The Strain, Ep. 1.12, “Last Rites” is only a test
The penultimate episode of The Strain’s first season reminds us most of “Across the Sea”, the third-last episode of Lost’s final season. That episode came very near the end of Lost’s run, but left the present action to show the origins of Island inhabitants Jacob and the Man in Black. Choosing to halt the action and go back into the past to tell a story that only revealed a small amount and to do so that late in the season felt misguided and a little pointless. “Last Rites” is not quite as much of a side-step, but the return of Setrakian’s flashbacks was certainly a surprising development.