not in the best interest of the show. I also couldn't understand anything he was saying, and didn't really care about that.
The zompire hunting action was pretty great. The light bomb was really fun, and I'm looking forward to more crazy contraptions. Regardless, the tension with Fett feels super manufactured, and I can't believe that two "scientists" have such a moral dilemma about stopping the spread of a parasite.
I did appreciate the brief foray out into the human madness of the outbreak, which is something I wish had been more present in the show up to this point. Eph's kid running from two looters (and the looters being antagonistic towards him) was pretty fucking stupid, but I guess its what the show needed to set up non-existent danger. It did that thing where it hinted at a cool story-line (Oscar surviving in New York) and instead gave us a bland and stupid story-line (Eph's kid getting smokes for Nora's mom).
I'm somewhat looking forward to this being over in two weeks.
posted by codacorolla at 7:44 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Nora's mom is, by far, the worst character on the show. It was cruel to tease at her death and have a fake reveal that she's not only OK, but apparently getting a b-plot about her relationship with Eph's kid (who's a runner up for worst character).
Eph, predictably, acts as stupid as possible to endanger his far more interesting co-stars.
Long shots of The Master's face are not in the best interest of the show. I also couldn't understand anything he was saying, and didn't really care about that.
The zompire hunting action was pretty great. The light bomb was really fun, and I'm looking forward to more crazy contraptions. Regardless, the tension with Fett feels super manufactured, and I can't believe that two "scientists" have such a moral dilemma about stopping the spread of a parasite.
I did appreciate the brief foray out into the human madness of the outbreak, which is something I wish had been more present in the show up to this point. Eph's kid running from two looters (and the looters being antagonistic towards him) was pretty fucking stupid, but I guess its what the show needed to set up non-existent danger. It did that thing where it hinted at a cool story-line (Oscar surviving in New York) and instead gave us a bland and stupid story-line (Eph's kid getting smokes for Nora's mom).
I'm somewhat looking forward to this being over in two weeks.
posted by codacorolla at 7:44 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Whatever you guys do, DON'T take up smoking!
I liked seeing more of the Master this episode, but man does he need a personal stylist or something. And what's up with the OldMan looking so dapper? Nice.
Gus is oddly compelling, as he's fairly quickly grokking the situation, yet showing the most emotional reaction to the lost of loved ones.
Can't wait until next week. figures crossed for someone, anyone, killing Eph. Who needs an asshole in the midst of a vampire apocalypse?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:48 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
I liked seeing more of the Master this episode, but man does he need a personal stylist or something. And what's up with the OldMan looking so dapper? Nice.
Gus is oddly compelling, as he's fairly quickly grokking the situation, yet showing the most emotional reaction to the lost of loved ones.
Can't wait until next week. figures crossed for someone, anyone, killing Eph. Who needs an asshole in the midst of a vampire apocalypse?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:48 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm also sort of pissed that we haven't gotten anything else about Bargain Bin Danzig. A gothic rock superstar vampire master seemed like an awesome premise.
posted by codacorolla at 8:36 AM on September 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 8:36 AM on September 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
He's busy writing an album.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:39 AM on September 22, 2014
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:39 AM on September 22, 2014
Oh, yes. Yes. By all means, let's spend time with Zach (who cannot shut up enough after saying "epic fail") and Nora's mom. This is exactly what I want out of a zombie vampire apocalypse, show. Thank you.
On the up side, I felt more for Gus in that one horrible trip home than for Eph's entire family storyline so far, so that was pretty well done. Also: "He tricked me." "OF COURSE HE TRICKED YOU." Eph's ass got told by Setrakian.
"I hope I'm defined by more than my wallet and my wristwatch." Philosophizin' Fet: still one of my favorite characters.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:14 AM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
On the up side, I felt more for Gus in that one horrible trip home than for Eph's entire family storyline so far, so that was pretty well done. Also: "He tricked me." "OF COURSE HE TRICKED YOU." Eph's ass got told by Setrakian.
"I hope I'm defined by more than my wallet and my wristwatch." Philosophizin' Fet: still one of my favorite characters.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:14 AM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
This show's a train wreck and I can't look away.
posted by Pendragon at 9:46 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 9:46 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh, yes. Yes. By all means, let's spend time with Zach (who cannot shut up enough after saying "epic fail") and Nora's mom. This is exactly what I want out of a zombie vampire apocalypse, show. Thank you.
