I knew nothing about it. I figured it was some sort of disease or maybe something like the Andromina Strain. Vampires and zombies are something I actively avoid.

Strain has good directing, good plotting, and character development will be at least okay

The other aspects of the writing are pretty lacking. I think this could be a rocky start for something better. I think it will struggle to create its world, which is a problem. But it looks entertaining if you're into mildly cheesy scifi/fantasy/mystery (I am)

You can't hope that the directing stays at the same level of the first episode. The Pilot is always directed by the best Director for the show (in the case of "no name" directors), and then it's handed off to hopefully continue in that style (tone, pace, and style are crucial to Pilots, and that's what is gone for in them, so it's crucial to choose well for the show). Sometimes the directing will get way better than the Pilot (Bryan Singer's laughable House Pilot is a good example). Sometimes, it will get way worse (Halt and Catch Fire's episodes 3 and 4 are good examples of this). Guillermo del Toro is a great director, who excels in this type of world.

From looking at the list of directors they got (the ones listed so far) for The Strain, they chose very well, so there's no reason why it won't stay at least near the quality of the Pilot for at least 4 more episodes. I'm a fan of David Semel, and Keith Gordon has done excellent work, as well. Peter Weller is the weak link (doesn't really seem to have anything in this genre), but he seems like he'll be capable based on what he's directed. The hand off was made from del Toro to Semel for episodes 2 and 3, who is a really good Pilot director, so I'm sure that was mostly just making sure del Toro's style transitioned to the rigors and constraints of television. After that, Gordon takes over the next two, and Weller does episode 6 (none of the rest are listed yet).

The good news was that its first episode had excellent basic cable ratings, so it doesn't look like it's going anywhere for awhile. That means that its budget shouldn't end up getting slashed from season 1 to season 2.

I'm keeping an eye out on the show, before deciding to watch it. Reviews are really mixed, but I'm encouraged by down the line choices the show made. If it gets a little better next week, I might just suck it up and check it out.

guilty aswell

i figured it was about some disease or zombies

Extant is decent scifi

Just watched last night. pretty good start.

I liked the scene in the cold office building where you could see the condensation from the breath of the old guy and Travis from Continuum, but none from the other guy. Obv indication he's a vampire.

Pretty cool detail.

yeah, i thought the pilot was pretty interesting. i can see how people that expected a non-vampire plot line could be turned off. I havent read the books or anything but saw on here that it was going to be vampire based, and seemed pretty decent..


love travis.

I'm a little upset at the world in The Strain. I feel like it needs to be a little more dystopian. Something a little more Gotham or a little more Sin City or a little more Carnivale, even a little more Blade. Something that makes the lore not stick out like a sore thumb. I mean, the vampire slayer or whatever the old dude in the pawn shop is doesn't seem believable because the rest of the world seems like standard CSI or something

When telling a story like this, you gotta make the audience say "yeah I could totally see how a vampire could exist in this world".

I learned it was about Vampires a couple weeks before it aired but I thought it was about a virus that happened to turn people, not a Dracula type character.

Jesus Christ "your the worst" was ****ing AIDS.
how on earth does this show get on the air?
absolute abortion.

and they had a preview for a new show with Kelsey Grammer called partners that looks even worse (it has a ****ing laugh track)

If you told me that there would be a sitcom with Grammer and Lawrence, I would say, "Has a chance at being very funny". Then, I saw the teaser, which was an abomination.

I'm still enjoying the last ship lol. thing that disappointed me last episode is they didn't fire any 5" cannons

+1 on You're the Worst. It was literally the worst.

Married was slightly better and had some positives, but was VERY rough. Neither of them are as good as anything I would consider regularly watching

ya married had some promise and at least the dialogue didn't make my ears bleed, but premise was pretty dumb and unless it improves significantly won't be watching.
but unlike you're the worst I didn't want to murder all the characters and hunt down the writers and torture them, so will give it a chance.

^^Reminds me of how I felt about Battlestar Galactica

Oh no he di'int

Liked The Strain, goes in the DVR as a sub for Tyrant. That show makes me want to headbutt the wall.

Nothing of significance steadily going on in Rectify. I wonder how many episodes ahead of the currently airing stuff the show's writing is. Do they even know themselves where they are going with it...

The season has probably long since wrapped production. Still haven't had a chance to check out this season yet. Don't even know how many episodes there are this season.

It was 8 last season right? As much as I enjoy it, I'm waiting till it's over before I dive in this season. It's 5 deep now. I figure since no one I know watches it, I won't get spoiled. And it's not really that kind of show anyway.

A season is plotted out. Nothing beyond vague ideas after that. It is the same with 99% of tv. Rectify isnt about plot though so if you are hoping for some resolution with regards to what happened with the murder then you will be waiting a long time. They have explicitly stated that is not their focus and not what the show is about.

On a wider note i always find it weird that people put so much weight in how something is going to end or whats going to happen rather than what is happening right now. Almost expecting the writers to answer some life question or give grand meaning to everything.

Really?

Six episodes of Recify last season. I'm doing the same thing as you DC

6? Cool.

It's 10 this season. Just checked.

Tolman is taking flak over the internet about being fat. She says it is the fault of the jacket.

I kind of liked "You're The Worst". It might've been mostly because of Aya Cash... Okay, 99% Aya Cash. But whatever. I'm in for it's short life.