Pilot Review: The Strain

The Strain (FX)
Premiered July 13 at 10pm

After seeing a photo of an up-close eye on a sidewalk advertisement for weeks, I wasn’t anticipating this show very much, especially because it seemed like it skewed a bit too close to horror for me. Perhaps that lack of excitement was why I did actually enjoy this first extended episode. I’ve watched other shows about the outbreak of a virus in the past – most recently “Helix,” which I didn’t find particularly interesting – and it’s always hard to find a balance between the gravity of some unknown pathogen seeping its way into society and the inevitable way in which people dismiss serious concerns or clues that seem crazy at the same time. That scene in which Dr. Ephram Goodweather laughs off what appear the rantings of a senile old man was right-on, so foolish in concept but so likely in execution. I’m not suggesting that the writing is superb here, because at times it can be a bit much, but there is a decent storyline going on with Ephram’s complicated family life and his sexual history with his partner, Dr. Nora Martinez. At first, I almost didn’t recognize Corey Stoll, who was last seen on “House of Cards,” mainly because Ephram displays such a sense of self-confidence that his last character didn’t have. I remember Mia Maestro, who plays Nora, from her days on “Alias,” and she seems competent enough for her role. The other familiar face in the cast is Sean Astin, originally big as a hobbit and far better here than he was on his one-season arc in “24.” I’m not sure exactly where the show goes from here, but it’s clear there are many competing interests at play and few of them seem to be for the true good of the world. I think I’d like the show a bit more if the virus didn’t manifest itself in such a physical, demonic way with the hooded monster (apparently it has something to do with vampires), but I suppose it’s not that bad. An eerie thriller that’s not too creepy or downright scary is just fine in my book.

How will it work as a series? Dead people are coming back to life, and they’re definitely possessed! One villain suggested walking the streets of New York City one last time before everything changes, so I suspect things are just going to get worse as time goes on, which could certainly be enthralling.
How long will it last? The premiere numbers were great, and FX hasn’t really tried Sunday nights too much before, so that’s a very good thing. Besting the network’s other recent series debuts bodes very well, and I can’t see why FX wouldn’t want to capitalize on this success.

Pilot grade: B