The worst episodes of The Strain
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
With Nora gone, Eph reluctantly joins Setrakian's quest in hopes of gathering enough evidence to warrant a citywide quarantine. Fet encounters the unexpected inside the subway tunnels. A medical emergency threatens Palmer's master plan.
- 02
The four survivors begin manifesting strange symptoms, but Eph and Nora's attempt to quarantine them is thwarted as the disinformation campaign begins. Setrakian receives a surprise visit from an old – a very old – acquaintance.
- 03
Eph and Nora fight to save Captain Redfern's life before coming face-to-face with the horrifying effects of the virus. A spike in rat attacks signals Fet that something inexplicable is happening deep below the city. Released from jail, Setrakian begins his own merciless plan to stop the spread of the disease.
- 04
A secret autopsy demonstrates the bizarre progression of the mystery virus, prompting Jim to make a startling confession. Eph and Nora race to find the father of the youngest victim of the plane tragedy, but someone unexpected beats them to it. Ansel, in the grip of disease, takes desperate measures to protect his family.
- 05
After warning Kelly to leave the city with Zack ahead of the spreading plague, Eph is arrested by the FBI. Eichhorst has one final job for Gus. Setrakian realizes that the coming eclipse is the tipping point for virus infection and the beginning of the end
- 06
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
- 07
Eph investigates Kelly's disappearance and struggles with what he finds. Dutch pursues a plan to retaliate against Palmer. Fitzwilliam makes a surprising choice.
- 08
Eph and Fet recon for an all-out assault that Setrakian assures them will finally kill the Master. Gus aligns himself with a strange new force, one that may swing the fight in an unforeseen direction.
- 09
Eph and Nora experiment on their newfound patients. Fet and Dutch grow closer as they clear out the neighborhood buildings, and Kelly begins her hunt for Zack.
- 10
Gus and Vaun wage an attack on Palmer as Eph struggles to connect with Zack. Councilwoman Justine Faraldo vows to bring her extermination policies to the other boroughs.
- 11
Eph and Nora finally see their lethal virus in action. Fet takes the security of Red Hook into his own hands while Dutch and Setrakian set off for Staten Island to question Fitzwilliam, Palmer's former bodyguard.
- 12
Setrakian, Eph and Nora formulate a plan to track down the Master using Jim as bait. Eichhorst and Setrakian's pasts are revealed. At the Luss home, Neeva struggles to protect the children while encountering a mysterious stranger whose help she may not want.
- 13
Eph races to safeguard his family, only to learn that Kelly is missing. Dutch reveals her role in Palmer's plan. Gus is forced to make a difficult decision about Felix.
- 14
Setrakian leads Eph, Fet and Nora in the hunt for the Master's lair. Left behind at the pawnshop with Mariela, Zack risks his safety for Mariela's sake.
- 15
Setrakian risks the lives of the entire group to find information about a closely guarded secret text. The Master begins the next phase of his own plan by creating a terrifying new breed of creature and placing them under Kelly's control.
- 16
Eph concocts a plan to make and distribute a bioweapon. Gus realizes Angel can be an unlikely ally, and Kelly comes after Nora and Zack.
- 17
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.
- 18
Dutch returns with a plan to broadcast Eph's warning about the vampiric plague, but they face a new threat when Eichhorst launches his own attack against the pawn shop. Palmer receives a special visitor. Gus gears up for the on-coming fight but discovers there's another mysterious factor involved.
- 19
Eph changes his appearance to leave the city while Nora is left as the reluctant parent for Zack. Dutch and Nora make a deal with Justine to secure Fet's release from jail.
- 20
Setrakian and Fet use Fitzwilliam's info to attack the Master, but a mysterious new player arrives. Dutch receives a surprise guest. Eph returns to NYC frustrated but energized to go after the one person responsible for killing his friends.
- 21
Eph must protect Zack against a surprise intruder into Red Hook. Gus convinces the Guptas to make a difficult choice. Fet and Setrakian set out to acquire the Lumen but discover they are not the only potential buyer.
- 22
Eph makes arrangements to get the bioweapon to Justine, in return for travel permits to get Zack to his grandparents. Meanwhile, Eichhorst warns Eldritch that the white's effects are temporary, and Gus and Angel travel to Rikers to get a new attack squad for Quinlan.
- 23
While Vasiliy and Quinlan try to obtain a nuclear warhead, Eph leads a strike against the strigoi in Philadelphia... alerting the Master and Eichhorst to his presence. Meanwhile, Zack makes a new friend.
- 24
Roman takes the others to meet with an old friend who can provide them with a plane and get the warhead to New York. Meanwhile, Zack learns a painful lesson about love.
- 25
Justine takes drastic measures to counter a surprise invasion. Nora and Fet perform a useful mission while Eph and Setrakian face off against an old foe.
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