The Strain

:

Season 1
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 13, 2014
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 405 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 312 out of 405
  2. Mixed: 47 out of 405
  3. Negative: 46 out of 405
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. Realtalkmedia
    Jun 21, 2015
    3
    This show has the most potential I've seen out of shows in the past two years. However IT SUCKS!
    Whoever wrote the dialogue is clueless. They have no sense of situational awareness and don't know how people talk or would react in certain situations. ALSO whoever casted this show is also clueless and whoever designed the Nosferatu (head vampire) is a ripoff artist, they basically took Las    This show has the most potential I've seen out of shows in the past two years. However IT SUCKS!
    Whoever wrote the dialogue is clueless. They have no sense of situational awareness and don't know how people talk or would react in certain situations. ALSO whoever casted this show is also clueless and whoever designed the Nosferatu (head vampire) is a ripoff artist, they basically took Las Plagus from Resident Evil 4 and the Nosferatu from the original 1920's film and tried to coin it off as their own. Each episode gets progressively worse, more far fetched and there is no continuity when it comes to the virus at all. Also either the writers told the main characters to act clueless/oblivious and **** stupid the entire show or these characters are some of the most retarded people ever.

    I've never seen a more brilliant idea get tarnished by a **** production team and half assed script writers. They literally probably watched 10 **** apocalypse type movies and took the most generic **** from each one and just slapped it into their plot. Writing a script, especially when its trying to be realistic fiction, is a very laborious process. You need to pay attention to continuity and realism yet this show by episode 3 it seems like they just said **** it, we'll do what we want".

    VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS SHOW. I'm appalled that this got renewed for another season despite how bad it is, it's literally comparable to a low budget Syfy film, yet the budget per episode is probably infinitely higher, but way way way less entertaining.

    The Rat Cop guy and Old Jewish guy are the only two well produced characters in the show. In fact the only two remotely good things about the show at all. Literally these two characters are the only thing that kept me from turning off this show after the 2nd episode.

