The Strain
Season 2 Episode 4: “The Silver Angel”
Directed by J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro
Written by Chuck Hogan
Created by Chuck Hogan, Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Rita Gedmintas, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet
FX
Air Date: Sunday August 2nd, 2015, 10pm

Last week on The Strain, Gus (Miguel Gomez) and the rebel vamps make a move on Palmer (Jonathan Hyde), but it does not turn out so well for them. Palmer manages to shock and impress Coco (Lizzie Brocheré) at the same time. Bodyguard Bolivar (Jack Kesy) certainly didn’t help. Silly girl, still believes he is good. We find out that Setrakian (David Bradley) makes a worm potion that does not turn him into a vamp, but keeps him alive and strong. Nora (Mia Maestro) manages to get that out of him, but promises not to tell. Eph (Corey Stoll) has his hands full with bratty Zach, who really wants his mommy. Don’t worry Zach, Mommy’ll find you. Eph tries yelling and scaring him, which never works. One win – they manage to infect their male human guinea pig vamp, and plan to set him free to infect more vamps. Staten Island is vampire free.

The Strain
Season 2 Episode 3: “Fort Defiance”
Directed by Guy Ferland
Written by Regina Corrado
Created by Chuck Hogan & Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Rita Gedmintas, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet
FX
Air Date: Sunday July 26th, 2015, 10pm

Last week on The Strain, Eph (Corey Stoll) and Nora (Mia Maestro) get the infected couple to be test subjects for their new vampire virus – one that infects the infected. Newly concious vampire Kelly (Natalie Brown), sets the vampire children sniffing for Zach. Bolivar (Jack Kesy) was also awakened, and is helping Eichorst (Richard Sammel) find a new body for The Master (Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet). Palmer’s (Jonathan Hyde) new assistant, Coco (Lizzie Brocheré), wrote a speech for him which at first seems inappropriate, but riles up the crowd. Somehow though, Setrakian (David Bradley) gets near him. He’s only trying to suss out if he knows where the Occido Lumen is. We are shown the backstory for Palmer and Abraham. Fet (Kevin Durand) and Dutch (Rita Gedmintas) start taking back their block.

The Strain
Season 2 Episode 2: “By Any Means”
Directed by T.J. Scott
Written by David Weddle
Created by Chuck Hogan & Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet
FX
Air Date: Sunday July 19th, 2015, 10pm

Last week on The Strain, we flashback to Abraham Setrakian’s (David Bradley) grandmother telling the story of Sardu the giant, and how he became The Master (gross!). It shows the origin of the cane. Present-day Setrakian is captured by the Ancients, whom Gus (Miguel Gomez) has joined. The “Occido Lumen” is mentioned as an ancient book that might hold the secret to killing The Master (Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet), since sunlight didn’t work. Eichorst (Richard Sammel) gives Kelly (Natalie Brown) back her mental faculties and a bunch of child vampires to command (poor blind children!).

The Strain
Season 2 Episode 1: “Bk, N.Y.”
Directed by Gregory Hoblit & Guillermo del Toro
Written by Carlton Cuse & Chuck Hogan
Created by Chuck Hogan & Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, Robin Atkin Downes
FX
Air Date: Sunday July 12th, 2015, 10pm

The Strain came back yesterday with a 90-minute episode on the same day they hit SDCC 2015! FX’s “Fight or Die” series created by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan was the hit of last summer. Season 1 told the story of the initial outbreak, and was the beginning of the battle between humans and Strigoi. A plane landed at JFK and went dead, literally – no signs of human life, no signs of electricity – nothing. The CDC was called in headed by Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll – House of Cards) and his partner Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro). The entire plane seems dead, but four people were found alive in the jumpiest way possible – the pilot, a rock star, a lawyer, and a husband, all of whom soon show bloodthirsty symptoms. From there the virus spreads.

The Strain had their panel on the last day of San Diego Comic-Con, but don’t worry, there were plenty of fans lined up for them. FX had set up a “Survive The Strain” virtual reality experience, along with the AHS Hotel, and a TBX Forest. The panel included creator Guillermo del Toro who showed 2 tiny prologue clips to fans (one apparently involving getting fed worms – gross!), plus a gag video where Thomas Eichorst (Richard Sammel) turns his dungeon into an Air BnB, and ends up trying to put a crib/playpen together. Besides Sammel, some of the other cast members at the panel were Kevin Durand (Vasiliy Fet), Ruta Gedmintas (Dutch Velders), Miguel Gomez (Augustin ‘Gus’ Elizalde), Natalie Brown (Kelly Goodweather), David Bradley (Abraham Setrakian), and Mia Maestro (Nora Martinez).

Watch the gag video and the tweet that shows how Guillermo del Toro surprised fans below.