The Strain Season 2 Finale Recap: Bidder Sweet Ending 

The following recap, by the very definition of the word “recap,” contains spoilers from

wrapped its sophomore run on Sunday with one big win for the good guys, offset by a tragic loss.

While Eichorst oversees the construction of his “sheep” processing plant in Throggs Neck, Eph, Nora and Zach say their goodbyes, snapping a pic with a none-too-smiley Setrakian before heading off for the train to Savannah/D.C. Setrakian and Fet then make tracks for the auctioning of the

, which the old man vows to claim one way or another: “We win it, we take it, or we die trying” — the last option of which Fet is none too fond!

Meanwhile, Quinlan addresses the small army that Gus assembled, swiftly dispatching with one non-believer before charging the others to be “warriors of the highest order” as they spill white blood. “Today, you will change the future!”

Shortly after Setrakian and Fet arrive at the church auction, which will be overseen by Alfonzo Creem, Eichorst arrives as Eldritch Palmer’s “emissary.” While the two parties’ gold-backed funds are verified, they trade taunts, as they do. “I assure you that our duel shall end in a transaction of

,” Setrakian warns his longtime rival, who in turn reveals that The Master has a plan for the decades-long thorn in his side — to turn him versus kill him.

escalates, to the point that an agog Alfonzo suggests they simple measure the gents’… Swiss bank balances, and award the book to the richest. Setrakian learns that the Ancients have backed him with $323 million in gold, but Eichorst is packing $351 mil — and thus claims victory. His claim to the

is, however, fleeting, when Edlritch rescinds his access to the Swiss account.

Setrakian basks in the “interesting” turn of fate, gloating that Palmer would prefer he walk away with the tome instead of The Master. “Enjoy this victory. Savor it,” Eichorst hisses. “I will see you soon.”

And indeed, he will. Because not long after Setrakian and Fet hop back in their truck and head for the docks, Eichorst and an army of strigoi blockade and attack the vehicle. Fet fends off the munchers OK enough, then gets unexpected back-up in the form of Quinlan’s army. Meanwhile, Quinlan himself faces off against The Master via Eichorst, though the latter winds up slipping away.

Setrakian and Fet themselves escape, through a trap door in the truck that feeds into the sewer, but Gus chases them down at the dock, followed by boss man Quinlan. “You did not come all this way,” Setrakian tells the half-breed, “to do the Ancients’ bidding.” He successfully argues that

should retain possession of the book, to draw out The Master for Quinlan to do with as he pleases.

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Eichorst meanwhile confronts Palmer about cutting off his funding. Eldritch contends that his goons can snatch the book back from Setrakian in a jiffy —

he starts getting the respect he deserves from The Master. The Master immediately flits in to affirm that the terms of the arrangement remain unchanged, before sucking poor Coco dry with his proboscis, as Palmer weeps.

Coco would not be the only significant player to get bled in the finale, however. The train that Eph, Nora and Zach are on gets derailed by a throng of suicide strigoi. Nora and Zach make a run for it, while Eph gets slowed down by Feelers. Running down the tunnel, Nora and Zach come face to face with Kelly, who dodges every bullet but gets sliced up some by Nora’s sword. Nora goes in for the kill but Zach bleats, “Stop!” — affording Kelly the chance to gain the upper hand and chomp on Nora.

Zach for a moment draws a dagger on his mom, but reconsiders and hugs her instead. Mother and son then stroll away, hand in hand, when The Masters calls….

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Eph arrives on the scene, “too late” as always, Nora notes, to realize what has transpired. He suggests that they can “manage” Nora’s turning, but she refuses to let The Master see/hear him through her eyes. And thus she touches her sword to the train tracks’ third rail, frying herself to a crisp.

As the finale draws to a close, Setrakian leafs through the

, warning Fet that it could take some time to find what they are looking for — the key to The Master’s demise. As he peruses the pages, Setrakian narrates the closing montage, which includes glimpses of shell-shocked Eph and distraught Eldritch.

