The Strain |OT| Guillermo del Toro's new show for FX - Sundays 10/9c

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I'm so glad the ratings have been consistent and actual overall viewer numbers have slowly been going up if I remember reading right. The show is really starting to hit its stride imo
 
"Hey, that guy just whacked that poor los plagas vampire with blood all over his mouth and a giant tentacle for a tongue!! Arrest him!"

What the hell is up with the inconsistencies of using the internet/cell phones as well? How was the kid watching the news video of his dad on the laptop? Why was the ex-wife surprised that her bf wasn't calling or texting her.. Shouldn't she know that he wouldn't if cell service is down. The bf was also screwing with his phone as well like he was going to call her.

The beginning also gave straight me up Dexter vibes when the FBI was at his house and he was right outside the front in broad daylight.

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This show is the worst.
 
I'm out. What's with the rat catcher guy?

"There were 50 people in the sewer trying to kill me." Don't tell anyone.
"My entire office was massacred and everyone in it burns in sunlight." Don't tell anyone.

Quitting this show.
 
Dr.Acula said:
I'm out. What's with the rat catcher guy?

"There were 50 people in the sewer trying to kill me." Don't tell anyone.
"My entire office was massacred and everyone in it burns in sunlight." Don't tell anyone.

Quitting this show.
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Well who would believe him?

I think that's the point. We learn that he is intelligent, and he warns those he thinks will listen to him. Even his father thought he was crazy.
 
Alligatorjandro said:
Each episode gets better
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this is true, and im sticking to this season

but what pisses me off about the show's story development is how the characters react and respond to something like WORMS INVADING HUMAN BODIES, TURNING THEM TO BLOOD SUCKING CREATURES...

seriously, stop acting like its...oh...another infection, ... just a virus. cmon
 
Why did the ex wife's new boyfriend decide to confront the 2 guys down the hallway, that just bloodied up his co-workers throat, unarmed and alone?

That's just one complaint of a few I could make regarding this episode.

still enjoying the show, but my gawd do I have to shut all down to just take it as is.
 
Everyone loves seeking danger, that's why.



This show's so dumb, but I really want a payoff of some sorts. However, I don't think I'll actually get it. :(
 
So there are two types of vampires right?

The intelligent ones with a sense of individuality (the german, and I guess the master) and the drones. So is the intelligence coming from the parasite - and it simply gains access to the memories of its host - or does the parasite alter the behaviour of the host?

Also, is the giant tongue thing one giant worm?
 
Dr.Acula said:
I'm out. What's with the rat catcher guy?

"There were 50 people in the sewer trying to kill me." Don't tell anyone.
"My entire office was massacred and everyone in it burns in sunlight." Don't tell anyone.

Quitting this show.
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Yeah, why didn't he tell someone...Is this a joke? He told the two guys in the diner about it at the beginning of this episode. We saw how that went. Did you even watch this episode?
 
Draconian said:
Yeah, why didn't he tell someone...Is this a joke? He told the two guys in the diner about it at the beginning of this episode. We saw how that went. Did you even watch this episode?
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I swear, it's like people come in scraping the bottom of the barrel right off the bat trying to find things to complain about.

The entire point of the show is that something COMPLETELY improbable is happening and that's where the hook is. The more impossible it sounds, the more likely people are to ignore it/cover it up/brush it off, which of course leads to the problem worsening until it completely explodes and the catastrophe hits.

Fet didn't even know what he saw himself and of course his coworkers or whatever are gonna be like "LOL, mole people". It makes perfect sense.
 
Show is really really good, I am just loving it. I think the character buildup is rather slow at the moment, but hopefully it will be worth it when they all come together and form a team.

Great episode last night
 
I enjoyed this episode, but I felt like they really under-utilized the eclipse. It's a huge event in the book, and I figured by repositioning it in the timeline of the show they'd have a really good reason for doing so, resulting in a big payoff for all of the character arcs during that span of time.
 
Napoleonthechimp said:
So there are two types of vampires right?

The intelligent ones with a sense of individuality (the german, and I guess the master) and the drones. So is the intelligence coming from the parasite - and it simply gains access to the memories of its host - or does the parasite alter the behaviour of the host?

