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Sunday, July 13, 2014

TV Review: The Strain

The Strain (2014– )
TV Series - 60 min - Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi
FX Sundays 10:00pm
The Strain is a high concept thriller that tells the story of "Dr. Ephraim Goodweather," the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

Co-Creators, Executive Producers and Writers Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan co-wrote the pilot script for The Strain, which was directed by del Toro. Emmy® Award winning Writer and Producer Carlton Cuse serves as Executive Producer/Showrunner and Writer. Gary Ungar also serves as Executive Producer. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Hell yeah! We have a winner. I haven't read the books, but have checked out the comics from Dark Horse and I was thrilled with those. I had pretty high expectations going into tonight's premier. 

I thought it was a very well made pilot with lots of suspense and just the right amount of gore. It is hard to truly creep me out, but they achieved it!

There is a lot more going on than mindless vampire like killing machines about to take over N.Y. This is going to be a must watch for me!

I got to mention my editor brain was having a hard time with some things and the scientist in me cringed a few times and it had nothing to do with the vampires. Seriously, would a CDC scientist reach out with bare hands to touch the unknown soil that might have killed 206 people? Also did anyone notice in the beginning when Dr. Ephraim Goodweather jumped in his vehicle to head to the airport, the steering wheel was on the right side? Odd for NY <G>

4.5 "I'm very cold" Sheep




Sharon




12 comments:

  1. I haven't read the comics but tonight's episode was interesting. I didn't love it but I'll watch a few more episodes and see how it does. Like you, I was bothered by a few glitches; our brains just can't turn off.

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    1. yeah, I had to let go of a few things but that ending with the dad was classic horror :)

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  2. I know what you mean about the bare hands and the steering wheel. I am a TV addict and love to pick apart the shows, even my favorites. I guess we just have to remember it is fiction and sometimes reality doesn't work for them. ^_^
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I know! I can't help myself. I'm not even looking for them they just scream at me from the screen I drive my family crazy at the movies too. But, that is what makes me a good line editor too :)

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    2. That sent me absolutely crazy. I can't count how many times I hollered WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING THAT WITH YOUR BARE HANDS???? Anyone who works for the CDC should be utterly paranoid after the stuff they see in everyday life (although recent news headlines suggest not) Even the coroner messed up big time in one scene.

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    3. I know!!! My daughter is working in the county morgue this summer and she had a few things to say about those scenes . But, they do listen to music down there, especially if you are alone .

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  3. I read the book first and utterly LOVED it --- gave it 5 out of 5 on Goodreads. Bought Book 2 IMMEDIATELY. And I couldn't WAIT to see this on my TV screen (Hey, I'm usually asleep long before 10 pm, so I was reeeeally motivated!). To say that my little heart is broken would be putting it mildly. All the fabulous details and nuances, the intriguing parallels with Stoker's original Dracula and other vampire stories, the character development, the delicious reveals --- ALL GONE. I'm thinking that the TV version probably matches up with the comic series better, because I really felt that I was seeing the story in limited panels. All that said, I wish I could somehow view the TV show without having been first influenced by the book, so I could see what its fans are seeing. But I wouldn't give up having the read the fabulous book!

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    1. I think you are right. Anytime you read a book before seeing the movie/TV show it is almost always a disappointment. That is why I am glad I haven't read the books yet (I will though!). It is very much like the comics.


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  4. I haven't read the book or the comics so I had no pre-conceived notions about this show before it started. I loved it. I'll be DVR'ing every week now.

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  5. Well the Jeep was like some safari looking thing, so I bet he brought it back after one of his CDC adventures. Just on a side note, my son (Logan) goes to an after school care program called CDC. Child Development Center BUT it still freaks me out.

    So are they vamps? Cause I got the feeling it was more like zombies or some kind of Alien. That eating and finding new hosts is the main thing they are after.

    I liked it as a start but can it keep the stamina going to maintain a series? I don't know, yet.

    But for now, I'm in!

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  6. Yeah, thought getting in the wrong side and drive from there, would be in England all right, but not in the US, especially as he is an American anyway (and living in the US). The one thing is bugging me as I am watching it now ( DVRed it) is how Dr. Nora Martinez ignores her being called not to go in there, or get out, and does she? Nope. Like the idiot who goes down into the basement when they hear a sound in a horror flick. Maybe in reality normal idiot might, but a scientist surely would,be smarter? Bur it has creeped me out so far.

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  7. Yes, Katie, they are vampires--more like European nosferatus. You ought to read the trilogy this summer. Not the first vampire apocalypse movie or book either--shoot, I Am Legend is one I read back in college in the 70s. Three movies made out of that--first one was in the 60s with Vincent Price. That beat Night of the Living Dead.

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