The Blogboard Jungle

First thing's first, sometimes in following some characters you forget how "bad ass" other characters are in The Strain . Last night's episode, "Madness" brought fans another Setrakian flashback when he was young enough to move quickly against Stragoi on the higher scale of The Master's army. Not only does he get the drop on one in the flashback scene, but he dispenses justice in a very Charles Bronson-esque way. The flashback helps explain that the book contained very important information on how exactly to defeat The Master. In a way, yes the book was dangerous and valuable to both sides, but exposing what was in it is the real weapon. If you did not see last night's episode, stop reading now. The spoiler is what was revealed last week , that the crimson worm which is The Master has to be destroyed or captured. Apparently there is a box that can be fabricated to do the job and Setrakian needs to know which body is holding his long time foe. ...

Everybody has a plan for their own personal win. That is what this season of The Strain has shown us so far, with the exception of Setrakian and Fet who are fighting for mankind. Both Eph and Quinlan sort of unite since their goals more closely align. The Lumen gets stolen, to lure The Master so Quinlan can kill him and Eph can save his son. Quinlan Photo: FX What comes of their plan reveals a lot about The Master and Quinlan's past. First, we know more about why Quinlan is not like the other "Stragoi", he's pretty much what Blade is to vampires in the Marvel Universe. He is also considered a part of a prophecy that is said to end The Master's plans. In his attempt to kill The Master, we see the true form of the Master. This disease is based on a hive mentality and all hives have a leader they follow, fans have known this since the first few episodes. Those little white worms, enter the bloodstream to make more white worms. In doing so, the host beco...

The end of the summer horror shows are making their way back to your small screen. The Strain returned last Sunday and picks up right when we left off with The Master chasing the Lumen, the people of New York fighting for their way of life, or fleeing, and Eph Goodweather going back to the bottle while still trying to save his son and the world. Things are really falling apart for Eph, but he is still trying to win and get his son back. His son seems to be the leverage The Master knows could get the Lumen and as Eph seems like he is looking for any means to get his son back, it might not be long before Eph makes a lot of people mad. Fet and Setrakian are still and always seem to be fighting the good fight. Even if they disagree on who they should trust, they still seem to trust each other. It was a good premier episode, some other characters are probably going to some more screen time in episode two. Even though The Strain coming back means summer is pretty much over, we...

Season 1 box art Season two of Fargo premiered on FX, last season was done just as well as the film and connected to it nicely just when people were wondering how the show was made from the film. If you didn't get a chance to see either, you can click the above image for the show or catch-up on your preferred streaming service. This season takes place in 1979 and looks at the earlier generation of law enforcement in the Solverson family. If you remember Molly Solverson from season 1 you'll be familiar with the name. That's what makes these stories in the Fargo universe unique. The first season was lightly connected to the film by connecting the money Steve Buscemi's character from the film left in the snow, to a family in the series. This season is doing it with a family name to introduce a whole new list of characters for season two. The first half hour has enough surprises in it to draw you in for this season, if you're not watching it, you should. Its ...

Of all the characters they could have gotten rid of the one that was lost in this episode was probably the most innocent and decent. The Ocido Lumin has been acquired but not without taking a serious hit to the characters we got used to this season. Eldridge Pamler had to get put in his place and was made to realize, he's not as smart as he thought. Coco was made a meal of for The Master when Palmer thought the could flex some financial muscle, he thought he could let The Master know who is in charge by cutting off his funding.  He found out otherwise when confronted by Eichorst and The Master himself. Gus, Angel, and Quinlan have banded together to get the Lumin and the head of The Master by recruiting every thug Gus knew to their cause. A small army will lead into the war in season three when the final fight for humanity is fought. There will be one soldier missing though... Nora was by Eph's side since the beginning and was prepared to die to protect Zach, which she...

Now we're getting somewhere. Does anyone find it odd that when Eph has very little to say or do the episodes are profoundly better than the ones where he is the focus of it? Regardless of that, it looks like things are starting to get moving in the grand scope of the show. The Occido Lumin has been located, Gus and The Silver Angel are back, and this episode could stand alone as its own short horror film with Eichorst's capture and torture of Fet's girl. The flashbacks are often the best parts of most episodes, this one was no different as we got a glimpse at Eichorst, before he became one of The Masters many underlings. Low confidence, low self esteem, pretty much everything bullies are made of, made Eichorst what he has become. Nazi, slave to The Master and overall sicko that likes to play with his food. Without getting into detail, Eichorst had a very nasty plan for feeding on Dutch, but Fet would not have it and got to her in the nick of time. Her ordeal occupies...

Lots of gun play This weeks The Strain episode, was a little war between man and strigoi was a decent filler episode in what seemed to take a break from the main story.  People were left wondering about this new renegade that came to help the humans, the book Setrakian was looking for, and what's up with The Master and his new body? The last two episodes switched focus from the main story to focus on Zach and his mother who is turned now, trying to get him back. What happened to Gus, Angel, and the hunter/gladiator vampire? The battle in Red Hook was decent but not as large scale as they tried to make it seem. lets hope in the episodes to come we get a nice close to the season. It was confirmed early in the current season that a season three is definitely coming so maybe they had to stretch some things out during the production process. Either way the focus should be on the war of for humanity and not these little side stories. Although, if it gets the show some more se...

