The Strain Infection to Spread to Season 2 in 2015 

It’s official folks! Season 2 of FX’s The Strain is a go! Of course, I never really had any doubt that it would happen, but it is nice to finally see it in black and white.

FX has ordered a 13-episode second season of its newest hit drama series The Strain from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse. It was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions. Season 2 of The Strain is scheduled to debut in the summer of 2015. There are seven all-new episodes remaining in Season 1 airing Sundays at 10/9c on FX.

The Strain marks the first time FX has aired an original series on Sunday night and the move has shown its mettle, ranking as the #1 new series on cable (broadcast or premium) in 2014 in delivery of Adults 18-49. The series also recorded the most-watched series premiere in FX history with 12.7 million Total Viewers, which surpassed the network’s initial projection of 10 million Total Viewers. The Strain is the first drama series produced solely by FXP (FX Productions).

Due to the popularity of the show, Fox Home Entertainment will release Season 1 of The Strain on DVD and Blu-rayâ„¢ everywhere on December 2.

“We’ve never had any doubts about The Strain,” said John Landgraf. “Working with Guillermo del Toro, Carlton Cuse and the brilliant cast led by Corey Stoll has been everything we had hoped it would be and more. It is thrilling when you have a show that is a creative and commercial hit, which is a rare accomplishment in this increasingly crowded marketplace. We look forward having it on FX for as long as Carlton, Guillermo and Chuck Hogan need to tell this epic tale.”

On a weekly basis, the critically acclaimed series is averaging 11 million Total Viewers and 5.2 million Adults 18-49 inclusive of VOD and online viewing (most current and will increase with the accumulation of more data).  On a first-run only Live+7 basis, the series is averaging 4.5 million Total Viewers and 2.6 million Adults 18-49. The Strain’s 1.2 million Adults 18-34 (first-run L+7) places it in a tie for the top spot in that demo among all new cable series to launch in 2014.

“I am thrilled! Another season to spread the virus!” said del Toro, who directed the pilot and co-wrote the best-selling books The Strain with Chuck Hogan. “Working with Carlton, Chuck and FX has been immensely rewarding and we have such sights to unveil in the upcoming episodes—the blood hits the fan on this one, mankind becomes an endangered species.”

Cuse said, “It’s been immensely satisfying over the last year-and-a-half to work with the incredible team at FX, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan to bring The Strain to life. I am grateful for all the blood, sweat and tears (but mostly blood) given to the project by all involved and I could not be more excited to continue telling this epic story.”

The first six episodes of The Strain are currently available on FX’s VOD platform FXNOW for authenticated subscribers of the network and future episodes will be available after they air on FX.

In next week’s, “For Services Rendered” (airs this Sunday, August 24 at 10/9c), 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.

You can check out my review of Sunday’s episode “Occultation,” by clicking here.