The strigoi are back! FX Network's horror drama, The Strain, returned Sunday night for its much anticipated second season premiere. I was extremely impressed with the overall quality and direction the show is taking. Season One of The Strain was a lot of fun to watch with only a few low points throughout, but I have a feeling (after viewing a few episodes) that Season Two will be a much better story to continue this amazing and interesting epic. Last year we witnessed the first season of The Strain, which was adapted from the first book in the trilogy (written by Chuck Hogan and famed director Guillermo Del Toro) very closely. There were minor adjustments, of course, but that is to be expected when converting to the big screen; minor characters …show more content…
were added, such as Dutch Velders, and some small story lines created to fill out the season. I was excited when I heard the trilogy of books were to be adapted into a television series as I am a huge fan of the story as well as the comic book version, which I noticed the show follows more closely. This second season starts just a short time after the events that ended last season's tumultuous and disheartening finale. Eph, Setrakian, Fet, Dutch and Nora find themselves a little lost after witnessing The Master escape and slip through their fingers in the final moments of the first season. They thought The Master would have been destroyed by sunlight, and when it wasn't, the confused team speculated that their must be something stronger at play and they will need more knowledge and information if they are to destroy The Master for good. This is what I believe the second season will begin to answer - starting with the premiere episode. One of the best parts of the episode was witnessing The Ancients that Setrakian had been taken to after he was kidnapped by Vaun (AKA last season's mistakenly named Quinlan). We learn quite a bit relating to the mythology of The Strain in these scenes. There are seven master strigoi with The Master being the 'seventh' (and implied, the youngest). It is also implied that The Master went his own way and that is why The Ancients are seeking it out. They want Setrakian to help locate The Master, however, Setrakian knows that just sunlight and silver is not enough to stop him; he knows they need more information. What he needs is the 'Occido Lumen' (The Fallen Light) - an ancient medieval manuscript he believes is the key to defeating The Master. Season Two, or at least most of it, I believe , will be largely based on our heroes obtaining this book. In the cold open, we see an adolescent Abraham Setrakian listening to a scary story told at night by his grandmother, or 'bubba'.
She tells him the origin story of The Master's current body that once belonged to Jusef Sardu. We have heard that name a few times from Season One and now it makes more sense. In the source material, this story is told in the beginning of book one. We see Sardu, a man suffering from gigantism, walking the streets, gathering children to hand out candy to. After he is consumed by The Master's 'soul' and is turned into him he still seeks out children, that begin to go missing, presumably to feed on …show more content…
them. This unnatural characteristic is not diminished over time as The Master continues to 'gather' children - this time in the form of blind students - to create a new kind of 'soldier' or weapon. We can only assume he gives these newly formed strigoi children to Kelly in an attempt to gather another child that will help The Master in this war he has started, Zack Goodweather. If The Master is concerned that Setrakian and his team of hunters are a threat, then he would be smart to kidnap Zack as that would drive Eph to go crazy and curtail their efforts. This will be an interesting storyline going forward as we see Kelly, and her 'children of the night', attempt to capture her 'dear one'. The premiere was a great start to the second season.