    If you are even remotely intelligent and have a sense of basic common sense DO NOT watch this show as it will only frustrate you. Another generic apocalyptic show that has no original properties to it whatsoever.    … Expand
  2. James49
    Oct 6, 2014
    2
    I too was looking forward to this show. What a complete and utter disappointment it has been. The premise sounded great and I love a good thriller or zombie/vampire show. This show fails miserably on so many levels. It is not scary nor is it thrilling in the least. The plot is so nonsensical and unbelievable it borders on absurdity and it's hard not to see the whole thing as pure camp.I too was looking forward to this show. What a complete and utter disappointment it has been. The premise sounded great and I love a good thriller or zombie/vampire show. This show fails miserably on so many levels. It is not scary nor is it thrilling in the least. The plot is so nonsensical and unbelievable it borders on absurdity and it's hard not to see the whole thing as pure camp. This is like a mediocre B movie at best. Most if not all the characters are downright annoying. The biggest joke is when the supreme vampire/whatever appears. It was the most anti-climatic and laughable scene in the entire season. My Maltese is scarier than that thing. The flashbacks to Nazi Germany is pure filler and a snooze fest. At least with The Walking Dead, or movies like 28 Days Later, there is some suspension of disbelief. The idea that the main character is taking his son with him to kill the vampires is absurd. This band of nitwits appear to be the only people in all of New York (or the world for that matter) to care that there is a plague and threat to turn humans into vampires. I can't believe all of the positive reviews as well as the fact that it has been renewed for another season. I feel like I am watching a different show than these people. I think a lot of the success of the show must rest on the blood and gore factor. The only reason I kept watching it was the hope it would grow on me. Never happened.… Expand
  3. MsFine
    Jul 21, 2014
    0
    Ridiculous, cliched, every stereotype represented - This show makes every obvious choice. The dialogue is unnatural, acting and writing is abysmal. Episode one was so appalling I signed up for a metacritic account just to vent. Would have turned it off after the first minute but my husband, who has far more tolerance for bad shows than I, insisted on continuing... and even he ended upRidiculous, cliched, every stereotype represented - This show makes every obvious choice. The dialogue is unnatural, acting and writing is abysmal. Episode one was so appalling I signed up for a metacritic account just to vent. Would have turned it off after the first minute but my husband, who has far more tolerance for bad shows than I, insisted on continuing... and even he ended up hating it.… Expand
  4. shanemoore83
    Jul 20, 2014
    2
    I can't believe I wasted an hour watching the pilot. I probably would have really liked it if I was 12. The futuristic sound effect when the CDC guy was texting his son made me laugh. Overall, it was too "comic-booky" for my taste, and I didn't find any of the characters very relatable. I'm really surprised to see so many positive reviews, both from the critics and users. I don't mindI can't believe I wasted an hour watching the pilot. I probably would have really liked it if I was 12. The futuristic sound effect when the CDC guy was texting his son made me laugh. Overall, it was too "comic-booky" for my taste, and I didn't find any of the characters very relatable. I'm really surprised to see so many positive reviews, both from the critics and users. I don't mind campy humor in sci-fi; however, in this case it was obviously unintended.… Expand
  5. doced
    Aug 25, 2014
    0
    I always find it interesting, no, perplexing, how it is we watch, presumably, the same productions, but come away with what are sometimes diametrically opposed assessments. The media pros, with one notable exception, are enthusiastically endorsing "The Strain", which must itself BE a strain. Maybe it's p.c. endorsement of Del Toro, whether what he does is good, bad, or indifferent.I always find it interesting, no, perplexing, how it is we watch, presumably, the same productions, but come away with what are sometimes diametrically opposed assessments. The media pros, with one notable exception, are enthusiastically endorsing "The Strain", which must itself BE a strain. Maybe it's p.c. endorsement of Del Toro, whether what he does is good, bad, or indifferent. Maybe? Anyway, my fellow reviewers who discerned this series trite, contrived, derivative, lame, predictable, often ridiculous, and, well, strained, are spot on. Either the creative and talented people who can produce high quality entertainment are all on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, or there aren't any available because they're otherwise occupied. Yes, there are a few, too few, TV productions of high quality, with intelligent, witty, clever, and creative scripts, deft direction, and believable, professional acting, but, alas, "The Strain" definitely is not among them.… Expand
  6. Marviken
    Oct 9, 2014
    0
    The acting is subpar, the plot is a mess with plotholes big as the Grand Canyon, characters are from average to a painful train wreck.
    It´s not the worst show ever, the production value is okej but it just lacks credibility and suspense.
    I love Kevin Durand and he is a good actor but in this he feels like a parody of him self with a crapy accent. There are few redeeming qualities of    The acting is subpar, the plot is a mess with plotholes big as the Grand Canyon, characters are from average to a painful train wreck.
    It´s not the worst show ever, the production value is okej but it just lacks credibility and suspense.
    I love Kevin Durand and he is a good actor but in this he feels like a parody of him self with a crapy accent.
    There are few redeeming qualities of this show. This show is in many ways very similar to Helix which also have crapy actors, bad script, plot holes unlikable characters but at least it had some suspense. You wanted to know what happened next, in the season final of the strain I got so bored I fast forward.

    This could have bin a great show, the "jews" back story was great and was easily a 9 in terms of quality to bad the rest of the show is barley a 5 and the season final wasnt even a 2.

