The Strain

A Boeing 777 from Berlin lands at JFK and stops on the tarmac, dark and silent. Inside, the CDC's Canary team, led by Eph Goodweather and Nora Martinez, finds the passengers dead, parasitic worms and four survivors. Pawnbroker Abraham Setrakian knows what arrived: a coffin that should never have left the airport. Billionaire Eldritch Palmer and Thomas Eichhorst help the Master spread the plague. Setrakian's team grows with Eph, Nora and exterminator Vasiliy Fet. Eph's ex-wife Kelly is turned. In the end, Eph and Setrakian drive the Master into sunlight. He comes out burned but escapes. Eph shoots Kelly, who runs, and the Ancients recruit Gus to kill the Master.

1. Behind the scenesMeant to be a show all along

   In 2006, del Toro pitched the story to Fox as a TV show. Talks died when the network head asked for a comedy. An agent suggested turning it into novels instead.

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2. Behind the scenesJohn Hurt was the first Setrakian

   John Hurt was cast as Setrakian but dropped out. David Bradley took over, and his scenes were reshot.

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3. CameoSam goes rogue

   Sean Astin plays Jim Kent because del Toro and Cuse thought it would be funny to make the most famous sidekick ever a traitor.

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4. SetupEph's hairpiece

   Corey Stoll wears a hairpiece in S1. Del Toro said in 2014 that Eph's look would change later, for a story reason.

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