Also, is the giant tongue thing one giant worm?
Click to expand...

I think it's more you go a bit "hungry" during your transformation and after time you gain strength with age, etc. like the German. I assume you'll become more normal and not feeding crazy over time.
 
Napoleonthechimp said:
So there are two types of vampires right?

The intelligent ones with a sense of individuality (the german, and I guess the master) and the drones. So is the intelligence coming from the parasite - and it simply gains access to the memories of its host - or does the parasite alter the behaviour of the host?

Also, is the giant tongue thing one giant worm?
Click to expand...

Seems like when you get turned, you have an unquenchable thirst for blood. I'm sure you eventually overcome this and can start thinking clearly. Though the dead vampires seem to be mindless.

I think we all just want a good vampire show. I mean, this is horrible on so many levels yet we still watch it.

edit: beaten
 
Lactose_Intolerant said:
I think we all just want a good vampire show.
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The Strain definitely delivers this for me. It's not perfect, but the atmosphere is fantastic, the vamps are awesome and horrifying, and seemingly the conventional methods of killing Vampires (minus the religious aspects, unfortunately), work. As vamp series go, there really hasn't ever been this much competition There's ZERO romanticizing or humanizing the vampires, which i really appreciate. They're evil. They want death and destruction. Period. Not True Blood or Twilight. This is like the 30 Days of Night vampires in a weekly TV show - which I'm TOTALLY fine with.

The only fault I have with this show is when people occasionally do something so stupid that it removes the viewer from the experience. The rat killer? I'll buy everything he has done. Tried to warn his family. Tried to warn his co-workers. Didn't go screaming like a maniac in the streets.

Ephraim's wife and boyfriend? This subplot was absurd. Ephraim, who, prior to this, was portrayed as a reasonable guy with a reasonable relationship with his wife, child, and the surrogate, tells them all to leave New York IMMEDIATELY. The news shows that he's on the run from the FBI. When he appears, clearly frightened, and tells them that something horrible is coming and that the government is covering up...that he doesn't need to come with HIM, but just LEAVE...

Their reaction was puzzling.

There was no prior history of erratic behavior like hauling off and punching the boyfriend because he doesn't like him, or exhibiting random bursts of fury at the wife for their separation. Even only knowing a fraction of the story, and knowing him, if he says leave, YOU LEAVE.

The show isn't brilliant, but when the bad writing creeps in, it punches you in the face.
 
+ The eclipse as seen from space was super ominous.
+ Eichorst's torture dungeon...no thanks. He doesn't need to restrain these people, he just gets off on subjugating them. True to his roots in fascism.
+ Gus futilely attacking Eichorst, and his reaction. Perhaps Gus will be a bit less pompous around him now that he knows the score.
+ Love how the whole scene with Setrakian purging the Mexican household told a story with zero exposition required. Baldy "changes" during his own wake and turns the entire service. The way they moved in the basement was perfect.
+ Looks like everyone has come around to doing what needs to be done to end the vampire threat, so no more waffling around.

- I actually don't really have any negatives for this episode. A very strong showing all around.
 
Napoleonthechimp said:
So there are two types of vampires right?

The intelligent ones with a sense of individuality (the german, and I guess the master) and the drones. So is the intelligence coming from the parasite - and it simply gains access to the memories of its host - or does the parasite alter the behaviour of the host?

Also, is the giant tongue thing one giant worm?
Click to expand...

There are several different types of vampires, but we'll concern ourselves with the three you're thinking of.
First you have the Master, an ancient being with a powerful, singular will. He's possessed by bloodlust but nothing drives him but a desire for power and dominance. Second you the "drones", which are essentially (un)living husks that feed the Master everything they see and do. If you see a vampire on the street, 99 times out of 100 it's going to be a mindless puppet that can be "activated" at any time. Think of how Harbinger possessed individual Collectors in Mass Effect 2, if you're familiar. Third you have the vampires like Eichorst, who the Master imbues with a will of their own for the sole purpose of fulfilling a significant role or as acting emissaries to the human world. The Master consumed the personality of Eichorst when he turned him, and it's the Master's to give or take away from any one of the vampires in his "bloodline".
 
