The Strain

Four episodes in and no-one's discussing this ?

The world's least sexy vampire show by Guillermo Del Toro, based on The Strain novels. Body Horror at it's finest.

Just watched the fourth episode and it's hard not to find out what happened in the books. Kinda curious about how much control the vampires maintain after they... change. The (former ?) Nazi, Eichhorst, seems pretty much human in mind, while the pilot was gone. My thinking is the Vampire King guy can choose how much brains they maintain.

And how come we haven't seen the lawyer yet ? Wondering if that's gonna tie back to the exterminator, given he's not really connected in yet.

edited 8th Aug '14 4:10:41 PM by Anteres

It's currently one of my favorite shows airing. What with a Holocaust survivor vampire hunter with a fucking swordcane.

The effects are great, the actors suit their roles, the writing's excellent and it can be quite terrifying. Also a fucking holocaust survivor vampire hunter with a fucking swordcane holy shit.

The bit where he just comes out of nowhere and takes out the little girl and her father was awesome. No fuss, just badass. I fear he might be the mentor who gets killed though. Pass the swordcane onto whichever of the younger characters turns out to be his protégé; probably the gangbanger.

He better be the one to end that Nazi vampire though. Painfully.

I thought the whole "father and daughter" plotline was rather ballsy of the show. First showing the daughter graphically murdering her own father, and then Abraham Setrakian just looping her head off without breaking stride, in one take and with no Gory Discretion Shot.

Also "Sabia mea fredoneaza argint!" Is one of the most badass Pre-Mortem One-Liner in a while.

Not sure what the hell it means, even translated but what the hell. If Imperius Rex can be badass, and that means nothing at all, I can get behind silver-singing swords

It may be harsh, but actually want the shed wife to get killed soon. She came across as utterly useless, even when her husband wasn't an undead, dog-murdering, creature of evil. Even with the last of his willpower, he tries to keep her alive and she STILL hangs about. She's just waiting to get eaten. Get it over and done with already ! Though the neighbour deserved it too (Overprotective of dogs here.)

If there are two hundred odd of these things walking around, I have difficulty seeing how the heroes are going to catch and stop them all.

I've seen it translated as both "My sword sings of silver" and "My silver sword sings", but the first translation is more common (and that's why I put it in Setrakian's character folder). It has a very "medieval battle cry" sound to it. I love it.

As for the wife I don't know, I sympathize with her. Sure her husband's a monster, but I felt like the woman just didn't know what to do at this point. Seek help? Leave the house forever? Mercy Kill? She's just confused and thinking. Now if the stays in the house for another two episodes or somesuch, then I'll have a problem.

I have the feeling they'll solve the vampire crisis (or at least attempt to) via No Ontological Inertia: Kill The Master, his creatures vanish

The only time I've seen that in vampire fiction was in Van Helsing, but I doubt many TV viewers remember that movie.

I generally like the show so far, but something has been bugging me: how did the Master get off the plane?

I assumed he was in the box. They took off the cargo to examine it. That or just ran when no one was watching. Darth Worm is super-fast.

The Master was in the box, the CDC moved the Box out of the plane. From there on it was simply a matter of opening the lid, leaving to grab a snack, coming back and being transported by Gus.

edited 11th Aug '14 1:20:37 PM by Gaon

That was my assumption, but he must move like The Flash to leap out of the box without anybody spotting him.

edited 11th Aug '14 1:45:03 PM by millardkillmoore

The cameras do show later on he moves faster than the blink of an eye if he chooses to. Though it's possible he just exited the coffin when nobody was present in the room (which isn't impossible. There'd be no reason for the CDC to keep watch over the cargo 24/7).

Snack ? I was assuming bathroom. The box looked like it lacked toilet facilities.

In the latest episode, anyone else overhear them talking about an eclipse ? That's extraordinarily not good. I'm imagining the load of vampires in the sewers crawling out and eating everyone in their path.

Seriously, if No Ontological Inertia isn't in play, humanity is pretty much dead already. And the fact it's worms, rather than supernatural makes me think it might not be.

Then again, they did say it was driven by the King of Worm's will so maybe they'll catch a break before there's about four humans left.

One thing does confuse me. During Night Zero, the Bald of Evil (I refuse to call him the Master. He doesn't deserve a cool name) kills the customs guy then snapped his neck THEN pounded his head into paste. Why ? If he's trying to create a plague, why not make him another part of his army ? The guy with no head would be just as suspicious as an exsanguinated guy.

edited 11th Aug '14 4:54:29 PM by Anteres

Real reason: It establishes just how tough the Big Bad is.

In-Universe reason: Because he's a dick.

edited 11th Aug '14 6:35:05 PM by millardkillmoore

He's the Vampire King, in the eve of his greatest triumph over humanity, which he has been waiting since the dawn of time. That kill and subsequent brutal head smash was his version of Evil Gloating.

Some nice news: The ratings have been holding steady at ~2 million/episode and FX has renewed it for a second season.

Good stuff. Does anyone know how they are planning to match up with the books ? Is it one season per book or are they staying faithful to it at all ?

Del Toro said it'll be one season per book with the exception of the second, which may take more than one. So three seasons minimum, five seasons maximum according to him.

I was expecting the eclipse to be a bigger deal honestly. Sure, the city is screwed, but it was pretty much that already. I suppose there might be a bigger fallout next episode.

I'm pretty sure the ex-wife isn't going to make it. She had her chance. I'm torn on the son though. He probably shouldn't make it, but I suspect Ef wouldn't mentally survive his son getting iced.

So Gus' friend going to turn in a jail cell with him ?

I think it's just a set up for his friend that is most certainly going to turn

I feel so terrible for Vasily. Poor guy can't catch a break; all his co-workers dead, his father hate his guts, nobody listening to him. His scene with his father was very well-acted, you could just feel the pain in Vasily's soul. I hope he teams up with Setrakian soon to form the best vampire hunting duo of all time.

So apparently there's more than one vampire faction. I'm guessing that those vampire commandos want to remain hidden rather than try to Take Over the World.

Also its becoming increasingly clear that Del Toro basically decided to make Blade 2 into a series.

The commando vampire looked like Norferatu. I wonder if he's a different breed.

If so, I wonder if the's a Master in his own right ? I'd assume he's Eichhorst to some other vampire boss. Curious now, if killing the Master is the way to save New York, what happens to the non-Master vampires ? Do they go back to living in secret when vampire become a known thing ? Is that season two or will they even manage to kill the Master this season, I wonder. I suspect they will not.

Outside of the last five minutes I'm in two-minds about Eichhorst surviving. Yes, he's an Nazi Vampire, but I suspect that Setrakian won't survive him by long and like him. He might be th season finale boss. Lawyer's husband had good instincts shame he got eaten.

edited 25th Aug '14 1:03:37 PM by Anteres

The cab driver, however, had some very bad instincts