    The "hacker" chick is a joke, she is painfully bad and mister "Holmes" is almost as bad.    … Expand
  7. ak2381
    Jul 14, 2014
    2
    What an absolute waste of a good premise. I honestly expected more from FX and Guillermo Del Toro.
    Whoever was responsible for casting this show should be fired asap. The cast is basically a hodge-podge of B level actors from failed shows and no-name actors with boviously minimal acting experience.
    Couple that with horrible color/tin saturation, a generally cheesy, made-for-tv feel and    What an absolute waste of a good premise. I honestly expected more from FX and Guillermo Del Toro.
    Whoever was responsible for casting this show should be fired asap. The cast is basically a hodge-podge of B level actors from failed shows and no-name actors with boviously minimal acting experience.
    Couple that with horrible color/tin saturation, a generally cheesy, made-for-tv feel and music that tries way too hard to elicit emotion/fear and you have the formula for a really bad show.
    In today's world of high-quality television production dominated by IFC, Sundance, BBC, HBO and the likes, this abysmal showing from FX is really quite disappointing.    … Expand
  8. jhaught1
    Jul 14, 2014
    3
    The show has a semi-interesting premise, but the dialogue and acting are just laughable. It's really hard to get the feeling of dread they want you to feel with Corey Stoll saying all of that cringey dialogue in that horrible toupee.
  9. shooter17
    Jul 14, 2014
    0
    Was hoping this show was going to be good...didn't know it was about Vampires. Was hoping it was either a virus/pandemic or zombie type show. I gave it a shot but the acting was terrible...the plot was ridiculous...and staged gore scenes to entertain the young crowd. I stopped watching it when the #2 guy in CDC is under control of this mysterious Vampires R Us group...just ridiculousWas hoping this show was going to be good...didn't know it was about Vampires. Was hoping it was either a virus/pandemic or zombie type show. I gave it a shot but the acting was terrible...the plot was ridiculous...and staged gore scenes to entertain the young crowd. I stopped watching it when the #2 guy in CDC is under control of this mysterious Vampires R Us group...just ridiculous fantasy type show. Not based on any medical reality. Disappointed. Delete… Expand
  10. RichardGonci
    Jul 14, 2014
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am going to have to agree with mjkelly93 on this one. In the first place, the writers (and the "star") are so stupid that they don't even know that "CDC" stands for "Centers FOR Disease Control," not "Centers OF Disease Control." I would say the acting was wooden, but that would be an insult to trees. The SFX are so cheesy that they are at least 10 year-old technology. The plot-line is older than I am, and I am almost as old as the crazy bearded guy. BTW, note to Ted Cruz: we really have to get serious about the immigration problem in America because lately several plots have called for nut jobs to risk the fate of the world so some family member could be cleared through US Immigration! Meanwhile, the star has an extreme "hottie" colleague hanging all over him, while back at home his estranged wife wants to make whoppie with Mr. Maytag. Jettison this turkey and watch Halle Berry on "Extant"! The only reason I gave this a "2" instead of a "0" is that something worse can always come along.… Expand
  11. brjorge2002
    Jul 15, 2014
    0
    I was really looking forward to this show, but the pilot was so awful my wife and I didn't even finish it. The plot seemed promising but it was extremely childish. The characters didn't seem like real people and the acting was bad too. I am shocked to see so many positive reviews.
  12. Sketch987
    Sep 18, 2014
    0
    Incredibly disappointing. Zero originality. Every single scene is lifted from some much better movie or tv show and the characters are likewise recycled and bland. If you're in your early 20's and haven't really watched a lot of movies this show might by okay, but for me the plagiarism was so rife as to be insulting. Zero entertainment value, which is exactly the rating I'm giving it.
  13. LThere
    Jul 21, 2014
    0
    It has been a long time since i ve watched something so predictable and lame as this pilot. Bad dialogues, poor scenarios, predictable story and plot lines, mediocre acting. Definitely not worth any more time spent on this.
    Personally disappointed as the man behind this is Guillermo del Toro!
  14. mjkelly93
    Jul 14, 2014
    0
    We all hated it. The dialogue was absolutely ridiculous and completely unrealistic. The acting was horrible. Only the old man had any realism to the character.

    The way the people reacted to completely crazy situations was also just so unrealistic it was laughable at times. After watching the season of Fargo on FX, i was hoping FX was going to put together some more high quality    We all hated it. The dialogue was absolutely ridiculous and completely unrealistic. The acting was horrible. Only the old man had any realism to the character.

    The way the people reacted to completely crazy situations was also just so unrealistic it was laughable at times.

    After watching the season of Fargo on FX, i was hoping FX was going to put together some more high quality story lines. Obviously, they prefer to stick with Sons of Anarchy type shows. Boring characters, terrible acting, and ridiculous character reactions and interactions.    … Expand
  15. NotchFilter
    Jul 27, 2014
    2
    I can't believe I sat through two episodes of this show.

    The pilot had a great premise, but the execution was pretty lame. I watched the second episode, hoping the writers would rally and bring the show up to the level promised by the concept presented in the pilot. Sadly, I was disappointed. Just what we need, yet another walking dead / vampire show. I had high hopes    I can't believe I sat through two episodes of this show.