I have read quite a few reviews and comments about the episode Sunday night and many fans think it was not the best episode of the series. I honestly do not know how they arrived at that conclusion. The second season premiere showed a lot of promise for The Strain after what I thought was an 'good' first season. They reflected on the finale last summer while expanding on the mythology that will propel the stories into this season and, hopefully, seasons to come. It was a great episode and I am excited to see this season unfold and see what it has to offer. Especially with the promise of the 'real' Mr. Quinlan around the midpoint of the season, this second season of The Strain should be everything we have hoped, wanted it to be and
more. Thoughts and Discussion - Did you notice...When Setrakian is reminiscing about the failed attack against The Master we can see posters and advertisements showcasing Bolivar's performance his shows during the occultation, the celestial event that was a big part of Season One's storyline. - In case anyone was wondering...Zack Goodweather, the son of Ephraim and Kelly, is played by a different child actor than in Season One. Season One 'Zack' was played by Ben Hyland while Season Two 'Zack' (and most likely future seasons) is played by Max Charles. - Did you notice...The Master tells Eichorst to inform Bolivar to reclaim the 'loam'. 'Loam' is soil - soil from the coffin The Master uses as a resting place and probably needs it this time to convert his aging, broken and decaying body into a new one like we saw in the cold open when he took over the body of Jusef Sardu. - When will Setrakian tell the other team members he met with The Ancients? Their lives could be in danger as a result of his alignment with them. - Now that we know The Master is, at least, injured, will he seek out a new, younger, body? - In the cold open it is written that the scene occurred in 1932. Young Abraham appeared to be about 10 or 11 years old. That would mean that he is now, in our current storyline, 93 or 94 years old. How can a 94 year old man be able to fight and swing a sword the way he has been seen doing? Is there more that he is not telling the team? - What did you all think of the premiere episode? Thank you for checking out my review! Please comment below so we can discuss the episode and the series some more. Have a great week everyone!
In the Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett, Homer and Mother Maria both display straightforward, hardworking, and stubborn character traits. Firstly, Homer and Mother Maria both display a straightforward personality by being brutally honest about their opinions. For example, when Mother Maria asks Homer to build a chapel, Homer speaks his mind by telling her he does not want to build it. Mother Maria shows her straightforward behavior during Homer’s stay at the convent. One morning, when Homer sleeps in late, Mother to becomes extremely upset and is not afraid to show how she feels about him. Secondly, both Homer and Mother Maria display a hardworking spirit. Homer is a hardworking man because after finally agreeing to build the chapel,
“The thing I hate about space is that you can feel how big and empty it is… ”
In The Big Field, author Mike Lupica explores the theme, "Success uses motivation as fuel." Lupica portrays this theme through the main character, Hutch. Throughout the entire book, Hutch, a young boy that has just recently joined a highly talented baseball team, displays moments that exemplify this main theme. Hutch and his team have a chance to play in the stadium of the Miami Marlins, a Major League Baseball team, as long as they can keep winning games and advancing through a challenging tournament; however, Hutch's favorite position on the field, shortstop, the position located between 2nd and 3rd base, has already been filled on the team. Unfortunately, Hutch gets a demotion from shortstop, to second base, the position located between 1st base and 2nd base. Although Hutch was disappointed and melancholy about the switch in position, he was even more upset about the downgrading of leadership, since the
Laura Hillenbrand’s novel Unbroken incorporates the improbable life of the main character, Louie Zamperini. She introduces both the inspiring and powerful journey that Louie encounters in his life as he grows up. Hillenbrand looks to and successfully does catch the versatility of the human soul. Zamperini’s story including his involvement in World War II gives a persuasive stage in which the author demonstrates numerous qualities of Louie. Leaving readers to appreciate his courage, quality, grit and above all else, his bravery. “Confident that he was clever resourceful, and bold enough to escape any predicament, [Louie] was almost incapable of discouragement. When history carried him into war, this resilient optimism would define him.” Louie
Hope and joy can be hard to find especially when times are tough. This is a situation in Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse , the character Billy Jo and her family are living in the time of the Dust Bowl and are struggling financially . Her father is a farmer in a time where nothing grows and after an accident Billy Jo’s mother passes away. This is a big part of Billy Jo is effected emotionally and shows seems very sad. Billy Jo has to move and has to move on and find joy and hope even in tough times.
she gets flashbacks of the past incidents that occurred all because of her uncle. This story overall,
Now that she has spilt blood during the High Holy Days she is sacrificing for God and her religion. She has an epiphany that she must be “a Chosen One” (54) and a “child to lead your tribe” (55) meaning that it is up to her to bring light upon the injustices of Jews. Here the speaker has her awakening, which results in both happiness and pain. She is proud of her religion and culture but at the same time she understands the harsh reality of the outside, Non-Jewish world filled with hate. The attitude of the speaker goes from one of observation and childish thoughts (such as her preoccupation with her wool winter suit that "scratched" and was "a size to large") to realization and overall growth.
