‘The Strain’ Cast and Producers Talk Escalating War In Season 3

Season 3 of The Strain picks up only two short weeks after the shocking events of last season’s finale, but the battle lines in the war to take control of the world have already shifted in a big way.

“There’s no denying that the evil strigoi are here and that they want to rule,” says executive producer Carlton Cuse of the bloodsuckers. “Everyone’s now on war footing, and the question is: Can the humans fight them off and take back control of New York City?”

That will be tough, considering the strigoi seem to be smarter than anyone anticipated. “They have gotten a lot craftier,” Cuse warns. “They’re able to adapt, and they’ve become much better at figuring out how to counteract the human group [fighting them].”

That adapting is what excites Natalie Brown, who plays Kelly Goodweather, since her strigoi character may be coming into her own as she acclimates to the changes since she turned from human to vamp. “In some ways things are taken away but you are also gaining extraordinary new abilities,” she says. “There are limitations but there are also extraordinary possibilities that are worth experimenting or exploring.”

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But who will lead the resistance against the savvy strigoi? CDC scientist Ephraim (Corey Stoll) has been busy hitting the bottle hard after his girlfriend’s death and his young son joined mother Kelly in last season’s finale. “We’re definitely not advocating alcoholism,” cocreator Chuck Hogan says with a laugh, “but some people go to it not for self-destructive reasons but for coping reasons.”

While strigoi leader the Master (Jack Kesy) is still very much the main threat, our heroes will also have to go up against villainous acolyte Eichhorst (Richard Sammel). “Eichhorst will be really significant,” Cuse teases, adding that if you’re a fan of ally Mr. Quinlan (Rupert Penry-Jones), you’re in luck this season. “We learn a ton more about Quinlan, our half-human, half-vampire creature.”

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Just because things are tough for the humans in the new season, Sammel warns not to think the vamp side won’t have their own challenges. “It’s more threatening for humans and the turning point is close, but a lot of bad things happen also for vampires. So, it’s not only on the human side that things do not go well.”

For our favorite exterminator, Fet, watch for him to get his focus back as the fight to save New York City gets more intense. “I think he feels like he lost a little bit of focus,” says Kevin Durand. “He kind of followed his heart and now it just seems like he is just hyper-focused on just getting this done.” And, yes, watch for more of the bromance between Fet and Setrakian (David Bradley)

Finallly, while the raging war will be the thriller’s primary focus, love and romance will come into play in “interesting ways,” Hogan promises. “Emotionally, there are definitely some surprises with certain characters interacting with each other.” All’s fair in love and war, after all.”

The Strain, Season Premiere, Sunday, August 28, 10/9c, FX