Michael Gibson/FX A new hunter is making his way to help The Elders, and the others that are looking to stop The Master. Eph went to Washington DC to hook up with yet another woman in a completely random act of being "Ephed up", and we finally got to see Gus and Angel in action. Who does Eph think he is? That horn dog senator from House of Cards ? All Eph's trip to DC turned up was what we already knew, Stoneheart group and The Master have some influence in government. Setrakian, Fet, and Palmer's former assistant were making some headway with their quest for the book before they were attacked by Strigoi Nora and her little Strigoilings. Palmer's former assistant was lost in that exchange, too bad as we were hoping for more from that character. Gus and Angel showed they could work well together when they needed to, despite their differences. Angel's knee seems to be a big problem though, something that is present in the book but not as prominent. Most...

The action before the credits roll let the audience know this episode was going to be good. Strakian continues to search for the Lumin and Fet is in jail, shortly. The show is taking a turn from the books that, is probably a good idea to make this thing last for a good run on TV. The way Fet and the police teamed up in this episode is a really pleasant surprise. Eph has assumed another identity and is sporting a new haircut. Just so you know the actor playing him is bald so this is good for him. Setrakian makes some headway in locating the book that could contain the secret to finishing off the Stigoi for good. Although the people he is using to find it may not be trustworthy. Fet and the police go on a cleaning mission in Redhook that is reminiscent of the beginning scenes from the original Dawn of the Dead . They make a good dent in the Stigoi population and educate the police on the weaknesses of the Strigoi. Eph has a scene of note when he runs into his old boss and we find o...

Photo: Amazon product photo The second book of The Strain trilogy introduces one of the stand out characters from the story, El Angel de Plata (The Silver Angel). A luchador that lost his way from the days when he was a legendary wrestler who appeared in films fighting evil. He makes his appearance in the second book of the trilogy. Growing up young and Latino around the 70's and 80's people may remember a similar character that had stories and adventures in Mexican cinema known as Mi Masquera (The Mask). The Silver Angel seems to come from either Del Toro, or Hogans memories of the old character and it is an awesome addition to the story. Fans of the book were probably looking forward to last nights episode as they finally brought him into the show. So far, since we have been following the story on our home, small screens, the changes are not unwelcome from the book. Although it may bother some people that Gus recognized The Silver Angel so early in the show, it ...

Photo: Michael Gibson/FX Something about a show that connects the fiction to reality makes fans connect really well. If you're on the east coast and in NY/NJ this episode was really easy to relate to based on where many things happened. The book does the same thing for the readers and the changes being made for the show are more pluses than minus. Photo: Michael Gibson/FX The city has declared war against Strigoi and will not go down without a fight. An example was made of many of the masters turned to let him know humans will be fighting back. Fet's plan to cut off the transportation underground of the villainous vampire strain. Meanwhile, Vaugh is helping Augustin refine his vampire slaying skills. Photo: Michael Gibson/FX Setrakian's health was fading so he had to do something drastic to get his strength back to continue his battle with The Master. He has been using the worms to prolong his life to continue his mission by boiling their essence i...

This show is still pacing things a lot better than the book. However, the need to throw romance in arbitrary scenes out of the blue still exists. Perhaps they need to do one every season, either way, as long as they stay focused on the big picture the show should do well. Setrakian is still looking for his book, Fet is killing strigoi and getting laid, Eph is right where he should be, out of the way. We also see Palmer's juices are flowing after meeting the young lady he met with Eichorst when looking for new property for The Masters plans. He hires her, to keep her close for his own interests most likely due to the rejuvenated vigor from having The Masters blood in him. The flashbacks in this one finally let fans know about the cane-sword Setrakian carries and its significance to The Master, who used to be known as Joseph Sardu. Setrakian's mind and what he seeks seems to be the biggest weapon they have against the vampire strain and The Master's ultimate goal....

Photo from FX Networks The Strain is back on FX to gross up your Sunday Nights again. Season two picked up where we left our team of Strigoi slayers from season one. The Master is mortally wounded by Setrakian, Eph is back to drinking, and some really good flash backs gave the audience some history on the race of vampires in this story. This episode had a lot of action and back story that if you have not jumped on this show by now, this may be the one that grabs you. Even fans of the book will be pleasantly surprised with the changes made for the show. Especially with the history of The Master and how he came to be along with his connection to Setrakian. Setrakian is hellbent on finishing off his long time rival and it would seem he would partner with The Elders to do it. The Elders are other Strigoi that seem to have a problem with The Master's way of doing things, and vice-verse. A book exists that could have the solution but in his advanced age, Setrakian will nee...

