The Strain 2.2 FAQ
What’s it called?
“By Any Means.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to Bradley Thompson & David Weddle (“Deep Space Nine,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Defiance,” “Falling Skies”).
What says FX?
“Eph and Nora experiment on their newfound patients. Fet and Dutch grow closer as they clear out the neighborhood buildings, and Kelly begins her hunt for Zack.”
Does tonight’s installment begin with a flashback?
It does not. But later on there’s a flashback to 1965 Vienna depicting the first meeting between Abraham Setrakian and Eldritch Palmer. (It turns out Setrakian wasn’t always a pawnbroker.)
How does the episode start?
“Beautiful, is it not?” Eichorst marvels at Setrakian’s work. “Each figure has a meaning of its own. Together they form a larger meaning. The glorious prophesy.”
Does The Master choose his successor already? Is it the Nazi vampire Eichorst?
Eichorst clearly wants the job; he even tries out the supercoffin.
Who is “Dutch” again?
Computer girl. Turned off the Internet. Gets naked this week.
Does Dutch turn the Internet back on already?
She turns something on. Me!
What’s doing with those blind kids? Pretending to sell band candy door-to-door?
They’re now like drones in service to queen bee Kelly.
No mention of Abraham Setrakian?
Old Setrakian has a tremendous scene at a “freedom center” late in the episode.
What’s doing with surly Latino Gus?
No sign of Gus or the militarized rival vamps this week.
Does Eichorst bring vampire billionaire Eldritch Palmer down a notch this week?
Not this week.
What’s doing with the vampire Nazi Eichorst?
He gets plenty of screen time this week.
The big news?
Eph and Nora decide not to tell the storage-room couple that they’re almost certainly doomed.
What else is FX not telling us?
The great Samantha Mathis joins the cast as a pissed-off take-charge city councilwoman.
What’s good?
The Setrakian-Eldritch conversations. The creepy way the Children of the Night now scamper about. The slo-mo decapitations. Fet’s clothesline. Government officials debating what to do with their captured vampires. Nora. Dutch. Kelly Goodweather. Lots of effective direction by series newcomer TJ Scott (“Orphan Black,” “Gotham”). “I thought there was a 20-percent chance.” “Get in the shallow end.” “My name is Rolph Steiner!” “Yes He did. The answer was ‘no.’” “Welcome to the fold.”
What’s not so great?
Eph’s snotty kid.
How does it end, spoiler boy?
“Find my son.”
10 p.m. Sunday. FX.
