Saturday 16 August 2014

The Strain - Love it? Hate it? Middle of the road it?



The Strain has finally made in to a TV show and now with high flying ratings and 5 episodes in but is it any good?
Well i do have to say for me after  a slightly in places dodgy season opener and now having  just watched episode 5 i am loving the shit out of it! I've read the 1st book and it does stick pretty faithful to that, If you not sure what it's about it's Vampires, Not your sparkly Twilight bollocks or even your classic Hammer Vamps but more in the mold of the 30 days of night type vampire with a little bit of Alien thrown in for good measure(watch it and you'll see what mean).
Its difficult to pull off when it comes to Vampires and the basis of the story is not that original, Lots of Dracula and Salem's Lot undertones in the 1st episode involves a plane landing then all communications are lost, No transmissions from the darkened plane on the runway, No communications from any of the cabin crew or passengers. Fearing  a chemical attack the authorities board the plane only to find everyone on board is dead. But there is something lurking in the luggage hold, something in a huge box that looks only to contain soil, or does it? So you can see the whole mysterious box contain soil scenario thing again but some of the twists and events that occur are great so i do think that FX have another hit show on their hands. 


Our main character is Dr Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) Troubled by on ongoing divorce case and trying to keep appointments to see his child that he keeps missing due to work, he's a troubled soul but not as troubled as when he actually finds out whats going on, So you have him, Also a  rock star that to be honest is very goth and very Cliche and was really annoying me up until the last couple of episodes when his character takes a rather good twist, The Dr's sidekick who wants to help until she finds out something...... , The Rat-catcher guy is great also. So you have your mix of standard types as well as a vampire hunter very much as seen in old Hammer Movies.
It has to be said that the gore is turned up to 10, No holds barred on that score. But as i said it's only 5 episodes in so i for one hope it stays on course to the great original source material and doesn't drift off like The Walking Dead has or even god forbid end up like Dexter, Jesus that last season was rough!
So in summing up i'd watch at least 2 or maybe 3 then if you don't like it by then you probably won't. Not the best or most original TV show I've ever seen but it's certainly more than a satisfying filler until the return of The Waking Dead,Game Of Thrones and maybe even Better Call Saul!
5 episode in i give it 8/10
Jonny T.



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