Season 1, Episode 3:
Gone Smooth
- Directed by: David SemelWritten by: Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan & Justin Britt-Gibson"Soon, no more charade. To victory."- Thomas Eichorst (speaking in German)
Eph and Nora fight to save Captain Redfern's life before coming face-to-face with the horrifying effects of the virus. A spike in rat attacks signals Fet that something inexplicable is happening deep below the city. Released from jail, Setrakian begins his own merciless plan to stop the spread of the disease.
Tropes that are present in this episode:
- Absence of Evidence: Gary's body completely disappeared in the tub, only leaving Eph with a bloodstained bathtub, clumps of hair, and Emma's red ball, but it's still enough for Eph to get the idea that something went wrong.
- Blackmail: Just like what he did with Gus, Eichorst holds a firm grip against Jim and uses his wife Sylvia to ensure his loyalty to Stoneheart and the conspiracy. Stoneheart finances the program, and they can allow Sylvia to be a part of the experimental treatment for her cancer, otherwise, she will be denied.
- Blatant Lies: Despite Kelly assuring Zack that everything is okay, she's still saddened by the court hearing and the aftermath between her and Eph.
- Body Horror: All the survivors looked no worse for wear in the last two episodes, but it's here where things really rear their ugly heads.
- Captain Redfield has more worms than ever when under UV light.
- The survivor's eyes are looking more and more searing red.
- Bolivar's penis literally decomposes to the point where it falls into the toilet when he urinates.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Fet may be eccentric, but he's dead serious when it comes to his job. He even tells a couple who reported a rat encounter about their building's past. It used to be a cigar factory before an apartment complex was built over it, allowing the rats to get attracted to cigar material.
- Evil Makes You Ugly: Eichorst, in the opening, shows what he truly looks like without makeup and human prosthetics. That's the final stage of the infection.
- Face–Monster Turn: When Redfield disappears, he is next shown drinking out of the blood bags, and turns around to stare at Jim, fully succumbed to infection.
- False Reassurance: Redfield is obviously afraid of the situation regarding his infection. Eph does provide some comfort to at least give the doctor a little reassurance, but even he knows that the captain's days are numbered.Nora: "You can't promise him that."Eph: "He's stuck in a plastic containment tube surrounded by doctors who don't know anything. He needs a little hope."
- Friend to All Children: Fet certainly gives off this vibe when he interacts with the daughter of the couple who is one of many who reported rat attacks across New York.
- The Gloves Come Off: Eichorst declares something of this calibre in the quote above after he finishes applying makeup.
- Head Crushing: When Doyle, fully turned, attacks Jim and Nora after playing possum, Eph uses a fire extinguisher to bash his brains in. But he repeatedly bashes Doyle's head numerous times, only stopping when Nora makes her distress apparent.
- Hive Mind: Those that are infected are revealed to be connected to the Master. Ansel, Gabriel, and Redfield report and/or experience the Master talking to them.
- Horror Hunger: The survivors' hunger for blood, and while Gabriel revealed this in the previous episode, this episode shines more light on this aspect.
- Ansel is probably the best showcase of this trope with the infected. When looking in the fridge for something to sedate his hunger, he finds a piece of steak with blood pooling in the container. When the Master's voice convinces him to drink, Ansel complies, and a proboscis tendril drinks it, sedating the man's hunger. But Ann Marie sees the ordeal, disturbed.
- Looks Like Orlok: As the transformation progress, the infected resemble Count Orlok, but Eichorst shows the audience what an infected look like in the final stages.
- Make It Look Like an Accident: The suicide variety. Eichorst visits the head of Regis Air, and with his inhumane strength, murders the man and makes it look like he committed suicide out of incredible despair.Eichorst: "Would you like to write a note?"Regis Air CEO: "A note?"Eichorst: "Regets? Repentance? Guilt?"
- Manchild: After the court hearing, Eph reacts like a little kid, including crumbling the paper, and lashing out at Kelly when he is in the wrong about using coercion towards Zack for joint custody.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Jim is starting to show signs of regret in allowing the coffin across the bridge.
- Nervous Wreck: Ansel's wife, Ann Marie, panics about her husband's condition and the circumstances of the numerous broadcasts on television.Ann Marie (panicking): "I just... I get so, overwhelmed when you're gone."
- Nightmare Face: The infected's true face is a sight to behold. Right, Eichorst?
- Swarm of Rats: Fet notices more and more rats pop up on the streets, and bears witness to a swarm of them leaving the sewer pipes leading out to New York.
- The Tooth Hurts: While inspecting his condition, Ansel touches his front teeth where it's bleeding from the gums, and he recoils in pain.
- Villain Opening Scene: The episode opens with Eichorst using makeup and other prosthetics to make himself look human.
- Wham Episode: Eph kills Redfield when he succumbs to the virus, and now has access to a fully infected individual to understand how the infection works.
- Wham Line: When Ansel is trying to recover from his illness, he notices his eyes are bloodshot red and hears a voice.The Master: "Ansel..."
- What the Hell, Hero?: Kelly rips Eph a new one after the court hearing. She tries to show him the bright side after the court hearing and even offers him to see Zack anytime with notice, but he lashes out, accusing her of taking Zack away from him, and rips into him. She chews him out for using coercion and coaching him into his way of thinking.
- You Are Not Ready: While Nora tries to recruit Setrakian to understand this disease, Setrakian doesn't accept the deal, saying she isn't ready yet. Although she does provide him with the passenger manifest.
- You Dirty Rat!: There has been a sudden spike in calls regarding rat encounters across New York, giving Fet the idea that something's amiss. Fet even responds to one household when their daughter got bit in the face by a rat.
- Your Days Are Numbered: With Doyle fully turning from the pathogen, it's only a matter of time before Ansel, Gabriel, and Joan suffer the same fate.
- "Paging Dr. Goodweather. Dr. Goodweather to the ISO unit, stat."
