I binge watched the entire first season in one setting. It was hit or miss for me also. I also thought the season finale was a bit lacking.

The Master is creepier with his hood up

Finale certainly was a little underwhelming. Am I alone in thinking the masters design is cool? Very goofy but still creepy enough for me. The makeup reminds me of something from Buffy

I too just cranked through the entire season over the past week. I read all the books when they 1st came out and remember enjoying them, but also thinking they were pretty "ready-made" for a t.v. or movie adaptation. Also remember thinking that Hogan was not particularly the most gifted of writers (working out some divorce issues much, dude?), but the story itself grabbed me and I liked a bunch of the characters a lot, so I was interested in seeing how the show turned out.

I was SUPER bummed by the guy playing Eph. He wasn't my favorite character in the book, but the show just makes him such a drip! Nora is fine and so's the kid and more importantly, Setrakian, Fet and Gus are all really nicely portrayed. I was super excited to see Mr. Quinlan, even so briefly - he looked great! The Master totally made me laugh out loud the 1st time he pulled off his hood and I agree that he looks pretty ridiculous, but have to admit I've gotten used to it and now kind of appreciate it a little more than before, even if it does sorta take you out of it all everytime he shows up because he's so cartoony-looking.

And as for the "Season Finale" - that totally BLEW! I actually wasn't tracking how many episodes were in this season and finished that one thinking it was maybe the 2nd or 3rd to last one and then found out that was the finale??!! Weak.

That said - I'll totally watch again next season, if only to see Mr. Quinlan back in action and more bad-ass Gus.

Anyone watch this new season yet?

I had a mini marathon of the new season and it's so bad. Season one had a lot of ups and downs in my opinion but this second one is so much worse. It's like watching a horrible horror movie that is supposed to be taken seriously but only watching because it's too funny too stop.

Nope, not coming back. Despite some nice ideas and good effects the show was just stupid.

Still watching it despite, or in spite of, the really bad acting and hokey dialogue. It's got enough gooey creepiness to keep me interested. If they truly plan on going five seasons they're going to have to get better writers.

I'm enjoying the 2nd season....silly, campy fun

That is the only way to do it. If you try to take it seriously at all it fails on every level. I mean seriously. New York has been overrun for awhile now and the big government woman trying to take it back has like a dozen cops to help? They know UV light is the only real defense so they use big spot light things but nothing has battery backup power? Every encounter with every main villain ends with shooting them and letting them run away? The bad guy human is a billionaire and he knows exactly where all the good guys hide out but he doesn't have them killed?

The 2nd season finale was surprisingly effective. Slaughterhouse prep, book auction, train ride, and leaving with mommy, were all highlights for me.

Eph works better with the shaved head. I wonder if he had to do that for "Black Mass" so they worked it into "The Strain?"

Also saw Miguel Gomez' "King of Kings" back tattoo in "Southpaw" so I guess it's real.

I love this series. I don't care about the corn and the flaws. Enjoying it more than I did the books.

He's actually mostly bald so when he had hair in the show it was fake.