The essential episodes of The Strain
Watch these 15 in order and you've got The Strain — each pick states its reason.
- 01
When a plane lands in New York City with everyone on board dead, Dr. Ephraim 'Eph' Goodweather, head of the CDC's Canary Project, and his team are called upon to investigate. What looks at first like a mysterious viral outbreak might be the beginning of something infinitely more sinister
- 02
After discovering the potency of ultraviolet light against the strigoi, Setrakian gains a new and unlikely disciple. A quick trip to a Brooklyn convenience store turns into a deadly all-night siege.
- 03
Dutch helps Eph attempt to assassinate Eldritch. Meanwhile, Abraham, Vasiliy, and Nora search for Rudyard Fonescu and the Lumen, while Justine tells the Upper East Siders the price they have to pay for her help.
- 04
While Eph and Nora take Zack to the boy's grandparents, Abraham and Vasiliy prepare to bid for the Lumen against Eichhorst. Meanwhile, Quinlan and his Day-Hunters make their move.
- 05
Vasiliy aids Navy SEALs trying to track down the Master, while Abraham and Quinlan try to translate the Lumen. Meanwhile, Eph returns to his home in the hopes that Zack will somehow make his way there, but Kelly arrives to make Eph an offer.
- 06
Eph approaches Abraham to find out what the Lumen tells about the Master's weaknesses, and Quinlan suspects treachery. Meanwhile, Kelly tends to her captive son and arranges his introduction to the Master. And a desperate Eldritch offers Abraham a deal in return for the secret of the white.
- 07
Eph helps Quinlan steal the Lumen to draw the Master out. While Abraham and Vasiliy close in on their prey, Quinlan reviews how he came to be. Meanwhile, Gus convinces Angel to help him get Guadalupe to safety.
- 08
While Abraham and Quinlan search the Lumen for a way to defeat the Master, Abraham recalls his encounter with another strigoi in Amsterdam in 1972. Meanwhile, Eph and Dutch try to find a way to stop the strigoi from communicating, and Vasiliy discovers the new plan that the creatures are up to.
- 09
Justine and her people launch a desperate attack on the strigoi nest below Central Park. Vasiliy takes an insertion team in, while the city has the convict teams sweep the tunnels. Meanwhile, Dutch and Eph try to hack the strigoi communication network, and discover that Zack is still alive.
- 10
Abraham and Vasiliy continue their hunt for the Old World Ancient. Meanwhile, Quinlan tells the Ancients about Abraham's plan, and Eph is forced to nurse Dutch back to health after her exposure to the Master's voice.
- 11
With the strigoi ready to overrun the city, Vasiliy warns Dutch and Eph to get out. Meanwhile, Gus and Angel try to leave the city but run into Justine, and Eichhorst tracks down the cargo from the Aurora Cutlass.
- 12
It's the final showdown as the team tries to capture the Master and place him in the box. However, the fate of humanity lies in one boy's hands.
- 13
Nine months after the warhead detonated in New York, the strigoi have formed a "partnership" with the humans, offering free medical care in return for blood donations. Eph is in Philadelphia trying to make a life for himself on the fringes, while Vasily and Quinlan try to acquire a nuclear warhead. Meanwhile, the Master plans to raise Zack as his next host body.
- 14
Eph reunites with Abraham and Dutch, bringing Alex along with him. His health failing, Setrakian ignores Eph's warnings, pushing himself to the limit in his quest for victory and revenge. Fet and Quinlan race back to Manhattan. Meanwhile, Gus decides to help the resistance, but Creem goes to the Master with valuable information. Later, the Master seals off the city and prepares to eliminate them all.
- 15
The team is forced to retreat, and Quinlan and Vasily come up with a plan to use the nuke to destroy the Master once and for all.
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