'The Strain' Recap: Sean Astin Meets His First Vampire in 'Gone Smooth'

FX's The Strain continues to spread across the city while Eph and his team try to stop the plague before it hits the population. The disease detectives will discover something they have never faced before in 'Gone Smooth'

In the opening, Thomas Eichorist (Richard Sammel) is putting on make-up  and getting his wig ready. The businessman is actually a vampire in disguise. "No more hiding," says Thomas as he stares at his own reflection in the mirror. 

While Eph (Corey Stoll) and Nora (Mia Maestro) discover a cover-up going on inside their CDC headquarters, we meet Vasiliy (Kevin Durand) back at his office, only to realize he has a long list of rat-infested buildings to investigate. But first, he must go to the Mayor's house and check out the daughter's rat bite. At the Mayor's fancy suite, Vasiliy notices things like a sleuth and discovers why the daughter was bitten.

The rat catcher explains to the Mayor that a cigar factory was once built in the neighborhood. Rats love the smell of cuban cigars because they were born to the odor. After leaving the household, the exterminator discovers that there are thousands of rats running away from the sewers.  

Realizing he has betrayed his friends, Jim (Sean Astin) meets with Eichorist at his headquarters. Eichorist promises to make Jim's problems, find a cure for his dying wife, but only if he continues to follow his orders. During the captain's treatment, Nora and Eph discover his entire body is swarming with worms, crawling around inside of him.

In the courtroom, Abraham (David Bradley) convinces the judge he is just a senile old fool who overreacted. Though the judge sympathizes with the Holocaust survivor, he is worried about the cane, which is actually a sword in hiding. Abraham smoothly convinces the court that he needs the cane to walk but he will dull the blade. 

Nora isn't fooled by the old man's act in court. The pawnbroker knows more than what he is really telling. Abraham doesn't believe she has the guts to do what is necessary to do what comes next.

Things seem to getting rose for the rock star. Not even his illegal medical doctor can explain why his body is changing. The rock star finds himself standing naked in the bathroom, watching his balls drop to the toilet. 

While Thomas cruelly murders a man in cold blood, the captain is currently missing from his hospital bed. Jim finally discovers their missing patient, feasting on bags of blood. This is what happens when the vampire transformation is complete.

Nora and Jim get their butts handed to them by the infected vampire. Only Eph is able to fight back as he dodges the stinger from biting him. Filled with anger, Eph bashes the captain's head with the fire extinguisher until his face is a bloody pulp.

No one will believe what they saw. Jim, Nora, and Eph stand there, realizing they have just committed murder.

Eph and his crew have just discovered his first vampire. Readers, what did you think of The Strain episode?