    The pilot had a great premise, but the execution was pretty lame.

    I watched the second episode, hoping the writers would rally and bring the show up to the level promised by the concept presented in the pilot.

    Sadly, I was disappointed.

    Just what we need, yet another walking dead / vampire show.

    I had high hopes based upon the previews....    … Expand
  16. Nobilis1984
    Jul 25, 2014
    2
    Absolutely boring pilot.
    So far I could only see the pilot. But the bored already after the opening credits. Nothing against vampires or the genre but that's presented so lame. The actors do not sell well in the series and the dialogues are just stupid Bla Bla.
  17. FutureMuggles
    Jul 27, 2014
    3
    Production and acting of the highest quality cannot cover the flimsy concept and cut-and-paste script. This is exactly the role that Berry does well (see, Cloud Atlas) if it weren't for the awful screenplay. I was looking for something in the X-Files, Fringe bracket but this one just adds to the growing pile of generic sci-fi/sci-fantasy out there. Where are the good creators these days -Production and acting of the highest quality cannot cover the flimsy concept and cut-and-paste script. This is exactly the role that Berry does well (see, Cloud Atlas) if it weren't for the awful screenplay. I was looking for something in the X-Files, Fringe bracket but this one just adds to the growing pile of generic sci-fi/sci-fantasy out there. Where are the good creators these days - Spielberg who?… Expand
  18. metabad
    Jul 30, 2014
    3
    Ah, another vampire series. That was to be expected.
    But this time Guillermo del Toro is on board so you hope
    for something better than the rest of the lot, right? Well, don't have your hopes up too high. The show looks good, some ok shockers, but that's about it. After three episodes, the series biggest flaw, in my view, is it's pacing. It slowly tries to raise the sense of    Ah, another vampire series. That was to be expected.
    But this time Guillermo del Toro is on board so you hope
    for something better than the rest of the lot, right?

    Well, don't have your hopes up too high.
    The show looks good, some ok shockers, but that's about it.

    After three episodes, the series biggest flaw, in my view, is it's pacing.
    It slowly tries to raise the sense of threat for the viewers,
    as if the viewers didn't know that it's about vampires.

    But of course, everybody knows what it's about and what will happen.
    As I wrote in my 'Extant' review, what has happened in 3-4 episodes would
    have taken half an hour in a movie.
    If I get impatient on my sofa, as with this show, it's not a good sign.

    Next problem: originality of images.
    You can't reinvent the whole vampire thing and it's not what I expected,
    but do those vampires have to suck blood from their victims like the
    reapers in 'Blade 2'?
    Why do they have pointy vampire teeth and yet another organ inside of them
    that does the biting and sucking?
    Yeah, it looks more spectacular but we have seen this before.

    And, of course, all the stereotypes.
    We have, *sigh*, THE GERMAN VAMPIRE! And you can bet your sweet behind that he was
    a nazi back then and brought the now old guy with the silver sword into a concentration camp.
    Not that I know that, I just made that up, but what else would you expect?
    So be prepared for some flashbacks with him wearing a nazi uniform.

    We have the loving father, Dr. Goodweather, who is all over his head trying to make
    sense of what has happened while fighting for his son in a custody case.
    Really? Family issues, custody cases in a vampire series?
    I get it, the purpose is to make one of the main characters a real human being, but just feels like
    another stereotype.
    And it also feels like the show is playing for time because there's not enough plot here.

    We have the traitor, who helps the vampires, because his wife needs medical treatment.
    I wonder if you heard that one before!

    What about the characters?
    Not memorable, not interesting enough.

    And, lastly, since the show takes so much time to develop when we all know what
    happens in vampire stories, so many times it feels too predictable.

    Some say the dialogue is terrible, I wouldn't go so far, but I surely would call it
    utterly forgettable.

