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The Strain

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 54 Critic Reviews

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70

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Ratings

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The Strain

Now Playing: The Strain

The Strain

Series Details & Credits

FX | Release Date: July 13, 2014

Starring: Robin Atkin Downes, Kevin Durand, Rupert Penry-Jones, David Bradley, Jonathan Hyde, Corey Stoll, Richard Sammel, Max Charles

Summary: Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City investigate a mysterious virus that may have roots to something ancient and deadly.

Creator: Guillermo del Toro

Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Suspense, Science Fiction

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Recent Episodes

tbd
S4:E10. The Last Stand
Air Date: September 17, 2017
tbd
S4:E9. The Traitor
Air Date: September 10, 2017
tbd
S4:E8. Extraction
Air Date: September 3, 2017

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

70

Positive:

39

Mixed:

13

Negative:

2

Critic Reviews

100

USA Today

Robert Bianco

Jul 10, 2014

Season 1 Review: Enter The Strain, which just may turn out to be the best-executed, most cleverly constructed and most universally enjoyable fright-monger of them all. Read full review

80

Los Angeles Times

Mary McNamara

Jul 14, 2014

Season 1 Review: The Strain is an old-fashioned, marks-hitting horror quest in which a band of unlikely warriors attempts to defeat a thing of unspeakable evil Before It's Too Late. Read full review

80

We Got This Covered

Bernard Boo

Jul 14, 2017

Season 4 Review: The three episodes provided for review seem to signal volcanic larger story arc that is uncomfortably bleak and a bit dour at the outset but slowly builds toward a final showdown with The Master, which is sure to be nothing short of cataclysmic. Read full review

70

Washington Post

Hank Stuever

Jul 10, 2014

Season 1 Review: The better parts of The Strain will unsettle viewers with this new species of monster.... The first couple of episodes seem as if they’ve been assembled from a kit that’s missing a few nuts and bolts; by the third and fourth episodes, however, a viewer gets a much better sense of The Strain’s style and bite. Read full review

70

Washington Post

Hank Stuever

Jul 10, 2015

Season 2 Review: The fun here comes without that extra layer of philosophical fanaticism. In that sense, The Strain is an enjoyable (and sufficiently sicko) episodic diversion. Read full review

60

We Got This Covered

Isaac Feldberg

Aug 28, 2016

Season 3 Review: Still very much the thrill-a-minute lovechild of a macabre master and a novelist with a pronounced knack for the nasty, The Strain remains a juicy, pulpy, often delectable piece of summer programming in season 3. Read full review

30

The Huffington Post

Maureen Ryan

Jul 9, 2014

Season 1 Review: Despite a great deal of visible effort, the first four episodes of The Strain never succeeded in making Corey Stoll's epidemiologist character even remotely compelling. Unfortunately most of the other characters are even more superficial and predictable, which made it nearly impossible to stay engaged when they began doing dumb things. The only real bright spot in The Strain is David Bradley. Read full review

SEE ALL 54 REVIEWS

Write a Review

7.7

User Reviews

10

movingpictures

May 18, 2020

Season 1: Wonderful from the first to the last. The perfect blend of detective meets gothic meets outbreak meets adventure meets body horror. It seriously has it all! My only complaint is that the characters are a little thin, but that's 100% forgivable given the fast pace and the feelingSeason 1: Wonderful from the first to the last. The perfect blend of detective meets gothic meets outbreak meets adventure meets body horror. It seriously has it all! My only complaint is that the characters are a little thin, but that's 100% forgivable given the fast pace and the feeling that they're keeping it fresh with plot twists and reveals!… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

10

Reviewer917

Jun 3, 2022

This is one of the best TV sci-fiction series of all-time. If I have one complaint, it is that I wish it was longer because the story is very interesting. The only bad part was the Zack character. The should have just left him as the younger version. Otherwise, you will really enjoy the series.

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

9

tarekali

Sep 4, 2022

One of the most deliciously depressing series I have ever seen, as depressing as the Walking Dead or any global apocalypse scenario, where humanity falls into darkness simply because of arrogance, infighting and close-mindedness. The viewer might ask why this plague did not consume humanityOne of the most deliciously depressing series I have ever seen, as depressing as the Walking Dead or any global apocalypse scenario, where humanity falls into darkness simply because of arrogance, infighting and close-mindedness. The viewer might ask why this plague did not consume humanity before. As the series rolls out there are genuine reasons for that, based on our scientific progress, coupled with social isolation and mistrust. All the emo vampire shows with pale tall models are pathetic and bizarre compared to this realistic horror saga. To portray the strigoi vampire species as a pathogenic host-based organism is a genius move. The mechanisms and modalities of this species make sense as they are rooted firmly in biology. The special effects are equally compelling and gory, a real blood fest sure to please any horror fan.
The characters of this show are relatable and memorable. Each person does their very best to turn the tide in favour or against humanity, based on their ethos. Certainly Abraham Setrakian and Thomas Eichorst tower over the rest, ancient immortal foes against each other. The other great strife between the Master and the Born is an epic duel of fates. The supporting cast makes a great team across the board, demonstrating the central theme of the show, that evil uses love to win. The deep roots of the series in history add tremendous depth to the events, showing the repeating cycle of good versus evil. This show embodies “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that the good do nothing”. Though the series is a short 4 seasons, it completes a beautiful arc and ends with a clean slice. A really well-made show that puts you through the wringer with tension and shock, but does not once lose its footing and consistency.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

7

BlitzStein

Jul 17, 2021

Apart of the non realistic sound of battle on the streets and being a unrealistic ambient dynamic, the main history is not bad. But the child change of the zack character was an epic error. I really want to like this series, and it haves a lot of good things. But the ambience details,Apart of the non realistic sound of battle on the streets and being a unrealistic ambient dynamic, the main history is not bad. But the child change of the zack character was an epic error. I really want to like this series, and it haves a lot of good things. But the ambience details, unrealistic politics, kicks me out of the history frequently.

Still a good series.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

6

Pan_Krytyk

Mar 24, 2023

To jest kolejny idealny przykład jak zepsuć serial robiąc za dużo jego serii. Na siłę ta czwarta seria. Ehhh

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

5

DrAhmedPsychic

Jan 4, 2021

The most drawback of this beautiful macabre show is the boy who acted Zack since season 2, he is disgusting, the first boy in season one was amazing, lovely and brave but they replaced him for a mediocre one

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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Seasons & Episodes

70

Series Overview
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: July 16, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E10. The Last Stand
  Air Date: September 17, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E9. The Traitor
  Air Date: September 10, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E8. Extraction
  Air Date: September 3, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E7. Ouroboros
  Air Date: August 27, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E6. Tainted Love
  Air Date: August 20, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E5. Belly of the Beast
  Air Date: August 13, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E4. New Horizons
  Air Date: August 6, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E3. One Shot
  Air Date: July 30, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E2. The Blood Tax
  Air Date: July 23, 2017
- tbd
  S4:E1. The Worm Turns
  Air Date: July 16, 2017
Season 3

62
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: August 28, 2016
Season 2

66
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: July 12, 2015
Season 1

72
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 13, 2014