The Strain - FX

[rsutoratosu]

anyone watching it on fx ?

 

[pontifex]

yep. interesting...curious what the thing is.

Possible spoilers:

Spoiler

My thoughts after watching the premier and previews for next episode -

It's a secret Nazi genetic experiment to mutate humans into super soldiers.
It came from Berlin, the Heartstone guys seem German, the old man with the cane sword is a Jew with a concentration camp tattoo, the infected appear to be dressed in uniform with guns.

The coffin seemed really old. At first I was thinking ancient evil beings but not so sure. Doesn't seem to be aliens but I could be wrong. Or maybe it is an ancient evil the Nazi's found to try to rule the world.

Another thing to go with the ancient evil thing was the mention of silver and the old Jew. Silver is a traditional ward/weapon against evil in fairytales, etc. I almost thought they were going to turn to werewolves based on that and his cane sword carving.

Wondering who the Heartstone guys are? The old man seems like he could have been a Nazi, maybe.

 

[Wingznut]

I am really hoping this is good... I will watch it later this week.

Countdown trailer - YouTube

 

[Elixer]

Well...

Spoiler

Vampire worms + reptile eyes = vampire zombies! Kinda reminds me of the syfy's helix

 

[Printer Bandit]

too syfy-ish

 

[Wingznut]

I watched half of the first episode... And all I kept thinking is how the great shows (Breaking Bad, True Detective, Fargo, Game of Thrones, etc) have ruined most other TV for me.

The concept of The Strain seems really cool to me, but there are so many small writing issues, that it just takes me out of being immersed.

Two examples: In the first few minutes of the episode, the air traffic controller is bewildered at the lack of communication with the plane, and then the lack of movement of the plane's icon on his monitor. His response, tap the LCD monitor screen as if it's some faulty analog gauge from 1960. Nobody would do that.

Second, the CDC boss guy is walking through the area where the dead bodies are contained. He has a handkerchief over his nose, while the other three CDC peeps aren't protected at all. They have to tell him the handkerchief wasn't necessary, as the bodies were triple bagged. Ok, CDC boss... Let's say that these dead bodies do have some contagion that could harm you, do you really think a single piece of cloth over your nose and mouth is sufficient??? Again, nobody would do that.

I'll finish this episode, and maybe give it another, hoping it gets better. But one hour in, I'm not impressed. Unfortunate, because I was really hoping to like it.

 

[pontifex]

Well...

Spoiler

Vampire worms + reptile eyes = vampire zombies! Kinda reminds me of the syfy's helix

Yeah, reminded me of helix also.

 

[Pocatello]

Over all, a poorly made 1st episode, too many loopholes and silliness, but I might watch a couple of more episodes. It's still better than watching some shows about making a living in Alaska.

 

[TeeJay1952]

The Book series was a fun thrill ride. Doesn't make sense? Post apocalyptic vampire stories rarely do.

 

[coloumb]

I walked in to find my wife watching it - I happened to catch the part where the little girl walks in the room and says "Daddy I'm cold" [or something like that].

My instant thought is "Stephen King did it first in Pet Sematary."

 

[It's Not Lupus]

got sick of the obvious cliches/tropes in the first episode.

also, only Leon can pull off the milk thing. here, it comes off as forced and retarded.

 

[Clemenza]

Although poorly written I enjoyed the books (in a sort of mindless Dan Brown way.) They were entertaining and sometimes that is enough.

I liked the first episode but some of the acting was bad. I wish they would keep the mystery going a little bit longer but they seem to just be jumping right into things. I'll keep watching.

 

[DesiPower]

Is that the one with Kevin Spacey? Heard it was good, will have to watch...

/bookmark

 

[Hugo Drax]

I watched half of the first episode... And all I kept thinking is how the great shows (Breaking Bad, True Detective, Fargo, Game of Thrones, etc) have ruined most other TV for me.

The concept of The Strain seems really cool to me, but there are so many small writing issues, that it just takes me out of being immersed.

Two examples: In the first few minutes of the episode, the air traffic controller is bewildered at the lack of communication with the plane, and then the lack of movement of the plane's icon on his monitor. His response, tap the LCD monitor screen as if it's some faulty analog gauge from 1960. Nobody would do that.

