'The Strain' Season 2 release date, plot spoilers: The Master introduces a new breed of creatures

Viewers are on tenterhooks waiting for the premiere episode of the horror drama series "The Strain" and the looming fight between Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) and the Master (Robert Maillet) on July 12.

TV Guide reveals that in Season 2, the head of the CDC team and his closest ally will attempt to create a biological weapon that can kill the strigoi while the Master introduces a new breed of creatures and taps Eph's estranged wife Kelly (Natalie Goodweather) to control them. However, Professor Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley) will put the entire group in peril while searching for an ancient text.

The first season followed Eph and Nora searching for a cure to the deadly vampire plague spreading across New York City. Joining their crusade to defeat the ancient evil were Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley), a retired vampire hunter, and Vasiliy Fet (Kevin Durand), a rat exterminator. They must battle with the Master and his minions, including the undead vampire acolyte Thomas Eichorst (Richard Sammel).

Executive producers Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse told Wetpaint that the second chapter of the FX hit series would be much darker than Season 1, starting with the "progressing dissolution of society."

"We're actually showing the demise of the city as a result of this apocalyptic event," Carlton said.

The showrunners also touched on Eph's character and what he was and would be going through on the show.

"He's lost his wife first through divorce and then to vampirism, he's struggling to forge a relationship with his kid, his relationship with Nora is kind of on the rocks. There's a lot of stress, and I think this is both a way to show the cost and consequences of everything that's going on on a character level."

As for his estranged wife Kelly, who turned into a dangerous antagonist, this was what the EPs had to say. 

"Kelly becomes a sentient vampire in this season and tries to use deception as a way to get Zach. She's really a major force of opposition in the course of the season. She's relentless in her pursuit of Zach, and that's a big part of the narrative this year."

Season 2 of "The Strain" premieres at 10 p.m. Sunday on FX.

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