Episode 1 of Season 2 uses many elements to create suspense and suspicion. In the post 9/11 time period, this show would’ve gotten a lot of attention because the audience would be able to relate to the aura of suspicion.
Researchers are constantly looking for explanations for criminal patterns and crime rates among juveniles. They have presented many theories to serve as such explanations with strain theory being one of them; however, like many other theories, strain theory was pushed aside decades ago. It was not until recently that this theory was given new life by criminologist, Robert Agnew. Robert Agnew introduced this new development as the general strain theory. GST was the first supposition that was not tied to social class or cultural variables as it was in previous implications of Émile Durkheim’s anomie theory. Instead, Agnew’s theory refocused on societal norms that affect juveniles.
The optimism and hopefulness in contrast to the negativity and bitterness that the characters Markwardt and Parsons display justifies their individual actions that result in the creation of the polar outcomes in their lives. The story displays Parsons as a positive and optimistic individual that creates great success for himself; while the story displays Markwardt as a negative and bitter individual whose self-pity places him in a lifestyle of peddling. Despite his disability, Parsons deals with his obstacles with a positive attitude, as he becomes “successful, respected, [and] admired” (Kantor 328) in spite of being “a little more than a skilled laborer” (Kantor 328) in his earlier life. Additionally, Parsons was able to amount to his success “alone, unaided struggling beneath handicaps” (Kantor 328), demonstrating the optimism and determination that he possesses to conquer his hindrances. On the contrary, though sharing a mutual disability with Parsons, Markwardt acts with a negative attitude towards his misfortune, attempts nothing to improve his situation, and becomes a “shaggy, thick-necked fellow” (Kantor 328) who collects donations to
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Reverend John Hale’s role in the witch trials changed from a confident and passionate proponent to a guilty and despairing dissenter. He entered the play with an eager air about him, and he was keen to use his expertise and knowledge in witchcraft and the Devil in order to dispel the evil witches who “trafficked with the Devil” (Miller 61) in the town of Salem. Furthermore, he was proud of the fact that he was called upon specifically to help out with Salem’s witch problem. However, toward the end of the play, he was “steeped in sorrow” (Miller 119) and “exhausted.” He realized too late that the accusations of the afflicted girls were just fabricated lies. Moreover, his mistake caused a countless number of innocent people to be thrown in jail and hanged. With this revelation clouding his mind and breaking his heart, he became an anguished man who regretted his actions that aided the conviction of numerous so-called witches. He fought against the witch trials after that, but his actions were inadequate. The witch trials still went on. Hale ended up being a character who opposed the witch trials, but instead of going against the court as aggressively as John Proctor, he begged the accused to confess in order to save their own lives. He believed that it was better to lie and live than deny and die.
She likes traveling to other places, but was ordered to visit Earth. She refers to her maker as “parent teacher” and that she is “here embodied in a decaying lump of meat hanging on a frame of calcium”.(Gaiman 232). This is the physical form of our humanness. All we are is flesh and bones and our bodies are in a continual process of decay. She sees the body not the mind as the meaning of human race. "But knowledge is there, in the meat," She is wearing worry beads, which are meant to relieve stress or protect from negative energy. This is an innuendo to
First, in the beginning of the story someone was on the phone that cared for Emily, told her mother “I wish you would manage the time to come in and talk with me about your daught...
So, it was a pretty good & entertaining episode. Moreover the episode was a useful one in terms of determining & learning how forensic science or forensic science investigators uses various techniques to find out an unknown suspect. It doesn’t matters how safely a criminal performs a crime, there is something somewhere left for the investigators.
Noah is the one of the main characters of The Notebook. He is the hero of this novel. Noah represents true love and true loyalty. In a way, The Notebook is similar to every modern day romance movie, and Noah represents the “dream man” that all the girls always imagine of having. The characters in movies are used to symbolize ideas, and in this novel, Noah represents true, faithful, committed love. Noah remains loyal to Allie even in the situation where he is unsure whether they will ever meet again or not.