The Strain Season 3 Episode 1: Are We Finally Taking The Fight To These Things? (Season Premiere)

"New York Strong" opens some 23 days after the events of episode 1. We know thanks to Abe's voice over. The humans have made a little progress since last season. Councilwoman Feraldo is using Eph's bioweapon against the "munchers" with some success (although it's effectiveness is waning). Geraldine and Fet are also working together.

The government has sent in Navy Seal Team 6 to fight the strigoi. Unfortunately they arent as effective as they had hoped. Eichorst easily traps and kills most of the soldiers. The thermal heat imagery was kinda cool though. Don't expect any more military help though. The feds have given up on New York.

Not much else went on during the season premiere. Eph continues to drown his sorrows over Nora's death (and Zach's disappearance). Setrakian is hunched over the "Occidio Lumen" trying to learn it's secrets. Zach is off with vampire mom Kelly. She and the Feelers pay Eph a visit. Kelly will give Zach back to Eph... in exchange for the Lumen. This puts Eph is a touch spot The fate of humanity OR the life of his son? It's a no brainer to me. Save mankind and sacrifice the irritating little cuss. But no one asked me.

Gus is across town feeding his blood to his vampire mom. Why doesnt he find some loser for her to chomp on instead? Quinlan is anxious to get back in the battle. He visits the Ancients. They are as cryptic as always. And Fet and Quinlan really dont like each other. Get over it boys! You have a common enemy to fight.

Grade: 3 Monsters (out of 5). One New Yorker asks Fet "Are we finally taking the fight to these things?" It seems so but the pace is still excruciatingly S-L-O-W. I have complained about this since season 1. There are numerous scenes that have nothing to do with progressing the plot. Please cut those out. I dont care if Eph went on a drug run.

Season 3 has 10 episodes (instead of the previous 13 per season). I REALLY hope this forces the writers to speed the story up but I have my doubts. If not, I may have to drop "The Strain" from my usual TV rotation... which is a shame since it has great potential.

On a more positive note, I greatly enjoyed the new opening sequence. Super cool and a big improvement.