“Runaways” shows that The Strain has finally found its legs. The chemistry between the Ephraim and Abraham results in some fantastic exposition about the nature of this new type of evil, and even results in a couple of great laughs. I just never want their Van Helsing excellent adventure to end.
Sadly it comes to a close far too quickly but that’s not before showcasing some of the best imagery the series has offered up thus far. The two of these men sharing breakfast was sweet and a little strange. I get your tired after all of that Highlander head lopping, but you’ve just killed some “people” and you’re just chilling in their house cooking their eggs? I digress, the scene was fun and added a lot of history to these vampires, thanks to Abraham’s empowered monologue, reminding us to check everything we know about vampires at the door.
I don’t know if it’s because I carry Dario Argento in my heart with me everywhere, or if the show’s cinematography is really that good, but I couldn’t help but seen a nod to his films in Bolivar’s cold open. The lighting was exceptional, and the actor behind Bolivar makes for a really great vampire.
The only survivor still really kicking is the lawyer, and it shows that the virus can really take hold at incredibly different rates. Her scenes were designed to be the perfect representation of what Abraham said at the beginning of the episode. I love the small moments with her staring at the neck of her son, and smelling her children as they go out the door. I do wish she dug into their necks though, if only to rid us of their atrocious child acting.
The flashbacks to Abraham’s past at first felt a little disjointed. The main weakness of the series thus far is its inability to feel truly rooted in anyone’s story from week to week. It never feels tightly plotted, and that was even more clear this week as the flashbacks hardly felt like they related to the present other than the occasional line of dialogue that allows David Bradley to wink at the viewer. That said, holy fuck The Master moves like a badass. I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen as he moves through the bunks, feeding on the weak and snapping their necks. It begs the question as to why the Nazi’s are harboring The Master, and I’m sure we’ll learn more thanks to that bastard Herr Eichorst kicking around in full Nazi garb.
Let’s talk about Ansel’s wife hanging from the ceiling. Definite Argento vibes there with the pattern on the window contrasted against the lime green walls. It was such a treat. The footage of Ansel’s demise in the barn was pretty great, and I saw Eph’s damnation from it before he even opened that barn door.
I keep saying it each week, but I’ll say it again, Vasily is a fucking badass. He’s the only one close to the truth of what’s going on, and his scene in the sewer tonight was nothing short of the scariest this show has churned out. I love how the vampires move around him, the shot of the black pupils against the flashlight gave me chills, and his narrow escape shows more excitement in the future for this lowly rat exterminator.
The last scene functioned as a slow introduction into the most heightened point of frenzy for the story. I know they could have handled it better but I loved Corey Stoll’s performance as he delivered his impassioned speech about the nature of the virus. Even still it’s a great device to raise the stakes of the show to a near volcanic level and give Jim a much needed redemption.
Stray Thoughts:
– Sweet leather daddy fixer in Bolivar’s loft was too cool for school, glad he died rather quickly but I could see it a mile away.
– The stinger was on full display this week.
– Loving how the virus brings the infected back to what they love the most. By far my favorite element of this new take on the old beast.
– Nora was better this week, her scenes had some emotional weight and depth that she so sorely lacked in previous weeks.
Next week is the occulation, expect full scale insanity in the streets of Manhattan.