The Strain: Season 2

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 86 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 86 Ratings

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The Strain

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Season Details & Credits

FX | Season Premiere Date: July 12, 2015

Starring: Mía Maestro, David Bradley, Corey Stoll

Summary: The virus has reached epidemic levels in season two as the Master seeks revenge. Eph (Corey Stoll) and Dr. Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) work on a weapon to destroy the creatures, while Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley) searches for a book that may hold the secrets to ending the infected.

Creator: Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

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

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Season 2 Episodes

tbd
S2:E13. Night Train
Air Date: October 4, 2015
tbd
S2:E12. Fallen Light
Air Date: September 27, 2015
tbd
S2:E11. Dead End
Air Date: September 20, 2015

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Metascore

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Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Brian Lowry

Jul 9, 2015

Having settled on a solid core of players after some casualties along the way, the show forges ahead with a strong sense of momentum and vision, as well as an intricate mythology that connects the ancient evil of the series’ vampire race, the strigoi, to the past. Read full review

Mike Hale

Jul 10, 2015

Some of the situations--the tension between Eph and his son, Zach (Max Charles, replacing Ben Hyland); a new romance between Vasiliy and Dutch--are dull plot stretchers, setting up future crises and filling time until the story lines mesh. Or so we can hope. Meanwhile, the show still gets the tone mostly right and offers consistent pleasure in its details. Read full review

Cynthia Fuchs

Jul 14, 2015

The Strain reifies its connections between political and melodramatic themes with the gory action for which the series is best known--the monsters’ neck-piercing six-foot tongues, the silver bullets’ exploding effects--in kitschy evidence during the battle against that takes up the bulk of the storage facility scene. Read full review

Jeff Jensen

Jul 20, 2015

The Strain knows how to to gross. It needs to get better at the engrossing part. [24 Jul 2015, p.50]

Mark Dawidziak

Jul 13, 2015

The Strain continues to rely too much on action and not enough on compelling character development. The uneven results are entertaining but hardly infectious. Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Jul 9, 2015

It’s too dour and grim sometimes, and other times too blithe and safe. Read full review

Tirdad Derakhshani

Jul 13, 2015

The Strain has a single narrative line stretching across both seasons, but it is composed of numerous subplots that are fed to us in really brief dribs and drabs. It lacks the epic weight and scope such an ambitious premise needs. Read full review

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User Score

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7.3

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User Reviews

tpotz

Jul 17, 2015

LOVE this show!! It has it all.....engaging characters, new twist on vampire lore, plenty of "edge of your seat" moments. Successfully marries biological research with new vampire elements and political activity for a new fresh feel that keeps you coming back for more. Each character isLOVE this show!! It has it all.....engaging characters, new twist on vampire lore, plenty of "edge of your seat" moments. Successfully marries biological research with new vampire elements and political activity for a new fresh feel that keeps you coming back for more. Each character is strongly developed in ways that make you really care what happens to each of them. Young Zack has been re-cast...ok with that, but please don't re-cast anyone else. Hope to see many seasons of this one.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

spartacus215

Aug 26, 2016

I will start off by saying that I just recently binge-watched Seasons One and Two within roughly a two week time span and I absolutely love the show. P.S This is a review for both seasons 1&2. The story takes place in present day New York spanning most of the five boroughs and it's about aI will start off by saying that I just recently binge-watched Seasons One and Two within roughly a two week time span and I absolutely love the show. P.S This is a review for both seasons 1&2. The story takes place in present day New York spanning most of the five boroughs and it's about a Vampire Plague that starts to ravage NY. The story is wonderfully executed as it does take time for the infection to spread and they don't rush that at all which I admire. The story overall is excellent especially with all the intricate and minor details that are shared and the flashbacks of key characters. The acting is remarkable for what the premise is at hand and usually one person stands out to me in a show but here there were a good three to five people that were Awesome. I mean you have Abraham,Fet, Eph and even the villain Eichorst were Superb. The actors really sell it on screen. The action is dope with the blood and gore effects being top-notch. The action scenes in S1 are cool and in S2 they are crazy and in S3 they look to be Insane. The action will not leave you disappointed at all and will leave you wanting more of it. The cinematography was executed perfectly with everything feeling in the place that it should. I will close by saying that if you have not watched this Phenomenal show yet then you're missing out especially since S3 airs this Sunday on 8/28/2016. Watch it on HULU or buy it either way please support it. Take Care.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NShep53

Jul 16, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The zany show "The Strain" is back and better than ever.

Taking places soon after the Master got away last season, things are a slow build in the first episode of the second season. This doesn't mean it is boring however. Abraham, Eph and the crew are on their separate ways for most the of episode and all the storylines are just as interesting as last season. If you haven't seen the Strain yet, catch up by watching the first season.

