The Strain
The Strain
Now Showing

The Strain

7.5
Yr 2014
Rt 44m
Status Ended
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Drama Mystery
Your Verdict
Unrated

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Series Brief

Overview

A high concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 60 /100

Critical reception for The Strain is notably divided, with opinions ranging from genuine praise for its creature-feature thrills to frustration over its execution. Supporters laud the series as a fun, old-fashioned horror quest that excels at character building and world-building through its high-concept narrative. Those who enjoyed the show often highlighted its visual polish and its ability to deliver satisfyingly grotesque, genre-focused entertainment.

Conversely, detractors point to significant inconsistencies throughout its run. Common criticisms include heavy-handed acting, uneven writing, and occasionally flat dialogue. While some critics found the show’s earnest approach to its own lore compelling, others found it to be overly serious or bogged down by repetitive plot beats and thin character motivations.

“The Strain is a product of great storytelling and great character development.”

“It has been a very uneven season full of suspense, gory scenes but also blank dialogues, weak characters and repetitive scenarios.”

“The series seems to take itself pretty seriously, which is bewildering.”

“Guillermo del Toro's FX vampire series 'The Strain' takes you on a grand, old-fashioned horror quest.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Hulu
US
AMC Plus Apple TV channel
US • CA
AMC+ Amazon Channel
US • CA
Show 7 more
Spectrum On Demand
US
Shudder Apple TV channel
US • CA
Disney Plus
UK • CA
AMC+
US • CA
Philo
US
Shudder
US • CA
Shudder Amazon Channel
US • CA
Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 12
Longest run 46 eps
Corey Stoll
Corey Stoll
as Dr. Ephraim Goodweather
46 episodes
Kevin Durand
Kevin Durand
as Vasiliy Fet
46 episodes
Miguel Gómez
Miguel Gómez
as Augustin 'Gus' Elizalde
46 episodes
Mía Maestro
Mía Maestro
as Dr. Nora Martinez
26 episodes
David Bradley
David Bradley
as Professor Abraham Setrakian
46 episodes
Jonathan Hyde
Jonathan Hyde
as Eldritch Palmer
46 episodes
Richard Sammel
Richard Sammel
as Thomas Eichorst
46 episodes
Max Charles
Max Charles
as Zach Goodweather
46 episodes
Show 67 more
Ruta Gedmintas as Dutch Velders 46 episodes Sean Astin as Jim Kent 14 episodes Rupert Penry-Jones as Mr. Quinlan 25 episodes Natalie Brown as Kelly Goodweather 46 episodes Jack Kesy as Gabriel Bolivar 20 episodes Inga Cadranel as Diane 4 episodes Jocelyn Hudon as Abby 5 episodes Joe Pingue as Caldwell 2 episodes Jonathan Potts as Captain Doyle Redfern 3 episodes Isabelle Nélisse as Emma Arnot 3 episodes Steven McCarthy as Gary Arnot 3 episodes Nikolai Witschl as Ansel Barbour 5 episodes Regina King as Ruby Wain 3 episodes Alex Paxton-Beesley as Ann-Marie Barbour 3 episodes Katy Breier as Lauretta 3 episodes Leslie Hope as Joan Luss 4 episodes Pedro Miguel Arce as Felix 4 episodes Drew Nelson as Matt Sayles 6 episodes Francis Capra as Crispin Elizalde 4 episodes Anne Betancourt as Mariela Martinez 6 episodes Maria Ricossa as Margaret Pierson 3 episodes Ben Hyland as Zach Goodweather 9 episodes Brenda Bazinet as Pauline McGeever 3 episodes Stephen McHattie as Vaun 4 episodes Ron Lea as Harrison McGeever 4 episodes Daniel Kash as Dr. Everett Barnes 8 episodes Roger Cross as Reggie Fitzwilliam 12 episodes Ron Canada as Mayor George Lyle 6 episodes Nicola Correia Damude as Nikki 4 episodes Lizzie Brocheré as Coco Marchand 9 episodes Sonya Anand as Vhini Gupta 3 episodes Parveen Kaur as Aanya Gupta 4 episodes Sugith Varughese as Naren Gupta 4 episodes Charlie Gallant as Young Palmer 3 episodes Ryan Hollyman as Lar (Sun-Hunter) 3 episodes Lee Tergesen as Tardi 3 episodes Aaron Lazar as Kroft 3 episodes Elizabeth Saunders as Nurse Carla Davis 3 episodes Adriana Barraza as Guadalupe Elizalde 8 episodes Doug Jones as The Ancient 5 episodes Clayton Scott as Ancient #2 3 episodes Samantha Mathis as Justine Feraldo 13 episodes Paulino Nunes as Frank Kowalski 9 episodes Joaquín Cosío as Angel Guzman Hurtado 11 episodes Dwain Murphy as Sean Duncan 4 episodes Robert Maillet as The Master 13 episodes Thomas Darya as Sway 4 episodes Rainbow Sun Francks as Jason Green 4 episodes Jess Salgueiro as Sherry 4 episodes Brian Hamman as Coffer 3 episodes Troy James as Airport Mongrel (uncredited) 6 episodes Rhona Mitra as Charlotte 4 episodes Lauren Collins as Sophie 3 episodes Glen Gould as Ben 4 episodes Kjartan Hewitt as Jeremiah 3 episodes Gugun Deep Singh as Pinsky 4 episodes Jamie Hector as Alonso Creem 10 episodes K.C. Collins as Roman 9 episodes Anthony Grant Lake as Strigoi (uncredited) 13 episodes Angel Parker as Alex Green 6 episodes Michael Reventar as Raul 3 episodes Nicki Whitely as Marta 3 episodes Cas Anvar as Sanjay Desai 10 episodes Robin Atkin Downes as The Master (voice) 26 episodes Dewshane Williams as Marcus 9 episodes Dayton Sinkia as Oscar 4 episodes Jim Watson as Abraham (Young Setrakian) 7 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Strain overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

new york city based on novel or book vampire outbreak survival disease biting vampirism virus horror
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
July 13, 2014
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
44 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
1,985