If it turns out they develop a relationship, great! This episode would be the initial building of that. Plus, Zack going out to scavenge gives us a look at how things are going around the city, which is important to giving a sense of how things are falling apart. Radios running the background can only last for so long.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:20 AM on September 22, 2014
If it turns out they develop a relationship, great! This episode would be the initial building of that. Plus, Zack going out to scavenge gives us a look at how things are going around the city, which is important to giving a sense of how things are falling apart. Radios running the background can only last for so long.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:20 AM on September 22, 2014
grokking the situation
Yes, exactly. Gus gets it, and now that he's had the obligatory coincidental run-in he'll become part of the Zompire Hunters. Fitzwillams will join, too, in time. (Even though surely by now Gus should be covered in worms.) But does Gus realize his role in this yet?
The writers are not smokers. Zompire apocopliypse or no, unexpected menthols do not go unmentioned. I was hoping she would look at the pack and lash her blood-sucking tongue t Zach.
Zach, you are no Carl.
Jesus, how many time was the word "Eff" said last night??
If you watch the show stoned, the line between dumb show and dumb viewer gets very blurry. I definitely need a rewatch on this episode.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:45 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes, exactly. Gus gets it, and now that he's had the obligatory coincidental run-in he'll become part of the Zompire Hunters. Fitzwillams will join, too, in time. (Even though surely by now Gus should be covered in worms.) But does Gus realize his role in this yet?
The writers are not smokers. Zompire apocopliypse or no, unexpected menthols do not go unmentioned. I was hoping she would look at the pack and lash her blood-sucking tongue t Zach.
Zach, you are no Carl.
Jesus, how many time was the word "Eff" said last night??
If you watch the show stoned, the line between dumb show and dumb viewer gets very blurry. I definitely need a rewatch on this episode.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:45 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Well, you all addressed so many of my observations already. Marilyn Kendoll Manson has indeed apparently vanished, as did Regina King, though I suspect Regina is off murdering her agent for getting her involved in this mess.
So of course, The Master holds Eph up in the air by his throat and dangles and threatens him, rather than just KILLING and CRUSHING him like any right-thinking monster (or anybody, really) would do given the opportunity. I am so weary in general of that "I expect you to die, Mr. Bond" trope of letting the putative hero escape to set up a final confrontation, blah-blah, but never in history has a character needed obliteration more than Doctor DumbBlunder.
I was especially unhappy that Eph, whose one good trait is an admirable consistency in being wrong about everything, was correct that Fet was acting like kind of a dick this week. Maybe he misses NotDragonTattoo, who I assume will re-materialize?
Room 641-A, I am right there with you on the cigs and, in fact, sat up and said aloud, "Oh Zack, honey, please don't take NoraMom those menthols" the first time they showed a shot of the blueish pack. You'd have to be pretty dang demented to accept that shit without a word.
About Setrakian, I'm pretty sure that if you experience onset of excruciating angina of the "Quick, my nitro-glycerine!" variety merely from lifting your sword to shoulder level, your cardiologist would probably caution you against proceeding to smash the fuck out of a coffin in a fit of pique two minutes later. Now he'll probably run right home and share a menthol with NoraMom.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:29 PM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
So of course, The Master holds Eph up in the air by his throat and dangles and threatens him, rather than just KILLING and CRUSHING him like any right-thinking monster (or anybody, really) would do given the opportunity. I am so weary in general of that "I expect you to die, Mr. Bond" trope of letting the putative hero escape to set up a final confrontation, blah-blah, but never in history has a character needed obliteration more than Doctor DumbBlunder.
I was especially unhappy that Eph, whose one good trait is an admirable consistency in being wrong about everything, was correct that Fet was acting like kind of a dick this week. Maybe he misses NotDragonTattoo, who I assume will re-materialize?
Room 641-A, I am right there with you on the cigs and, in fact, sat up and said aloud, "Oh Zack, honey, please don't take NoraMom those menthols" the first time they showed a shot of the blueish pack. You'd have to be pretty dang demented to accept that shit without a word.
About Setrakian, I'm pretty sure that if you experience onset of excruciating angina of the "Quick, my nitro-glycerine!" variety merely from lifting your sword to shoulder level, your cardiologist would probably caution you against proceeding to smash the fuck out of a coffin in a fit of pique two minutes later. Now he'll probably run right home and share a menthol with NoraMom.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:29 PM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
Favorite moment:
"He tricked me...!"