With an awesome introduction to the Master, Abraham on the hunt and Eph and Nora trying to find a cure, things are definitely rolling on the Strain. I can't wait to see what happen next and to see what is up with Eph's wife and the feelers!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

brentwshelton1

Sep 11, 2015

I was torn between rating this Season a 6 and a 7 even though I am liking this season a bit more than the first. Ultimately, I decided on the 6 because the story is progressing well and the villains (both human and non-human) have been pretty well established but still able to throw inI was torn between rating this Season a 6 and a 7 even though I am liking this season a bit more than the first. Ultimately, I decided on the 6 because the story is progressing well and the villains (both human and non-human) have been pretty well established but still able to throw in some new twists like the addition of Ephs (now vampire) wife and the spider/bind child posse she controls as being more of a factor to look out for than just the Master. The down side is: (a) I cannot stand the child actor that is the new replacement for Eph's son. He seems to be capable of only one facial expression which is a combination of "Yeah, I'm a super cool kid actor acting rebellious and whiny. I can barely tolerate the (blessedly few and brief) times he has dialogue….and (b) Ephs "alcoholism" is an unnecessary, trite, and distracting prop addition since it seems primarily to consist of the camera focusing on him dramatically drinking (e.g. as he cuts his hair, sits on a train, etc) but it never amounts to more than that more. Trust me, I know this show will never fall into a "must see" category - only the guilty pleasure one but given all of that - I am glad its been renewed for a 3rd season (just please please please replace the kid!)… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

imthenoob

Jan 14, 2016

Lack of story/character progression is a big flaw in this season. 13 episodes and it feels like they didn't go any where with the plot. The story could have been told in 5 episodes and was dragged on for 13. For some reason, It's a big drop off from season 1 and it's disappointing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

movingpictures

May 24, 2020

Review for Season 2: The Strain very quickly turned to absolute garbage after the end of Season 1. It's mainly the writers' and the directors' fault. Most of the actors did the best they could with what they were given. And the special effects were still okay though not as good asReview for Season 2: The Strain very quickly turned to absolute garbage after the end of Season 1. It's mainly the writers' and the directors' fault. Most of the actors did the best they could with what they were given. And the special effects were still okay though not as good as Season 1. It's truly the story that took a turn for the worst. And it was impossible to care about anyone when their choices become so unbelievable. But the most grating part was the new actor for the boy, Zach, who the writers and directors chose to let play the most annoying character imaginable. I almost didn't finish this season. And I certainly won't be wasting my time on Season 3 or 4. Such a shame when Season 1 was such a promising beginning.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Betsy

Jul 14, 2015

After thoroughly enjoying the books a couple of years ago as well as del Toro's masterpiece, "Pan's Labyrinth", I was delighted to see The Strain was coming to FX. I was fully confident that it would meet the high standards of storytelling I've come to expect from del Toro and Hogan...andAfter thoroughly enjoying the books a couple of years ago as well as del Toro's masterpiece, "Pan's Labyrinth", I was delighted to see The Strain was coming to FX. I was fully confident that it would meet the high standards of storytelling I've come to expect from del Toro and Hogan...and the only reason I'm still watching is that I'm hoping the dialogue and the acting will get better. From what I've seen after episode 1 of the 2nd season, I have my doubts.
It's no Walking Dead...nor did I expect it to be. But from such talented and creative people I should expect more than those old saws of horror dialogue like "...in the name of all that is holy..." and "behold..." whatever is being beholden by the beholder.
Frankly, the acting is pretty lame. In all fairness though, I can't blame the actors...they're just doing what is required of them by the director. A lot of my good tv-watching experience is caring about the different personalities in a story, but there isn't enough visceral character development to make me give a rat's ass about any of these people. They're almost on autopilot. Setrakian is a Strigoi-hating robot with no other way to relate to others...that gets really boring.
And will someone please tell me why New York City is still functioning (with a little fire here and there) while this vampire apocalypse is going on in front of them?
I really wanted to like The Strain...but I can't. Ok...I'll just say it. It sucks.… Expand

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

70

Series Overview
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  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
- tbd
  S2:E13. Night Train
  Air Date: October 4, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E12. Fallen Light
  Air Date: September 27, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E11. Dead End
  Air Date: September 20, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E10. The Assassin
  Air Date: September 13, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E9. The Battle for Red Hook
  Air Date: September 6, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E8. Intruders
  Air Date: August 30, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E7. The Born
  Air Date: August 23, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E6. Identity
  Air Date: August 16, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E5. Quick and Painless
  Air Date: August 9, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E4. The Silver Angel
  Air Date: August 2, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E3. Fort Defiance
  Air Date: July 26, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E2. By Any Means
  Air Date: July 19, 2015
- tbd
  S2:E1. BK, NY
  Air Date: July 12, 2015
Season 1

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