It was an alright episode.
But this is it, there's no way I can buy them keeping the vampire infestation of NY a secret now - since clearly the TV-stations are working even if "the internet is down."

Also, Sam is a fucking moron, I just don't buy it that he'd help try to hide this whole thing after he's seen that it is a virulent disease that might kill his wife faster than her cancer.
 
There is just sooo much stupid happening.

Between the ex-wife playfully considering the husbands warning.
Eph telling his family to leave, telling them that something terrible was coming, but giving absolutely no detail on what to watch out for and what to avoid.... or just show them the video to prove why they need to leave now.
Why didn't he head straight to a news station with the video TBH, and use that to prove his innocence on the air?

To the rat collector being so calm and collected over almost being swarmed on by the "mole people" and barely being freaked out (more like curiously fascinated) by watching them burn in the sunlight.

to the news working perfectly, yet not a single report of Snake like worm appendages coming from peoples mouths to attack other innocent people.

No one ever noticed the medical examiner was missing, nor all the bodies were gone from the morgue. Which would go along way to helping Eph's case....

The Ex's boyfriend going all gung-ho towards to assailants that just practically killed his co-worker, unarmed and alone. (because he needed to prove his manhood after being "guested" by his new GF?)

There had to be atleast 1 report to the news of some crazy worm thing coming out of peoples mouths and attacking people to make it onto the news. The phones were still kinda working and TV was working just fine.

there is so many other things that probably shoudl have happened, that I don't even want to really get into spanning all the way back to episode 1, but overall I'm still enjoying the show, so I just take it for what it is, but take note of all the nonsensical shit that is happening at the same time.
and I hope the next episode is just crazy.
 
Somnia said:
I think it's more you go a bit "hungry" during your transformation and after time you gain strength with age, etc. like the German. I assume you'll become more normal and not feeding crazy over time.
Click to expand...
Lactose_Intolerant said:
Seems like when you get turned, you have an unquenchable thirst for blood. I'm sure you eventually overcome this and can start thinking clearly. Though the dead vampires seem to be mindless.

I think we all just want a good vampire show. I mean, this is horrible on so many levels yet we still watch it.

edit: beaten
Click to expand...
Deified Data said:
There are several different types of vampires, but we'll concern ourselves with the three you're thinking of.
First you have the Master, an ancient being with a powerful, singular will. He's possessed by bloodlust but nothing drives him but a desire for power and dominance. Second you the "drones", which are essentially (un)living husks that feed the Master everything they see and do. If you see a vampire on the street, 99 times out of 100 it's going to be a mindless puppet that can be "activated" at any time. Think of how Harbinger possessed individual Collectors in Mass Effect 2, if you're familiar. Third you have the vampires like Eichorst, who the Master imbues with a will of their own for the sole purpose of fulfilling a significant role or as acting emissaries to the human world. The Master consumed the personality of Eichorst when he turned him, and it's the Master's to give or take away from any one of the vampires in his "bloodline".
Click to expand...

Okay, thanks everyone. As gross as these vampires are it certainly is interesting to think about.
 
I thought last night's episode was good. There are some moments that seem dumb, like Eph's wife casually dismissing both Eph and her son's wishes. But that seems to be a developing theme of ignorance or denial despite all of the growing evidence and warning signs. People seem so resistant to change that they are dismissing scary, end of world signs for "can you believe all the crazy people lately?" I think the villians are counting on this.

The tension created by characters making bad choices is horror movie 101 though. There's always a couple of characters each episode that I start yelling at to "move, move, move!" or "get the fuck out of there!" This episode I was thinking that about the old vampire slayer when he walked into the family nest in the basement. GTFO! But rather than show him run out of the house like most tv shows, we got to see him rig that house to burn the fuck down to the ground.

I thought the eclipse was going to start the chaos, but it seemed to be more about moving armies into play for the real start. That's actually more clever to me than just all hell breaking loose as soon as the eclipse starts.
 
SquiddyCracker said:
It was an alright episode.
But this is it, there's no way I can buy them keeping the vampire infestation of NY a secret now - since clearly the TV-stations are working even if "the internet is down."