    So, all in all, the show is too slow, too predictable, too unimaginative, not enough suspense and
    the characters are not that interesting. We have pretty much not enough of nearly everything. It shares some of the problems with 'Extant', but the latter is more promising and less problem-ridden. I don't know if I will stick around, but please, at least pick up the pace!    … Expand
  19. ethangomez
    Aug 5, 2014
    1
    This show is an insult to the intelligence of every television viewer. With a plot line so predicable and cliche characters, it is outstanding that this show has such a large fanbase. It is mindless television that was sloppily written and could have been done better with a room of twisted, hormonal teenagers.
  20. Gr8ness
    Oct 1, 2014
    3
    This show initially started with so much promise but has failed me horribly as I continued to watch these episodes. The plot is the only thing that it had going for it but with horrible acting, lines, and predictable "un" twist it has gained a thumbs down from me. I was happy for FX with the first two episodes but downhill from there. The pilot is the only reason that it gets a 3 score butThis show initially started with so much promise but has failed me horribly as I continued to watch these episodes. The plot is the only thing that it had going for it but with horrible acting, lines, and predictable "un" twist it has gained a thumbs down from me. I was happy for FX with the first two episodes but downhill from there. The pilot is the only reason that it gets a 3 score but if not for that it would be in the negatives.… Expand
  21. Ravens1294
    Oct 6, 2014
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had high expectations for this show and the show definitely did not deliver them. I thought this show would be good, but it only turned out okay. I was very disappointed with this show. The show was billed as scary and disgusting, but it was not. The Walking Dead is more violent than this show and it's also better. The Strain has obvious writing flaws from the get go. The same things are happening over and over again. Nothing really changed throughout the season. It's just weak when I compare it to the other new shows I've seen this year. The dialogue for the most part is God-Awful. it is just pathetic. It happened in every episode and all of us hoped the dialogue would improve, but it did not. Most of the characters are really annoying and very hard to like. Eph for the most part has been a complete douche and don't get me talking about Nora. She's is just an annoying and useless **** Her mother was even more useless and thank god she got killed off. Abraham and Fet are clearly the characters to like and both are very interesting. The reveal of The Master was pathetic. He looked like a cheap toy and all of us were like LOL and HAHA. It's that bad and you would think they would come up with something better. He did not look scary one bit and it was so disappointing. The pacing is uneven and is really choppy between scenes. Action scenes are very similar and do not bring much to the table. The most interesting thing about the show was Mr Quinlan, but he was only briefly seen in the season. The show would have done better if they had less episodes, The season was stretched with way too much filler. I heard book 2 and 3 are better, but we need new writers for the show. They are pretty bad and the show is the most disappointing show I've ever seen.… Expand
  22. Riddler68
    Aug 19, 2015
    0
    **** terrible. I've been looking forward to this but in the end it's just the worst series I've ever watched. It has no logical aspect, it seems like all the characters there are kind of immune to intelligence, like seriously [SPOILER ALERT] if you would be spitting blood, losing your genitals and hair wouldn't you **** run to the hospital or something? Like what the **** and don't tell**** terrible. I've been looking forward to this but in the end it's just the worst series I've ever watched. It has no logical aspect, it seems like all the characters there are kind of immune to intelligence, like seriously [SPOILER ALERT] if you would be spitting blood, losing your genitals and hair wouldn't you **** run to the hospital or something? Like what the **** and don't tell it's the voice thats telling them not to do so, all 3 or 4 of these survivers from the plane seemed not to be possesed at the beginning and they've been spitting blood... and not just that this women that found her man chained in the shack is **** mentally challanged.... ah look, the movie isn't worth any second of your life so don't waste time with it.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best TV Season of 2014
12
#12 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
7
#7 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 38
  3. Negative: 2 out of 38
  1. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Emily Nussbaum
    Aug 7, 2014
    70
    he series doesn’t have the best pacing, or the best dialogue (“Well, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, we’re going to the morgue”), and in some areas it doesn’t even try: never has a show set in New York but filmed in Toronto felt more like a show set in New York but filmed in Toronto. (When Astoria appeared, full of burning garbage cans, all of Queens raised its eyebrows.) And yet the show overflows with greasy satisfactions, simply because it commits so fully to its own goofiness.
    Read full review
  2. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Jul 14, 2014
    80
    Ominous, creepy and utterly engaging, The Strain is like the perfect drive-in movie.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Cynthia Fuchs
    Jul 14, 2014
    80
    The series takes some time to put this team together, even in the same area of New York. And while you’re waiting for that plot turn, you’re treated to a series of lurid images, from yucky to jolting.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »