The Strain S01 E04: It’s Not For Everyone

“Coffee, tea, parasites…?” Watch out for those frequent flyer perks; they can be a real bummer. The last episode of “The Strain” showed the physical changes taking place in the infected survivors of Flight 753. While Gabriel seemed to welcome the loss of his manly parts, Ansel was freaked out about his craving for a bloody steak. Jim’s made a deal with the devil, but will he come clean after Ephraim and Nora do the autopsy on Captain Redfern? Grab your isolation suits and follow me into the morgue.

Autopsy

There are things you expect to see at an autopsy; blood, brain, lungs, heart, liver, etc. but Ephraim, Nora and Jim (Sean Astin) are in for a surprise when they open Redfern’s body. The virus has changed the working mechanism of the human body into something alien; starting with the absence of sexual organs. I don’t think these vampires are much interested in sex. They only see us as food. Redfern’s remaining organs are shriveled up and useless. When Jim sees Ephraim (Corey Stoll) yank out the six foot long stinger from the body, he confesses to his part in allowing the box to get through security.

Ansel

Get the kids out of the house, Ansel warns his wife. He knows what’s going down but he’s trying his best to fight the Master’s orders. Annmarie thinks her rosary beads and holy water will help her husband who is either sick or possessed… silly girl. When Annmarie (Alex Paxton-Beesley) finds her dead dog, she heads towards the shed and the scratching noises coming from within.

Stoneheart Corp

What a perfect name for a company that puts greed before the survival of the human race. Herr Eichorst and Herr Palmer meet with Dutch Velders (Ruta Gedmintus). They need her to make all the bad press their company is getting over Flight 753 to go away; far, far, away. Ms. Velders knows just how to accomplish this. She’ll use her own virus, a computer virus to make the internet crash.

Palmer (Jonathan Hyde) isn’t one to put all his eggs in one basket and he sends for the Secretary of Human and Health Services, Maggie Pierson. The White House is on his back and they want answers, but Maggie owes him big time. He helped her get to where she is and he wants her to spread the word that the military is behind the deaths on the plane.

Palmer is dying, and yes, he has oodles of money to buy a harvested organ whenever he needs one, but he doesn’t understand why the Master isn’t helping him get well.

Gus

This is a good man in a bad place. I don’t think Gus (Miguel Gomez) wants to lead a life of crime, but his options are few and he has a family to take care of. Felix is his friend and he has a quick way for Gus to make the needed money for rent; stealing cars. Gus returns the items stolen from Setrakian’s store. This might be the smartest thing that Gus has done yet.

Emma

Ephraim and Nora go to the Arnot home to find Emma (Isabelle Nelisse) and hopefully her father, but they are too late and the child flips her stinger out in hopes of snagging a late night snack. Dad joins in the attack. Ephraim and Nora are trapped and have no idea how to protect themselves.

Conclusions

Love conquers all and Ansel Barbour has chained himself inside the shed. He does not want to hurt his wife. Annmarie’s solution to a rather obnoxious, animal abusing neighbor shows her devotion to her husband, even if Ansel is no longer human. I have a few neighbors who could use a visit to the shed… only kidding.

Abraham Setrakian has the flight manifest and a magic sword and he comes to Ephraim and Nora’s rescue. Nora isn’t able to accept the fact that the rescue mission is now seek and destroy. Setrakian gives one order; burn everything.

Palmer (Jonathan Hyde) has handled everything and now all social media has crashed: cellphones, Facebook, internet… you name it and it’s gone thanks to Dutch Velders. The first thing an invading army does is cut contact to the outside world and the second; spread rumors. Dutch Velders knows this and that is why she makes the remark that it’s harder to hide evil in a technological savvy world. This is why it is so important for us to keep the internet free and open.

The takeover of the world is a frightening thing, be it political, financial or pathological. The Master knows this and so does Palmer and with his money and political connections, the takeover will be quick. Can Setrakian and Ephraim stop it? We will see, but for now, stay away from the Barbour’s shed.