(with disgust) "OF COURSE HE TRICKED YOU!"
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:19 PM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
"He tricked me...!"
(with disgust) "OF COURSE HE TRICKED YOU!"
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:19 PM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
I'm ready for the Eph-Fett-Gus-Set Voltron to assemble and start fucking shit up. No logic, no medical bs, and no more hesitation: just straight-up Zomp-assacre, from one end of Manhattan to another.
BBDanzig needs to eat BBGWTDT after she says some shit like "I used to be one of your fans!" while crying/actressing (that's "acting like you're acting," for the uninitiated) during one of her trademark running-in-heels down the Road Paved with Poor Decisions scenes, smeared eye makeup and all.
Of course, if he wants to follow that with a Nora+Mom chaser, that at least cuts the "horrible female characters who literally can't even" cast down significantly.
also, KORL > ZACH.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:23 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
BBDanzig needs to eat BBGWTDT after she says some shit like "I used to be one of your fans!" while crying/actressing (that's "acting like you're acting," for the uninitiated) during one of her trademark running-in-heels down the Road Paved with Poor Decisions scenes, smeared eye makeup and all.
Of course, if he wants to follow that with a Nora+Mom chaser, that at least cuts the "horrible female characters who literally can't even" cast down significantly.
also, KORL > ZACH.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:23 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
FelliniBlank, as a non-smoker, what's the deal with menthols?
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 10:26 PM on September 22, 2014
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 10:26 PM on September 22, 2014
I liked how the den of zompires were all twitching in their sleep like a basket of dreaming puppies.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:02 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:02 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
FelliniBlank, as a non-smoker, what's the deal with menthols?
I haven't smoked in 8 or 9 years, but most people who smoke non-menthols intensely dislike menthols, and vice versa. They'll smoke anything in an emergency, and some people aren't picky under normal circumstances, but aside from the menthol vs. non-menthol preference, smokers are some of the most brand loyal people on earth, given a choice. Because a Marlboro Light is not a Camel Light, which is not a Basic Light. They all taste really different.
A person in a rational state of mind would recognize that during a zompire epidemic, you'd better settle for any tobacco you can get, but in NoraMom's mercurial and non compos mentis condition, the most likely scenario would be her taking one puff of a menthol, gagging, and being all, "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, YOUNG BOY?"
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:42 AM on September 23, 2014 [3 favorites]
I haven't smoked in 8 or 9 years, but most people who smoke non-menthols intensely dislike menthols, and vice versa. They'll smoke anything in an emergency, and some people aren't picky under normal circumstances, but aside from the menthol vs. non-menthol preference, smokers are some of the most brand loyal people on earth, given a choice. Because a Marlboro Light is not a Camel Light, which is not a Basic Light. They all taste really different.
A person in a rational state of mind would recognize that during a zompire epidemic, you'd better settle for any tobacco you can get, but in NoraMom's mercurial and non compos mentis condition, the most likely scenario would be her taking one puff of a menthol, gagging, and being all, "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, YOUNG BOY?"
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:42 AM on September 23, 2014 [3 favorites]
It's sort of like if you were expecting a piece of butterscotch hard candy and someone gave you a Hall's Mentho-lyptus cough drop instead. You'd notice.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:45 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:45 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ahh, ok. Thanks. That helps.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 6:18 AM on September 23, 2014
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 6:18 AM on September 23, 2014
Poor Andrew Lincoln is never going to live down being the Korl Guy.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:42 AM on September 23, 2014
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:42 AM on September 23, 2014
I wonder if The Walking Dead will get a viewership bump in October from all the viewers saying, "Oh, MAN, now that I have The Strain to compare it to, this show is way better than I thought."
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:46 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:46 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm on the bus, mouthing the word KORL silently under my breath but I'm dying to scream it at the top of my lungs.
Anyway, back to the main attraction:
Yes, what about Danzig?? That's a weird thread to leave hanging.
I liked how the den of zompires were all twitching in their sleep like a basket of dreaming puppies.
Zompuppies?
The NoraMom Psycho-fake out reveal was good.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:26 AM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
Anyway, back to the main attraction:
Yes, what about Danzig?? That's a weird thread to leave hanging.
I liked how the den of zompires were all twitching in their sleep like a basket of dreaming puppies.
Zompuppies?
