TV: The Strain (FX) (Del Toro)

[E.H. Ruddock]

For being so specific on what kills the vampires it sure seems like just about any bullet puts them down.

Please tell me you will keep watching this show...

Oh, i fully intend to. If only to judge anyone that thinks this show is anything better than absolutely awful.

Yeah it's gotten to the point where I can't really defend it anymore.

Same here, but now I'm in it for the skitch commentary.

[William Bloke]

What an up and down show. That was a terrible episode. I'll keep on going though. I wonder how annoying the kid is gonna get? My guess is I'll be cheering for him to become a vamp.

[dimejinky99]

I really hope this is a one season deal..it just isn't all that worthy of a second

[E.H. Ruddock]

I really hope this is a one season deal..it just isn't all that worthy of a second

Second season already confirmed

[dimejinky99]

wont be watching unless it starts being consistent..

[@SkitchP]

wont be watching unless it starts being consistent..

That's the one thing it has been!

[dimejinky99]

I'm finding it flaky, and i'm not liking any of the central characters at all, other than the rat catcher guy

[@SkitchP]

I'm finding it flaky, and i'm not liking any of the central characters at all, other than the rat catcher guy

Exactly. Consistently bad.


And what is the fascination with the rat catcher guy? He spends the first 6 episodes (admittedly his role has expanded in the last 2) as basically John Goodman's arachnaphobia character.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I'm finding it flaky, and i'm not liking any of the central characters at all, other than the rat catcher guy

Exactly. Consistently bad.


And what is the fascination with the rat catcher guy? He spends the first 6 episodes (admittedly his role has expanded in the last 2) as basically John Goodman's arachnaphobia character.

For me he has just turned into the best character on the show. Not that he's great or anything, but if I'm forced to pick it would be him. Or hacker girl because, well,

[broken iris]

I'm finding it flaky, and i'm not liking any of the central characters at all, other than the rat catcher guy

Exactly. Consistently bad.

Consistently bad is Big Bang Theory, Two Broke Girls, the last two seasons of Always Sunny, anything by Chuck Lorre, any Tyler Perry show, any Shonda Rhimes show, or any cop show with an acronym in the title. This is consistently mediocre and that makes it more frustrating to watch than if it were always bad(*) because there are moments when the show could turn towards awesome, but it never does. It's backspaceresque in that sense.


*have not seen the most recent episode.

[@SkitchP]

I'm finding it flaky, and i'm not liking any of the central characters at all, other than the rat catcher guy

Exactly. Consistently bad.

Consistently bad is Big Bang Theory, Two Broke Girls, the last two seasons of Always Sunny, anything by Chuck Lorre, any Tyler Perry show, any Shonda Rhimes show, or any cop show with an acronym in the title. This is consistently mediocre and that makes it more frustrating to watch than if it were always bad(*) because there are moments when the show could turn towards awesome, but it never does. It's backspaceresque in that sense.


*have not seen the most recent episode.

No. there's not. Outside of the WWII timeline stuff being kinda ok, this show is across the board awful. The main characters are not compelling, poorly acted, and most of all terribly written. The conversations are generally entirely inane. They explain everything terrible about the writing away with "THATS WHAT THEY'RE COUNTING ON." The effects are cheesy, the costumes worse.

It is a very bad television show.

[dimejinky99]

to be fair, as an outsider, US shows (thinking of the greats, the wire, west wing, deadwood etc) usually take 4-6 episodes or even a season, to really start opening up and find their speed..this might be one of thse...


but when i watched and realised it was about effin vampires, my interest dropped a whole lot..

hopefully it develops..and Eff learns how to act outside two facial expressions that is

[@SkitchP]

to be fair, as an outsider, US shows (thinking of the greats, the wire, west wing, deadwood etc) usually take 4-6 episodes or even a season, to really start opening up and find their speed..this might be one of thse...


but when i watched and realised it was about effin vampires, my interest dropped a whole lot..

hopefully it develops..and Eff learns how to act outside two facial expressions that is

He has more than two!
1. Mad
2. Frustrated
3. Confused
4. Hairpiece is itchy

[E.H. Ruddock]

Sadly and unfairly, I expect all new non-network shows to be 10 times better than network shows. With the exception of Hannibal and maybe Blacklist, most network shows are garbage. That being said, this feels like it is Fox or NBC trying to ride the success of the Walking Dead. I certainly expect more out of FX.

[dimejinky99]

to be fair, as an outsider, US shows (thinking of the greats, the wire, west wing, deadwood etc) usually take 4-6 episodes or even a season, to really start opening up and find their speed..this might be one of thse...


but when i watched and realised it was about effin vampires, my interest dropped a whole lot..

hopefully it develops..and Eff learns how to act outside two facial expressions that is

He has more than two!
1. Mad
2. Frustrated
3. Confused
4. Hairpiece is itchy

I get that his character is sorta meant to be unlikeable (look at McNulty) but he's, i dunno, he's not doing it convincingly..I dont like him cos hes not acting right..more than he's meant to be unlikeable....that fair?


Ian McShanes Al Swarengen in Deadwood was supposed to be utterly unlikeable..he's the guy you're very quickly rooting for and not in some bland anti-hero way..

[EJ]

This show is so bad. So, so bad. 3 eps was enough.

[Rangi Guy]

The only characters that really annoy me are Eff and his fuck buddy....unfortunatly they're the ones who occupy most of the screen time - I'm sure the kid will join those ranks pretty soon though

[@SkitchP]

to be fair, as an outsider, US shows (thinking of the greats, the wire, west wing, deadwood etc) usually take 4-6 episodes or even a season, to really start opening up and find their speed..this might be one of thse...


but when i watched and realised it was about effin vampires, my interest dropped a whole lot..

hopefully it develops..and Eff learns how to act outside two facial expressions that is

He has more than two!
1. Mad
2. Frustrated
3. Confused
4. Hairpiece is itchy

I get that his character is sorta meant to be unlikeable (look at McNulty) but he's, i dunno, he's not doing it convincingly..I dont like him cos hes not acting right..more than he's meant to be unlikeable....that fair?


Ian McShanes Al Swarengen in Deadwood was supposed to be utterly unlikeable..he's the guy you're very quickly rooting for and not in some bland anti-hero way..

I don't get that they're trying to make him unlikable- if they were, they wont try and ground him with his commitment to his son. They want him as a hero.

and I disagree entirely on McNulty. McNulty is extremely likable.

[tommymtcom]

Yeah, McNulty is the shit.

[broken iris]

I'm finding it flaky, and i'm not liking any of the central characters at all, other than the rat catcher guy

Exactly. Consistently bad.

Consistently bad is Big Bang Theory, Two Broke Girls, the last two seasons of Always Sunny, anything by Chuck Lorre, any Tyler Perry show, any Shonda Rhimes show, or any cop show with an acronym in the title. This is consistently mediocre and that makes it more frustrating to watch than if it were always bad(*) because there are moments when the show could turn towards awesome, but it never does. It's backspaceresque in that sense.


*have not seen the most recent episode.

No. there's not. Outside of the WWII timeline stuff being kinda ok, this show is across the board awful. The main characters are not compelling, poorly acted, and most of all terribly written. The conversations are generally entirely inane. They explain everything terrible about the writing away with "THATS WHAT THEY'RE COUNTING ON." The effects are cheesy, the costumes worse.

It is a very bad television show.

After watching the last one, and seeing the kid "act", I am starting to cross over to your view on this. The gaping plot holes and bullshit are becoming a bit much as well.

"I had malware in the four major data centers and facebook"... oh you did? Tell me more about this plot that no one in the financial capitol of the world's largest economy would have ever planned for.