The Strain recap: 'The Traitor' 

‘s best episodes, my expectations should have been high for the series’ penultimate hour. But the ending of “Extraction” left me dreading “The Traitor.” Unless you’re new here, you’re aware of the beating Zach has taken during these recaps, so the prospect of him reuniting with his father and Eph immediately falling into The Master’s trap wasn’t appealing. And while Zach’s prominence in the episode was still a problem, I give

credit for both committing to Zach going fully dark and, rightfully, having Eph be skeptical of his terrible son. Not doing so would have been a disservice to the character, show, and fans.

“The Traitor” skips past Zach and Eph’s reunion, instead beginning with The Master’s pawn being kept locked up in a secured room at the team’s new HQ. “I want to trust you,” says Eph, to which Zach responds, “But you don’t.” I mean, teenagers who nuked New York City don’t really deserve trust in my book. Zach hasn’t slept in days and wants to save the talking for later. When Eph leaves, Quinlan is waiting outside the door to get the scoop. Thankfully, Eph realizes his son’s reemergence is “suspicious as hell,” and he intends to find out why he’s here.

Zach isn’t the only prisoner on location, as Dutch and Fet are using slightly harsher interrogating methods on Sanjay, who insists he did all of this to help save the rest of humanity. He calls those killed “the price we paid to build a better world” and says, “No one had the balls to face an inconvenient little truth: too many people.” Considering he’s Dutch and Fet’s hostage, he makes the bold move of firing back at them and asking how many they have killed or will kill. “Yeah, sure, we paid the price, but it was worth it,” Sanjay opines. Tell that to Setrakian, Nora, Jim, and Angel. This causes Dutch to lose it, beating the crap out of his face.

Meanwhile, Roman is still chilling at the Federal Reserve, where he’s watching old sitcoms, eating Count Chocula, and guarding the nuke. Actually, that’s not such a bad gig. He’s startled by a noise, so he goes to investigate and spots Cream’s guy, Marcus. This briefly turns into a standoff when Gus sneaks up on Roman, but it’s all good because Fet sent them, and Gus proves it by doing a perfect impersonation of our favorite exterminator. They’re going to help him keep the nuke safe.

While they’re there, Gus and Marcus decide they might as well steal a bunch of silver. This angers Roman until he realizes this isn’t your classic heist. “This man I knew, he taught me that the most valuable thing in this fight is silver,” explains Gus, giving a nod to Setrakian. Roman is in. Damn, Gus sure knows how to recruit. He’d make a hell of a college basketball coach if this vampire apocalypse ever ends.

During an interrogation break, Fet is trying to calm down Dutch, who is shaking after the beatdown she delivered Sanjay. (Post-vampire apocalypse, she shouldn’t be a boxer.) He gives her some alcohol to relax (hey, that’s Eph’s move!), and Dutch says she doesn’t understand how Sanjay can justify his actions. “Are we any better?” she asks Fet. “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing?” He responds, “What’s the other option? It’s the best hope that we have.” As they bond over missing Setrakian, Fet caresses her face and they hold hands. Sorry Eph — he stole your move and your girl.

Since Fetch (such a better couple name than Etch) are unable to break Sanjay, they bring in the closer. Looking like a badass, Quinlan strolls in, grabs a knife from Dutch, and…cuts Sanjay’s restraints. The human traitor is surprised and thankful. Well, until Quinlan knocks him out and drags him to a room where his wife, Stella, is being held. The half-strigoi threatens to drink her if Sanjay doesn’t give up The Master’s location. Sanjay eventually relents, and the team asks him to draw a layout of the floor in the Empire State Building that The Master nests in.

While Fet, Dutch, and Quinlan are getting tough with Sanjay, Eph is taking the soft approach to questioning Zach. It seems to be working, as Zach is completely honest about what has happened to him since he and his father were separated. It’s less clear if he’s telling the truth when he attempts to make the case that he’s on Eph’s side. The team decides to test both of their prisoners by having Zach draw a map of The Master’s location and comparing it to Sanjay’s. They’re identical…but everyone remains unconvinced of Zach’s loyalty. “I want to believe him,” says Dutch. “There’s just something in my gut telling me not to.” And, we soon learn, for good reason. 

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