Photo: FX Both The Strain TV series and book have been written about and praised here in the B-Board Jungle, so it's exciting to know a teaser trailer is out. Granted, sitting around the TV in the summer is not popular but the show usually runs well into the fall. No one is rushing anything here but if you're a fan of the show, season two looks to get way more exciting then the first season. If you haven't seen the teaser trailer check it out below. A book  2 review was done and a book 3 review should be up soon, it's hard to get through..Eph is a main focal point in it and he's hard to stay interested in.

     This episode slowed down a bit after last weeks episode and takes place directly after the battle at the gas station.  We also get more information about Setrakian, Eichorst, and The Master's  history and an update on Gus and his partner in crime who was bitten just before their arrest.  Also, Eph makes a pretty messed up blunder around Nora. Right after the escape from the gas station battle, Fet and the others try to drop off their new friend, Dutch Velders the hacker that unwittingly helped The Stoneheart group shut down the Internet. Fet accompanies her to her apartment to "make sure it's safe" only to find out that it is not safe and that her lover stole all her money for deeds done on behalf of Stoneheart.  She decides to stick with the group after Fet gets rid of an infected visitor and confesses her part in what is happening to Setrakian. They pick up Eph's son after rescuing him from his mothers boyfriend who got infected at work, Eph...

    In the last 3 episodes we get more insight on Eichorst's and Setrakian's past, and witness the vampire like illness take over New York during the eclipse.  In the beginning of episode 6 we hear a little audio from various satellite feeds of the growing chaos and anarchy forming at the start of the eclipse.  We learned from Vasily Fet's encounter with the strigoi , sun light does burn them so that fact that the sun is going to be blocked by an eclipse further helps The Masters plan. There is no slowing down at this point in the series as all the characters we have met have had to defend themselves, or been taken by parasitic disease.  Eph, is on the run from the police while trying to help Setrakian stop it from spreading any further.  Gus and his boy get caught up doing more dirty work for The Stone Heart Group and dispose of a body along with Eph's friend and co-worker Jim Kent.  It seems Eichorst has had his thumb on a lot people in the plan...

    Oddly enough this episode begins with a nice breakfast in the house where two vampires were just slain.  The worms from the bodies are crawling around somewhere, but okay...lets have toast and eggs now.  Regardless, Setrakian tells Eph his story and how he knows so much about The Master and the Strigoi . We get his story through flashbacks of a younger Setrakian in World War II and his first encounters with The Master.  He first witnesses this creature feeding on people in the work camps he was forced into by the Nazis and we also see a familiar face in command of the Nazis.  Meanwhile, Vasily Fet is looking into why so many vermin are leaving their nests and he finds out when he encounters a nest of Strigoi and barely escapes with his life.  Nora, goes to visit her ailing mother in a nursing home after ignoring calls from Eph only to see that the strain is spreading and there is an attack in the nursing home so she gets her mother out of there...

     Episode 4 picks up right where we left off, so do not read if you're not caught up with The Strain.  Eph does an emergency autopsy on the creature he killed at the end of the last episode that used to be Capt. Redfern of Regis flight 753.  Finally realizing he should have heeded Satrakian's word and decides to study the biology of what is happening to those that were afflicted on the flight. During the autopsy we learn more about what happens to the people once they catch the wormies, AKA The Strain that makes people into these vampire like creatures.  We know that it spreads through the worms like a parasite occupying a host until it consumes them completely and uses the vessel to make more works and spread those through more attacks. Meanwhile, one of the survivors that went home,  Ansle realizes his thirst after feeding on the dog and locks himself in the shed to protect his family from what he's capable of while he still has some indepe...

     Episode 3 puts us back on track with the shows original pace after getting some mushy character building stuff out of the way last week .  This episode had plenty of horror, action, and dare I say comedy to grab anyone thinking about dropping the show stay aboard. With the final decision being made on Eph's custody nonsense, (because this isn't Kramer v. Kramer ) out of the way we can get back to the story at hand.  The vampiric disease taking over New York City and all those directly involved.  We get to see why Jim Kent can get the thumb pushed on him by The Stone Heart Group, and we get to see who seems like the rough detective of all the characters Vasily Fet.  The Russian exterminator who, in the book seems to be the equivalent of Woody Harrelson's character in Zombieland .  His attitude alone is pretty funny in the book and it seems they may bring that to the show. Gabriel Bolivar, the shock rocker is undergoing his transfo...

     Just when I thought the pace was moving along quite nicely in comparison to the book the second episode of FX's The Strain went and slowed things down a bit.  I suppose that's okay so long as they don't harp too much on Eph and his person life because if we wanted to know about that, it would be on lifetime. Some spoilers ahead, after a premiere that let audiences know this show was not going to go light on the gore and horror.  They kind of hit the breaks on the second episode and started to go the pace of the the book, which is probably my only gripe with the book , the slow start and character introduction.  I do understand it helps build the relationships and gives meaning to things that will happen later but maybe it's because I took such a long break from fun reading because of school I wanted to get right to the horror.  Either way, after seeing The Master, and meeting our hero Eph we kind of got back to the ho hum everyday life proble...