Second, the CDC boss guy is walking through the area where the dead bodies are contained. He has a handkerchief over his nose, while the other three CDC peeps aren't protected at all. They have to tell him the handkerchief wasn't necessary, as the bodies were triple bagged. Ok, CDC boss... Let's say that these dead bodies do have some contagion that could harm you, do you really think a single piece of cloth over your nose and mouth is sufficient??? Again, nobody would do that.

I'll finish this episode, and maybe give it another, hoping it gets better. But one hour in, I'm not impressed. Unfortunate, because I was really hoping to like it.

They have to do the Tap on the LCD monitor otherwise the viewers would not know something is wrong.

 

[Skel]

I thought it was pretty cool. It'll need time to warm up a bit as the Apocalypse hasn't happened yet (At least I assume from all the trailers that it's a post-Apocalypse story). I did think the odd vamp parasites things looked cool. That's the main reason I watch del Toro stuff, it's always interesting to look at. Even if the story has issues, I'm always visually entertained.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Why was the corner working with the dead bodies without being fully suited up and with an O2 tank


How did little French girl get home? Hitched a ride?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I watched half of the first episode... And all I kept thinking is how the great shows (Breaking Bad, True Detective, Fargo, Game of Thrones, etc) have ruined most other TV for me.

The concept of The Strain seems really cool to me, but there are so many small writing issues, that it just takes me out of being immersed.

Two examples: In the first few minutes of the episode, the air traffic controller is bewildered at the lack of communication with the plane, and then the lack of movement of the plane's icon on his monitor. His response, tap the LCD monitor screen as if it's some faulty analog gauge from 1960. Nobody would do that.

Second, the CDC boss guy is walking through the area where the dead bodies are contained. He has a handkerchief over his nose, while the other three CDC peeps aren't protected at all. They have to tell him the handkerchief wasn't necessary, as the bodies were triple bagged. Ok, CDC boss... Let's say that these dead bodies do have some contagion that could harm you, do you really think a single piece of cloth over your nose and mouth is sufficient??? Again, nobody would do that.

I'll finish this episode, and maybe give it another, hoping it gets better. But one hour in, I'm not impressed. Unfortunate, because I was really hoping to like it.

You blew it after you named any show after Breaking Bad. :biggrin:

 

[ImpulsE69]

Just watched it. Eh...not sure. The dialog was pretty hokey, and some of the things they did as well.

It is very possible that a show of the same title about a man dealing with constipation might be as good if not better.

 

[phucheneh]

Why was the corner working with the dead bodies without being fully suited up and with an O2 tank


How did little French girl get home? Hitched a ride?

Better question: why did the people in the morgue instantly transform, while others just got up and walked away, sans fleshy mouth appendage and claws and shit?

Also, I think that guy's head getting pulverized might be the most violent thing ever on a non-premium cable channel.

 

[DesiPower]

wow, what the fuck did i just watch... Germans, Jews, Dracula, Zombie, illegal aliens...

 

[Fingolfin269]

Some of the dialogue was just painful. The situations unbelievable. Etc. And when I say unbelievable I'm not talking about vampire zombies... I'm talking about CDC and forensic guys just chopping into bodies without any sort of bio protection on.

With that said I will certainly watch the next episode to see where this one goes. Does anyone know the long term plan? Mini-series? One season series? I can't imagine this plot being dragged across multiple seasons so I hope it's either one or the other.

 

[Wingznut]

I watched a review on IGN, which was pretty spot on with what I thought. They mentioned that they had already seen the first three episode, and although this video was just a review of Episode 1, they seemed to hint that the next episodes were better.

Or perhaps I was just being optimistic, looking for hope.

 

[soulcougher73]

I think it has potential, but some of the acting was pretty meh. Ill watch a few more before passing too much judgement.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

How could he forget to drink his precious milk this episode?

 

[Elixer]

The only question left is how do they stop the vampiric worms...
The rest of it pretty much falls into the 'how stupid can all the 'officials' get (though, with the current CDC scandals, they might just have a point on how dumb they are...)', closely followed by how dumb do they think the audience is ?