The Strain

:

Season 2
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 13, 2014
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 86
  3. Negative: 10 out of 86
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User Reviews

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  1. FlyYouFools
    Jul 27, 2015
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm astonished at how many 10's this show is getting. I mean, how do you people get past the numerous plot holes, bad acting, terrible script, confusing flashbacks,and uninteresting characters. I really want to love and invest myself into the world of The Strain like my sister did but i'm sorry just cannot, too many stupid decisions and lazy writing to do so.

    But first let's look at what the show has working in its favor. I really like Satrakian as a character and an actor, i know there have been better characters but he is pretty damned good. Eldridge Palmer is also pretty cool and well acted. He plays the elderly billionaire pretty well. , and Eichorst (i think thats how you spell it) the master's Lieutenant is also pretty cool. The first 2 episodes were great and drew me in to the universe,and the rebel vampires (though they died last night) are great.
    but then i quickly discovered all its flaws every other episode.

    The plot is like Swiss cheese, plain and simple. there are so many questions left unanswered such as: Where did the rebel vampires come from, why did they turn against their own kind, Why is Palmer helping the vampires, How exactly did the council woman "clear the streets" of vampires in Staten Island, How did the master come about (that flashback didnt explain much why didnt he just become a normal vampire then?), why didnt the master die in the sunlight? all Satrakian said about that was, "we lost" what? why?
    Also why is Palmer so content with protecting miss Marchant, why did he hire her if he doesent want her in harms way? Why do you take your kid vampire hunting?? Like really??

    The acting is mostly ok but i mean these lines are stupid with no thought put into the script at all. Zack is the most annoying, useless, stupid character of 2015, it dosen't help that the actor is horrid. In concept his cahracter is supposed to be a kid who is frightened, frustrated and depressed at the same time, which will cause him to have random outbursts of anger, which does sound good. But the execution is awful, he just comes off as a little prick who's goal is to get everyone killed. The rat guy and hacker chick's romance is so forced , they have nothing in common, why does he love her when she is partly responsible for the apocalypse? and Nora is... ok i guess? and Ephraim is an alcoholic who's relapsing after the start of the apocalypse which is effecting his ability to be a father, but can somehow find the cure to the disease in like a day. So as you can see, none of the characters are memorable enough to give a damn about

    I only ever remember this is on every Sunday night because my sister reminds me, but i'll keep watching because like i said i really want to love this show.    … Expand
  2. Betsy
    Jul 14, 2015
    0
    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...and the only reason I'm still watching is that I'm hoping the dialogue and the acting will get better.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...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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jeff Jensen
    Jul 20, 2015
    67
    The Strain knows how to to gross. It needs to get better at the engrossing part. [24 Jul 2015, p.50]
  2. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Cynthia Fuchs
    Jul 14, 2015
    70
    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.
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  3. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Jul 13, 2015
    60
    The Strain continues to rely too much on action and not enough on compelling character development. The uneven results are entertaining but hardly infectious.
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