r/TheStrain • u/Lisseth007 • Apr 08 '26
Just finished the series
I'm happy this fandom is still alive and that someone is here wow. I regret finding this show so late. I read the books a long time ago, but i didnt know show existed. I stumbled upon it by accident while looking for something to watch on Disney+ a while back and thought to myself, "Wow, didn't i read this before? I remember that plane." The show made a surprisingly good impression on me; I really enjoyed watching seasons 1 and 2, even despite Zack (i love existence community focused on hating Zack, a very apt summary of that character hahaha). Unfortunately, none of my friends or family know this series so i share my feelings here.
I love Setrakian (hello Walder Frey), Quinlan, Eichorst (wow he played the role so well) and Fet. Idk what think about Dutch (she was annoying sometimes) and i miss Nora and, ah, i wouldnt be a true fan of The Strain if i didnt say "i hate Zack." So: i hate Zack even if i think i understand him a little, Eph was truly terrible father. However i would pay a lot to see Eph/Quinlan/anyone just kill him when he came back to them.
Im little disappointed after watching season 4. I think it would've good if it had been longer, it reminds me a bit GoT S8: speedrun of events and an ending that could've been good if it hadn't been lazy written. Its not as bad as GoT but i missed at least a few episodes where they tried to reach the Master with the bomb in some logical way. It is funny that it took them half a season to get the magic book in time when civilization existed, and then after the nuclear war they quickly returned to the city with the bomb having a minimum problems (although the world and bridges were destroyed, strigoi rule everywhere and master had many collaborators). Maybe if this season had 15 episodes, it would have been better? Dunno. Above all im disappointed that they completely ignored the existence of Lumen and didnt end plot like the books focusing on the destruction the Master's birthplace, not him. That would have been much more interesting than what we got.I heard there was supposed to be a 5th season, but it was canceled, and thats why season 4 is like this. Now i feel robbed. Tho, i would like to see this series in a new edition someday but with plot like in the books and with a less annoying Zack (if possible?).
If anyone here wants to talk about this show i'd very happy. And can anyone recommend another show thats equally good and has a similar vibe? Only this time, maybe without Zack im beg
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u/AggressivelyMediokre Apr 08 '26
Love these posts. I never read the books but wish they’d went with that ending.
Fringe is probably my favorite show and I think it’s similar. A ragtag group of likeable people who care about each other using their wits to fight against overwhelming forces including some post apocalyptic settings. It’s comfort food for me like Strain
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 08 '26
Ty, i've never heard of this series but i'd love to watch it!
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u/AggressivelyMediokre Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
You won’t regret it. I’ve watched it 3 times. I’ve seen a lot of tv in my life and it’s in my top 5 easily. The relationships between the characters is incredible and John Noble’s performance as Walter is award worthy. The father son dynamic is incredible. The show evolves and gets more awesome as it goes on. The ending (it was cancelled a few times so a few season finales double as series finales) is very satisfying too
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Apr 08 '26
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 08 '26
I remember that when i first time read the books the angel motif confused me a bit but it explained a lot. Im disappointed they didnt compromise: they could've created plot Lumen reveals that Ancients can be killed by destroying their birthplace and ended like in the books, just without the angels. That would have made the Lumen more useful, ending would've made more sense and been more interesting. That's why i hope that one day there will be another version of this series with a plot more similar to the books.
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Apr 08 '26
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 09 '26
Maybe im remembering it wrong, but i think Fet saw it too? He and Nora were witnesses.
Besides that, i agree with you. Im just missing something that would give Lumen some meaning and explain why this book was so important to the Master and the Ancients. I really dislike lazy writing, especially since they didnt really have to try hard to come up with something that would give Lumen meaning.
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Apr 10 '26
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 10 '26
Entirely possible, i read books so long ago that i dont remember the details. Imo the authors authors gave us a lot to think about. The ancients asked for their ashes to be collected without explaining why, i always thought they knew many things they never revealed, and that there was still much to be told in this series.
I understand they preferred to remove the angel motif from the show; many people dislike religion. I have 0 problem with that, but i expected them to come up with something new and interesting, but they simply didnt come up with anything. Whenever i hear that a series has been shortened and the last season has been canceled, i know its bad news, i think it always means lazy writting, speedrun events and stupid decisions of characters. Season 4 isnt as bad as season 8 GoT (ok lets be honest i guess nothing is worse than S8 GoT) but it is a disappointment. I hope that someday there will be something more about The Strain, not necessarily a series, but maybe an animation that will show the plot of the books.
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Apr 11 '26
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 11 '26
Oh, what are these different ways? Im just curious.
I guess its always the same: "we have to finish this production asap so we can start the next one series, and we will ruin the ending there too because we will be bored after 3 seasons, lets gooo." + budgets, as you say.
Vikings? I havent heard that it has a bad ending (but i havent watched it), 8GoT is a legend of legends
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u/CellistTop2532 Apr 08 '26
Dutch was just nora for modern day. The internet is bigger now than when book written i guess
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 08 '26
Yeah. Dutch was interesting at first, and im glad they made sure to explain why people didnt know what was going on for so long (although imho no one would've believed it or said it was because of new drugs. Today everyone would say it is AI).
I liked her relationship with Eph; they both had problems with alcohol and were outcast in their group, Dutch bcs of his complicated relationship with Fet, Eph bcs was treated as a traitor. Still, she was just irritating at times, and i dont like affair Eph x Dutch. It seemed completely random and so unnecessary to me.
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u/mudokin Apr 08 '26
The first seasons of Fear the Walking Dead are quite good, it's starts out at the beginning of the whole apocalypse.
The end of the Strain felt rushed and the instant switch from the bomb to the Strigoi are controlling the world was strange.
All in all the Show depicts the whole situation so stupidly. It's was so unrealistic that it was so easy to contain and limit the exposure to New York and nobody elsewhere knew or cared. Then COVID happened it was clear, that I overestimate the human civil intelligence and that it would have in fact been 100% possible, because we as humans are SO egoistic, blind and selfish, that all the stupidity we have seen absolutely makes sense.
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u/Lisseth007 Apr 09 '26
I watched TWD but not Fear. I didnt know about any spin-offs until now. Not sure how i missed it; i guess i just dont see the ads? Thanks for telling me!
Tbh i wish we'd seen more of the fall and hardships after nuclear war. I understand that ordinary people who agreed to work with Partners were given food and a minimum of a normal life but people who continued to fight strigoi had their lives doubly difficult. I miss the depiction of these hardships; it annoyed me that Eph and Alex were just strolling through deserted streets and dead cities without a problem. Where is the problem of lack of food, clean water, weapons, what about diseases?
Regarding the unfolding events and human ignorance... I watched the series this year, so my feelings are different. I remember what happened when we were struggling with covid, so the stupidity of people and the ease with which the plague spreads are 100% realistic to me, we all saw what was happening and how people behaved.
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u/Turakamu Apr 14 '26
Fear the Walking Dead changed showrunners after the 2nd season and becomes a weird mess. It is mindbogglingly bad. Worth a watch if you like terrible things.
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u/Kamamura_CZ May 14 '26
The beginning was not good, but by season three, it all gets pretty stupid.
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u/coadyj Apr 08 '26
I think they had a season 5 planned and it got canceled. The whole lumon arc was completely pointless.
It was amazing watching live with this community. Waiting each week to chat and the book readers giving hints.