The NoraMom Psycho-fake out reveal was good.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:26 AM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
The Master holds Eph up in the air by his throat and dangles and threatens him, rather than just KILLING and CRUSHING him like any right-thinking monster (or anybody, really) would do given the opportunity.
Well, yeah. I mean, it just stands to reason. Here you are in this alternate universe where there are humans but they're all as dumb as a box of rocks, so of course the Master, being as it is transformed from a human, will also be about as bright as a small appliance bulb. If they'd set more of the show in the countryside instead of Nuyoronto, we'd see how the landscape is littered with crashed airliners and still-burning rockets and trains flying off the never-completed rails into a big pile of other crashed trains. Because of the stupid.
Also, I will give this show SUCH A PINCH if NoraMom, aka The Albatross, sacrifices herself for the others in a moment of lucidity. OTOH, I wonder what a zompire with dementia would be like. Would it forget about the business the Master sent it on and just wander off in search of smokes?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:49 AM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
Well, yeah. I mean, it just stands to reason. Here you are in this alternate universe where there are humans but they're all as dumb as a box of rocks, so of course the Master, being as it is transformed from a human, will also be about as bright as a small appliance bulb. If they'd set more of the show in the countryside instead of Nuyoronto, we'd see how the landscape is littered with crashed airliners and still-burning rockets and trains flying off the never-completed rails into a big pile of other crashed trains. Because of the stupid.
Also, I will give this show SUCH A PINCH if NoraMom, aka The Albatross, sacrifices herself for the others in a moment of lucidity. OTOH, I wonder what a zompire with dementia would be like. Would it forget about the business the Master sent it on and just wander off in search of smokes?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:49 AM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
There were some really quite scary moments in this episode: tiptoeing through the sleeping zompires, Fett getting stuck in the tunnel.
Zach SO DOES NOT HAVE THE TOOLS to babysit an Alzheimers sufferer. Also, the lingering shot of his fascination with Abe's weapons: I thought for sure that the reveal when he returned would be that Mariela would turn, confused and startled, and shoot him.
I thought Abe had something badass he was going to pull out to take down The Master. Nope, just his cane-sword. He really is delusional.
Yes, Abe's self-belief seems to outstrip his limitations.
How did The Master stop him? It was all a bit fast and I got a bit muddled: The Master spoke something and Abe was frozen? Was that magic?
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 12:43 PM on September 23, 2014
Zach SO DOES NOT HAVE THE TOOLS to babysit an Alzheimers sufferer. Also, the lingering shot of his fascination with Abe's weapons: I thought for sure that the reveal when he returned would be that Mariela would turn, confused and startled, and shoot him.
I thought Abe had something badass he was going to pull out to take down The Master. Nope, just his cane-sword. He really is delusional.
Yes, Abe's self-belief seems to outstrip his limitations.
How did The Master stop him? It was all a bit fast and I got a bit muddled: The Master spoke something and Abe was frozen? Was that magic?
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 12:43 PM on September 23, 2014
The Master spoke something and Abe was frozen? Was that magic?
Ziren zong!
posted by Room 641-A at 3:05 PM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ziren zong!
posted by Room 641-A at 3:05 PM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
The Master spoke something and Abe was frozen? Was that magic?
Pffffft, you obviously are not UP on your BASIC zompire MYTHOLOGY: If you carve somebody's fancy coffin in a concentration camp, from then on they have power over your immortal soul. But only when you're within 10 feet.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:16 PM on September 23, 2014
Pffffft, you obviously are not UP on your BASIC zompire MYTHOLOGY: If you carve somebody's fancy coffin in a concentration camp, from then on they have power over your immortal soul. But only when you're within 10 feet.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:16 PM on September 23, 2014
The Master looked even goofier this week. It's really cancelling out all of the other good horror of the show.
The Master disables his opponents by giving them an irresistible case of the giggles.
posted by homunculus at 10:52 PM on September 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Master disables his opponents by giving them an irresistible case of the giggles.
posted by homunculus at 10:52 PM on September 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
This show is awesome sillyness. Not all smarty pretentious like 'Hannibal' or 'American Horror Show'. Just go for the fences goofy.
Fucking hoo-ray
posted by From Bklyn at 1:47 PM on July 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Fucking hoo-ray
posted by From Bklyn at 1:47 PM on July 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
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Recaps
Various BS
The Master looked even goofier this week. It's really cancelling out all of the other good horror of the show.
posted by MsVader at 7:42 AM on September 22, 2014 [3 favorites]