Because The A.V. Club knows that TV shows keep going even if we’re not writing at length about them, we’re experimenting with discussion posts. For certain shows, one of our TV writers will publish some brief thoughts about the latest episode, and open the comments for readers to share theirs.
- “White Light” once again continues The Strain’s streak of great cold opens. The introduction of the “blood farm,” in all of its Vampiric, Tayloristic glory, was wonderfully graphic.
- The flashbacks on The Strain are often hit-or-miss. Here, I find the flashbacks to his abusive childhood do little to enhance our understanding of Gus, and instead hinder the pacing of the episode.
- Similarly: there wasn’t much of an emotional impact when Gus killed his long-since-turned mother, but what little impact there could have been was certainly impeded by the sudden intrusion of a flashback right after Gus shoots her to save Angel’s life.
- There’s also some weird pacing when it comes to Kelly and the Sun Hunters finding the Ancients’ hideout. The episode just kind of speeds past it all and gets to the final confrontation, which isn’t necessarily bad, so much as it is indicative of the show’s larger issues when it comes to storytelling.
- So the Stoneheart Group has a building where everyone is living large in yoga pants? Not too shabby.
- I love how Quinlan has less than no respect for the Ancients. He knows that they need him, so he’s not about to cowtow to them just because they’re Ancients.
- On the other hand, I do not like the sexual tension followed by actual physical contact between Dutch and Eph, mostly because it continues to undermine Dutch as a legitimately compelling character. She’s always being put into “relationship/sexual” situations and it’s exhausting. I mean, lesbian nurse pantomime? Really?
- I am, however, willing to recant those words if it turns out that the Master’s signal, which nearly brought down the apartment, had some sort of effect on Dutch that isn’t making her think clearly.
- Eichorst officially has the crate from Egypt in his possession. Surely he’ll be careful with whatever’s inside.
- I very much appreciate Setrakian’s complete lack of respect for and patience with Palmer. He truly considers him to be the very worst of both the human and vampire race.
- Some new info from Palmer: he estimates there’s about 100 of those blood farms all across North America.
- That final scene, where Eichorst and his Strigoi army attack the Ancients’ lair while Quinlan is there to propose a plan, is absolutely stunning. Great use of lighting, effects, and slow motion to bring out the beauty in the brutality.
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