MovieChat Forums > The Strain (2014) Discussion > Why don't they just use high intensity

Why don't they just use high intensity


ultraviolet light systems connected to batteries or portable generators? The people hunting the vampires are obviously aware that UV light will kill them, so why not develop a portable UV weapon system? I mean there's already a bio weapon and navy seals involved, you would think someone would come up with the idea of creating something like Eldritch Palmer installed in his penthouse. A sort of crew served weapon platform where one team member carries a small portable generator or backpack full of batteries and the other has the light system. Even if it's not powerful enough to kill the vampires instantly, it would certainly stave off their attacks long enough to make using conventional weapons to kill them much easier.

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[deleted]

Thank you for that, Mr. Guillermo Del Toro!

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[deleted]

Probably because everything happened so fast, enough time hasn't past and is too much chaos and confusion going on for the political leaders to figure out a long term solution to fight the infection. People are panicking and think that running is the solution. They don't realize that humanity is at war with these creatures. Nobody but the Master and his sentinels knows the plan.


They knew from very early on, like early first season, that sunlight was able to damage and kill the vampires. Considering the sun emits radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, it should be obvious to anyone who wears sunscreen that UV light will kill them. This was demonstrated multiple times throughout the first and second seasons; first when they went hunting for batteries and UV lights which they used to fight their way out of the gas station; second when the "battle for New York" saw their UV light arrays taken out when the vampires cut the power. Pretty stupid not to power your VERY important weapon with a backup generator LOL.

The show is already at a point where the infection has spread to the rest of the planet. There are SEAL teams, a crack CDC doctor and the best exterminator NYC probably ever had plus the entire US government all fighting the vampires. I think by now someone would've thought "They can't come out during the day, hmm, maybe we should use portable sunlight!" you know, a light bulb.

Well to be honest, it's already been explained by the characters and the events in the episodes.


It's never been explained why they aren't using UV light as a means to combat the vampires. I'm fairly certain this whole issue has been completely ignored. The writers know they can't address it. They either have to somehow make the vampires evolve past the sunlight issue, or explain why no one is building massive UV light arrays and weapons. Far more sophisticated technology is being deployed than a simple high powered light bulb.

I get it, I really do, it's not that kind of show. It's just that it has such great moments every now and then and it's a genre that hasn't been done yet either. I still enjoy it as something to watch on the second monitor while I'm working, I just wish it was the type of show you couldn't watch that way.

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[deleted]

They had UV lights last season, they used them to protect Feraldo's base in Red Hook, and that's why Eichorst went to the power plant to shut the power off so the army of vampires they were gathering just outside the fence would be able to attack.

They won the battle when Nora turned the power back on and the UV lights fried the remaining vampires.

In the show's timeline, that was about 2 1/2 weeks ago. They should definitely be using UV lights offensively. If they wanted to make it seem like Feraldo isn't aware of the effectiveness of UV light as a weapon, they shouldn't have based a whole episode on it.

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[deleted]

They should be manufacturing silver grenades too.

Setrakian has his few, and he knows how effective they are, but he's keeping it to himself like everything else.

Everyone in the city should be helping fight the vampires. Feraldo should be asking them to bring in any silver they own to be used in weapons. After a clearing team kills the vampires in a building, they should have a secondary team go in and scavenge the empty apartments for silver that they could use.

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[deleted]

Yeah but how with no media coverage?


They introduced the reporter who wanted to reveal the chain gangs, so there CAN be media coverage.

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[deleted]

How is it not what we're talking about?

I said that everyone should be pitching in to defeat the vampires. This plan would obviously involve using the media to inform the people and get them involved. Feraldo would hold a press conference telling everyone to bring in their silver and asking for volunteers to scavenge cleared empty buildings for silver to be used for weapons.

Since there's a reporter who is apparently dedicated to her job and believes she can broadcast her report about the chain gangs, clearly using the media is a viable option. Not only is it viable because she wants to do her report, but Feraldo knows it's viable because she shut the reporter down.

So when you say "Yeah but how with no media coverage?" the answer is that Feraldo WOULD have media coverage. Eph even mentions in the premiere that the news said Feraldo was winning, so her efforts are being reported (even if they are being exaggerated) by the news. It wouldn't take any extra effort to have her call for people to help.

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Portable, powerful UV lights already exist, even, no real need to do any R&D. You can buy em off of amazon.

What a lovely way to burn...

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Just stop it. The both of you . Your making too much sense.

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Ya, there are even UV lasers. The more powerful they are, the more difficult they are to obtain, I would think. I don't know if Amazon sells them.

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