, “Why do I feel more trepidation than triumph?” the professor muses. Observing that humankind has always enjoyed a false sense of superiority over all else, he asks: “Will we perish in greed and selfishness, or overcome and survive?

“We have one last chance to win back our world,” he continues. “To defeat The Master, we must be as cold and savage as he is… without becoming monsters ourselves.”

‘s Season 2 finale? And will you be tuning back in for the already-ordered Season 3?

The guy sitting next to eph on the train; was that rudyard? wasn’t 100% sure

Ah, maybe. They kept conspicuously cutting to him and his briefcase of cash. Good eye.

My immediate reaction to Zach getting Nora killed was “That little a-hole!!!”, so yeah I hate him too.

to kill off Nora does not really make this The Strain anymore since she is the biggest character in the comics. This was a huge mistake.

Zach story line has to go as does Zach and the undead mom. And what’s with getting rid of all the main female characters?

I know right, I was thinking the same thing. Even Dutch was almost killed off.

Nora didn’t even die in the books. Hell, she’s one of the few that make it to the end. It’s really stupid they killed her off. It was likely done just to make people who have only watched the show, along with those that read the books feel uncomfortable now, since anyone can die.

Unfortunately, the Zach story line has to continue, since the Master wants him to grow into the perfect vessel for the Master to one day take over. So he’s here long term.

She got another job on Scandal. They have also always said the show will NOT mimic the books.

They have deviated a lot from the original books with the death of Nora, but that made Zack a lot less likable with him taking the choice to leave with his mom, which is also different than the books. I just want them to get closer to the last book where all the really messed up stuff is explained. They hinted at it with the contents of the book. I feel if they go with the original intended story season 3 will be one of the most interesting things to watch on TV if they do not drag it out how they have with the first two seasons.

I thought it was stupid that Nora, an experienced vampire slayer would stop on her final kill of Kelly just because that stupid brat said stop. If they wanted to kill her off they should have let her go out with honor instead of looking like a sentimental fool during an apocalypse.

Completely agree. Should’ve chopped Kelly’s head off without even hesitating. To die the way she did was just not right for her. She was too smart to go out like that.

Zach has to be the most insufferable kid character ever. Not a single redeeming quality or moment and it’s crap that Nora died for him

I might tune in next season to see how the Zach storyline turns out. I hope mom turns him.

I hope Zach ends up on one of Eichorst’s meat hooks!

Devistaed that Nora was killed off. Love the show but this may detour me from getting in to season 3.

in the book coco dies…ok…nora and fet hook up, as eph get ef but..this last episode nora dies…which does not amke any sense..i dont know what or where is this heading…i guest ill go back to TWD!! LOL

Actress that plays Nora is going to be on Scandal. She probably hated Zach so much, she quit!

In the killing of Nora my interest in this show took a pretty big hit. This is the first time I have watched that actress but I am now a fan. The bald lead is good, the russian is cool, and the badass “half breed” is well…badass…but still, I don’t feel as deep in this world as I am say TWD. This show needs to take a HARD left turn and spend time explaining a lot of the mysteries and lore and backstory on the Master and Ancient ones and all that. Even then I don’t know how into the story I will be.

However, it was a good finale. The kid actor is still THE WORST and if the show knows what is good for it, they will re-cast him. Come on, he is a generic white kid with brown hair, every single fan will thank the show for recasting him and will right away buy that the new actor is taking over as the son role.

The Zach character is the worst thing I have seen on TV in quite a while. Such a pain in the ass and actually physically painful to watch!!!!! So freakin’ bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worst character and actor ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zach storyline doesn’t makes sense. Why does the Master insist on grooming this one particular annoying kid with no special abilities? Just to taunt Eph?

Nora’s storyline in the books wasn’t that big of a deal. I did think they killed her off so book readers will tune in not knowing what is going to happen next.

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