The Strain (Guillermo del Toro's New FX Summer Show)
- Thread starter Ro_Laren
- Start date
I'm with you on that. I think The Master is underwhelming. They do such a good job with the makeup for the infected and the Nazi, but when it comes to The Master it just undercuts the creepiness they the show has done a decent job of building up.
Exactly. If they had just made the Master more inline with his creations he might be a little more menacing.
I think the trouble with the Master is they haven't properly explained him. There is a reason he's so big and cartoonish because the body he’s inhabiting was afflicted with gigantism. If they follow the books he should look potentially less cartoony in the second season. In fact he should look a lot different!
I’m guessing they’ve recast Zach because if they don’t the kid’s going to start looking way too old given only a few days are supposed to have passed.
Having reached the end of the first season overall I liked it, but it is kinda pants in places and people do do stupid things far too often. I think another problem is one of timescale. Theoretically the events of season one only take a matter of a few days, if that, but because of the nature of episodic TV it feels like the infestation of New York has actually taken weeks, which dilutes the tension somewhat because it seems like the takeover is happening reaaallllyyyy slowly. I think Lonemagpie is right, this would have been better as a more truncated series, or better yet as a miniseries because as it stands the pacing is all wrong. Similarly the fact no one is really noticing what’s happening in NY is a trifle silly, even with the “I killed the internet” excuse there are so many other ways to get information in or out of a city these days. In fairness that is a problem the first book has too.
Overall I think I like the series more because I’ve read the books, in fact as ropey as it is I think the series is better in many ways. I think Corey Stoll is a good fit for Eph because the character has to be both heroic and more than a little arrogant and downright unlikable and he’s playing that dichotomy quite well. I like Mía Maestro as Nora and Durrand seems to be having a hoot as Fet. And of course David Bradley is perfect as Setrakian. I’m heartened by the fact that they have deviated from the books in places as well (for example in
)
It’s not the greatest show ever, not even close, but I’ll watch season 2.
I’m guessing they’ve recast Zach because if they don’t the kid’s going to start looking way too old given only a few days are supposed to have passed.
Having reached the end of the first season overall I liked it, but it is kinda pants in places and people do do stupid things far too often. I think another problem is one of timescale. Theoretically the events of season one only take a matter of a few days, if that, but because of the nature of episodic TV it feels like the infestation of New York has actually taken weeks, which dilutes the tension somewhat because it seems like the takeover is happening reaaallllyyyy slowly. I think Lonemagpie is right, this would have been better as a more truncated series, or better yet as a miniseries because as it stands the pacing is all wrong. Similarly the fact no one is really noticing what’s happening in NY is a trifle silly, even with the “I killed the internet” excuse there are so many other ways to get information in or out of a city these days. In fairness that is a problem the first book has too.
Overall I think I like the series more because I’ve read the books, in fact as ropey as it is I think the series is better in many ways. I think Corey Stoll is a good fit for Eph because the character has to be both heroic and more than a little arrogant and downright unlikable and he’s playing that dichotomy quite well. I like Mía Maestro as Nora and Durrand seems to be having a hoot as Fet. And of course David Bradley is perfect as Setrakian. I’m heartened by the fact that they have deviated from the books in places as well (for example in
killing Nora’s mother
It’s not the greatest show ever, not even close, but I’ll watch season 2.
Season 2 will premiere Sunday July 12 at 10pm.
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/20...ampaign=Feed:+Tvbythenumbers+(TVbytheNumbers)
a synopsis of what we can expect in season 2 (slight spoilers)
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/20...ampaign=Feed:+Tvbythenumbers+(TVbytheNumbers)
a synopsis of what we can expect in season 2 (slight spoilers)
As the second season unfolds, the transformation has begun. It can no longer be denied — New York City is rapidly falling to an evil epidemic, and no one is coming to its rescue. Its citizens must fight or die. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and his unlikely allies tried to take down the embodiment of this evil — the Master — and failed. Now Eph and Dr. Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) concentrate on creating a biological weapon to wipe out the creatures, while Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley) searches for an ancient book he hopes will reveal the strigoi’s entire history...and possibly a way to kill them. Meanwhile, the Master is out for revenge, unleashing new and even more terrifying breeds of bloodthirsty creatures after our team. Our team must find a way to defeat him before the infection spreads too far and becomes irreparable … before they become monsters themselves.
Watched the season premiere. I'll probably come back for the next episode next week, but I make no guarantees about sticking with it through the whole season.
I just really didn't connect with this episode. (To be fair, not always a good idea to watch and judge when you have a headache.) One thing that really bothered me was the state of the city. In every single scene, we heard screams, breaking glass, sirens, violence, and all sorts of terrible things happening outside. And yet we saw NONE of it. Everybody seems to be able to get around the city just fine, whether you're a real estate agent, or going to a press conference, or just going to a medical lab or a storage facility, which we all know would be the last places anyone would want to loot. Ever.
As for the characters, well, I wish I liked them more. Seems like Eph and Nora sat down and watched World War Z for the get-sick-to-save-yourself plan. (Though I loved that in the movie, so I can't complain here.) Eph seems to be going for a drinking problem storyline. That's guaranteed to have an automatic resolution as soon as he finds out that liquor stores always seem to be the first places to get looted.
I hope the story next week grabs me a bit more.
Season 2 starts in the UK on August 26th on Watch, so I'll be looking out for it then.
I thought it was a pretty good season premiere.
Was that the Master's backstroy that Satrakian was hearing in the beginning? That was the impression I got.
I am glad they are connecting the Ancients and their good vampires with Eph's group.
I get the feeling Palmer's delusions about being the Master's "partner" probably aren't going to end well for him.
They appear to be setting up Kelly, Eph's wife, to be the next Master, or at least a smarter vampire like Eichhorst.
Was that the Master's backstroy that Satrakian was hearing in the beginning? That was the impression I got.
I am glad they are connecting the Ancients and their good vampires with Eph's group.
I get the feeling Palmer's delusions about being the Master's "partner" probably aren't going to end well for him.
They appear to be setting up Kelly, Eph's wife, to be the next Master, or at least a smarter vampire like Eichhorst.
I am actually kinda interested to see where things go...The STrain is way lower on the priority list than other stuff, but it looks like the Master will get a new body that doesn't look as goofy.
And the Ancients aren't as good as they say they are...was there any explanation of their victim? Was he really a "bad" guy?
And so we'll have a flashback with Satrakian & the Master, & how he got the cane. And interesting what info Satrakian is withholding from whom...
And the Ancients aren't as good as they say they are...was there any explanation of their victim? Was he really a "bad" guy?
And so we'll have a flashback with Satrakian & the Master, & how he got the cane. And interesting what info Satrakian is withholding from whom...
I'm still watching it. With the exception of Zack this season is an improvement over last. I really like the addition of Samantha Mathis. Her character just cracks me up.
Carlton Cuse interview - spoilers
Carlton Cuse interview - spoilers
Ding Dong Stoll's wig is fucking dead! 'bout time.
[I'll assume you meant "3 seasons"]
Del Toro has said that the plan is to do five seasons.
After starting kind of iffy, the show's managed to build a solid foundation. Those blind spider-vampire kids are some kind of weird. Be interesting to see the mother son reunion. Maybe that will mark the exit of that annoying kid actor. 
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