The Strain season 3, episode 9 "Do Or Die" saw New York City finally fall to the Strigoi hordes. Guillermo del Toro has created some unforgettable screen monsters, including Pan's Labyrinth's Pale Man or Hellboy 2's Angel of Death. He also has a fascination with classic creatures like Frankenstein's Monster or vampires like Dracula, with his first movie Cronos offering a fresh take on the myth. He later returned to vampires with Blade II, which introduced The Reapers, which pray on both humans and vampires alike.

The Reapers' unique design saw their jaws split open to reveal a spiked tongue capable of quickly draining victims of blood. Guillermo del Toro later returned to this basic design for the silly but fun Strain trilogy of novels, which he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan. These books followed a group of characters trying desperately to contain a vampire threat sweeping through New York City, and The Strain was later adapted into a four-season series for FX.

Related: The Strain "Night Zero" - Why John Hurt Was Replaced After Filming The Pilot

The Strain was slightly frustrating, as while it featured some great horror and ideas, it also featured some very irritating heroes and a tendency to focus on silly subplots. The Strain seasons 3 and 4 are typically considered the best, as they shed some of the weaknesses of the first two seasons and ramped up the intensity. The third season featured New York in a desperate fight to keep the Strigoi at bay, but The Strain season 3, episode 9 "Do Or Die" was the point of no return. The NYPD opts to flee the dying city after being overwhelmed, with Kevin Durand's Fet predicting the whole city will fall within days.

the strain silver angel (1)

The Strain season 3, episode 9 "Do Or Die" offers yet more insight into businessman Palmer's backstory and his relationship with his rich, heartless father; this is why he later names his company "Stoneheart." In the present day, Palmer tries to finally kill the slimy Strigoi Eichhorst by shooting him, who just barely manages to escape. Palmer does at least manage to retrieve the nuclear weapon Eichhorst smuggled into the country - which is used to horrifying effect in the next episode. "Do Or Die" was also the end for several major characters, including Justine Feraldo, Captain Frank and the show's most underrated hero The Silver Angel. All three are shockingly killed in quick succession too, with only Gus managing to survive the vampire attack.

The Strain season 3, episode 9 "Do Or Die" does offer some small hope Eph, Fet and the others could turn the situation around, such as a gadget that can disrupt the vampires' ability to communicate. However, the death of so many key players and the police abandoning New York City signaled the Strigoi had all but won, and the season 3 finale will land the finishing blow.

Next: The Strain Season 5 Updates: Will The Vampire Series Return?