Those believing that FX's The Strain should be more like AMC's The Walking Dead ultimately don't seem to realize what makes this show so special—whenever it is good, that is. This is not just meant to be a regular vampire/zombie-esque apocalypse series. This show, if it can work itself out, should be a chilling, atmosphere, gorily-produced monster series guided by strong characters and an equally forceful vision. Just like the pilot promised.
After a fairly straightforward, if rather sub-par, episode "Creatures of the Night" last week, "The Disappeared" finds The Strain disappointingly returning to its bouncy, inconsistent ways
Despite the returning presence of Thomas (Richard Sammel), this week's episode also finds the series baffled as to not only execute its heady and well-elaborated storyline. Constantly trying to suffice for putting in full effort in one scene and minimal the next, this series is becoming so frustrating at this point solely because it refuses to stay in one quality throughout its existence.
It's been said multiple times at this point, but it still needs to be emphasized: whenever characters need to say random, outbursts lines of dialogue before or during scenes of intense actions, the writers have no clue what characters should say. Case in point: whenever Eph's son, Zach (Ben Hyland), is "greeted" by the infected version of his step-father, his step-pa whipping a infecting tongue-thingy at this son, the only words out of his are "leave me alone!"? Who, in a time like this, would ever find themselves uttering such an inconsequential and stupid line of dialouge? If he needed to react, why not just have him scream here?
Of course, this may be just a case of Hyland not being a great actor, but it seems to be a continuous problem that definitely needs to stop. Then, when I thought I heard the worst from Zach during this opening scene, his dialogue in the back of the truck with Abraham (David Bradley) is even worse! What makes this all the more weird is the fact that Abraham's writing is actually pretty good, all things considered. Though, one should never forget that this could all be the sorcery of Bradley's continuously captivating performance.
This is also not even taking into account that Zach saw his step-father violently murdered in front of him, and—even though he was a zombie/vampire—seems to brush it all off in just a matter of minutes. Then again, The Strain has never really been a show to study character pain unless they needed to, like The Walking Dead.
Returning into this show's focus are the escapades of young Abraham (Jim Watson) in a concentration camp. Just like they were when they were first introduced in the series, these scenes are carelessly edited into this week's installment. But, alas, they are definitely more affective then they were when they were first enforced, if not quite as compelling as they were when they were introduced a second time. That said, however, Abraham's battle with the shadowed night monster is pure Guillermo Del Toro, and strikes as one of this week's best moments.
Just like last week's episode, the writing here all around isn't quite up to par with its story. The teleplay, this week from Regina Corrado, who also wrote the admittedly better episode "It's Not For Everyone," seems to constantly berate characters to speak in monotone exposition, never really reacting like characters. When they do, they often talk like computers, only really saying what needs to be said or what is expected to be said. Which can work, given a certain tone or mood, but is not the intention here so it mostly comes across as sluggish, awkward or both.
Also, in case you were wondering, you get to see Nina's mom again, she's back. Also, if you were wondering, she was still in Abraham's little shop. She is also a little more feisty than she was when we last saw her, but that may have to do with the fact that she was running for her life.
For all these complainants, it's not so much that this week's episode is bad, as much as it is—again—painfully average. Good moments, like Abraham explaining to Vasiliy (Kevin Durand—this week's acting MVP) why he needs him for his unsentimental ways work but are interrupted by scenes like Nora (Mia Maestro—officially giving the worst performance of the regulars) and Eph (Corey Stoll) mourning the lost of Jim (Sean Astin) that are just badly written, staged and acted. Also, don't even get me started on their awkward, out-of-the-blue sex scene.
It's a hodgepodge episode, as sadly per usual for The Strain. Much like a stew, the good is always there, but there are always showing signs that the bad is just as readily available. But, as the episode's last chilling flashback scene showcases, there is certainly the possibility that the show can be the Guillermo Del Toro-esque realization it ultimately has to become in order to succeed, creatively.
Image courtesy of Peter West/ACE Pictures