Also, Sam is a fucking moron, I just don't buy it that he'd help try to hide this whole thing after he's seen that it is a virulent disease that might kill his wife faster than her cancer.
Click to expand...

Sam is such a shortsighted moron.

And I guess the CDC, television, internet, are all influenced by vampires. Trust no one, especially that piece of shit Sam.
 
BlackNMild2k1 said:
There is just sooo much stupid happening.

Between the ex-wife playfully considering the husbands warning.
Eph telling his family to leave, telling them that something terrible was coming, but giving absolutely no detail on what to watch out for and what to avoid.... or just show them the video to prove why they need to leave now.
Why didn't he head straight to a news station with the video TBH, and use that to prove his innocence on the air?

To the rat collector being so calm and collected over almost being swarmed on by the "mole people" and barely being freaked out (more like curiously fascinated) by watching them burn in the sunlight.

to the news working perfectly, yet not a single report of Snake like worm appendages coming from peoples mouths to attack other innocent people.

No one ever noticed the medical examiner was missing, nor all the bodies were gone from the morgue. Which would go along way to helping Eph's case....

The Ex's boyfriend going all gung-ho towards to assailants that just practically killed his co-worker, unarmed and alone. (because he needed to prove his manhood after being "guested" by his new GF?)

There had to be atleast 1 report to the news of some crazy worm thing coming out of peoples mouths and attacking people to make it onto the news. The phones were still kinda working and TV was working just fine.

there is so many other things that probably shoudl have happened, that I don't even want to really get into spanning all the way back to episode 1, but overall I'm still enjoying the show, so I just take it for what it is, but take note of all the nonsensical shit that is happening at the same time.
and I hope the next episode is just crazy.
Click to expand...

I've actually realised that this show has been mislabelled as horror, it's actually a comedy and probably one of the best on tv because it is hilarious.
 
Ugh. This show. Of course when Eph showed up at his ex-wife's house he didn't think of showing her the video he shot of that vampire in the shed. If I remember correctly, he got rid of his SIM card but he still had his iPhone with him. No, instead he just kept yelling to pack their shit up because "this is really bad". And of course her wife and her new jerk of a boyfriend didn't give any credit to what he was saying, since he never even said that evil creatures were on the loose (let alone using the word "monsters").

And why aren't the media all over what happened at the old people's home in last week's episode? It was so frustrating to watch Eph gets arrested for shady reasons. And obviously the agents didn't believe him when they saw the medical examiner on the streets.

Clumsy dialogue everywhere... Nora telling her mom she wishes she could "forget like her". Her mother can't really act by the way. Fet grabbing the standardist smartphone and saying "didn't know you had a little girl". And of course, his father doesn't believe him either when he comes back home to warn him. Also, Gus is as cliché as ever. His line "now you show up" felt so out of place haha. Guess we're stuck with him until he dies. Well, at least he's hot.

Plus it finally looked like all hell is starting to break loose in the city, I especially enjoyed the scene at Fet's pest control offices. The wheels should be fully in motion in next week's episode! I'm ready for Eph, Nora and Setrakian to fight back.

Make no mistake, I still enjoy this show for the horror scenes and to see where they're gonna take us. It looks like one hell of a ride, and a bumpy one at that.
 
I really liked the episode. The beginning was creepy as hell with the german dude just pulling his life support closer. Vasili is a certified badass, can't wait to see how he progresses further. At least he didn't think twice about killing that office chick, guy knows what's up.
 
Grizzo said:
Clumsy dialogue everywhere... Nora telling her mom she wishes she could "forget like her". Her mother can't really act by the way. Fet grabbing the standardist smartphone and saying "didn't know you had a little girl". And of course, his father doesn't believe him either when he comes back home to warn him. Also, Gus is as cliché as ever. His line "now you show up" felt so out of place haha. Guess we're stuck with him until he dies. Well, at least he's hot.
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I agree with the Nora part but what is wrong with Vasili saying 'didn't know you had a little girl', was it him actually saying it? I can't see anything wrong with it other than him actually saying it. It's something he didn't know from someone he worked with for a long time. That Gus line didn't bother me at all, seemed kind of fitting.
 
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