Warning: Spoilers Ahead

So, with Kelly run off by Eph and Nora in last Sunday’s episode and both of her feelers dead, I suppose we can expect Mama Strigoi to return to Eichhorst and the Master with her tail between her legs and just give up, right? Yeah, if only Eph and the gang were so lucky. In fact, the complete opposite happens. We will see in Sunday’s episode that while Kelly may have initially felt beaten and defeated, we can count on Eichhorst for a good pep talk and a plan for Eph — and actually, everyone in Red Hook — to pay for last week’s assault.

First, while The Strain normally has several plots going in each episode, this particular one takes place entirely in Red Hook and focuses 100% on retaliation and completing the mission of finding and kidnapping Zack. This, unfortunately, means no Gus, Quinlan, or Angel in this episode. It is very reminiscent to the season 1 episode “Creatures of the Night,” but with the intensity level kicked up about 10 notches. Each and every main character is in peril for most of the hour, and while I won’t say whether there is a death in the episode, it will dang near give you a heart attack a time or 2 regardless. Eph vs. Eichhorst. Eichhorst vs. Setrakian. Fet vs. Strigoi Kelly. Heck, even Dutch and Nikki (yes, Nikki!) get down in the trenches and fight for the cause. There’s one particular scene that, I swear, on the first watch I was absolutely certain one of the biggest characters in the series had just gotten infected. I literally stood up and screamed, and it wasn’t until I re-watched that I could see he/she was able to dodge the worms. Even so, you can expect more than a few fans to be on a verge of stroke when that scene plays out on Sunday.

Also, I think I had mentioned this on Twitter, but for those who did not see, I will say it again here. About half-way through the episode when I finally realized what Eichhorst had orchestrated in Red Hook, the phrase “Beside The Dying Fire” immediately came to mind. Any guesses as to where this comes from? Here’s a hint: The Walking Dead. If you figure out what this references signifies, then you will know what Justine Feraldo and the people of Red Hook ultimately face Sunday night.

Speaking of Justine Feraldo, if there is a MVP in this episode, this woman is certainly it. She gets off to a rough start and actually pissed me off in the early part of the episode, but instead of giving up, she finally snaps out of it and becomes the leader these people so desperately need. Hell, she even grabs a gun herself and joins the fight, unlike the Major who just basically pisses his pants and runs back to Manhattan. After this episode, I am looking forward to, more than ever, more “spitfire Justine” in the latter part of the season.

Episode 2.09 of The Strain  is titled “The Battle for Red Hook” and airs Sunday at 10/9c on FX.

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