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Season 1 – BrainDead

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – BrainDead Jun 2016 Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
65% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Laurel knows the U.S. governmental system has its issues, but when she starts her first job on Capitol Hill, she quickly learns things are much further gone than she realized. Washington, D.C., has been invaded by aliens that have come to Earth and are dining on the the brains of a growing number of Congressmen and staffers, bringing operations to a standstill, and it's up to her to figure out what exactly is going on and stop it. Among those helping Laurel are Rochelle, a medical resident who lost her father to a mysterious infection, and Gareth, a Republican senator's smart and hard-working Legislative Director.

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BrainDead — Season 1

BrainDead — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

While admittedly uneven, BrainDead remains a charmingly idealistic sign of the political times.

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Critics Reviews

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Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald Mar 28, 2018
Why does their show bring neither laughs nor scares, just the odd bit of listless splatter? And why would you bother watching this when you could be enjoying the more insightful and infinitely funnier Alpha House or Veep? Puzzlers indeed. Go to Full Review Alison Herman The Ringer Aug 14, 2017
BrainDead has the feeling of two well-respected creative minds putting almost a decade of accumulated goodwill to use. Go to Full Review Megan Garber The Atlantic Jul 22, 2016
BrainDead never, in its execution, gives the impression that it truly groks the political system it mocks... never blends them deftly enough to suggest the deep knowledge that is required to make satire truly scathing. Go to Full Review Stephanie Cooke Rogues Portal Aug 21, 2018
If you're a fan of James Gunn's hilariously fantastic horror flick, Slither, you'll absolutely enjoy what's in store for you with BrainDead. Go to Full Review Diane Pershing Malibu Times Mar 9, 2017
If you haven't already, give BrainDead a chance. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Seanax.com Feb 15, 2017
While the satire never cuts deeply, it is scarily effective how close their cartoonish outlandishness matches recent history, and frankly this show's science fiction explanation is more satisfying than the messy truth of our own broken government. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 13, 2025 13 funny episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated TV-14 for Intensely Suggestive Dialogue (D) and Strong Coarse Language (L)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Michael D @MikeD1234 Jan 30, 2025 I don't understand why so many people don't like the show. Let me say this: if you reside in the US and you are very interested in politics and pay attention to what's going on (really as any citizen worth their salt should be doing), you will absolutely love this show and find it funny as hell and maybe, just maybe, an explanation of our current troubles (just/k... probably... :). It's well worth the $18 to rent the entire series. See more chkn m @RT61801964 Dec 12, 2024 As a person who doesn't know anything about politics and isn't even from the US, I did not expect this show to be this good, i watched for Mary Winstead but stayed for the storyline See more jeff g @RT78762849 Aug 6, 2022 it is different, but interesting See more chris t @Mr.Chris Jul 21, 2022 Perfectly describes an alternate (?) description of History at the end of 2016. Who knows? See more Apr 14, 2021 This show should've never been cancelled. Gripping AF. Not for conservatives. See more Read all reviews
BrainDead — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Laurel Healy

Danny Pino

Luke Healy

Aaron Tveit

Gareth Ritter

Tony Shalhoub

Red Wheatus

Nikki M. James

Rochelle Daudier

Johnny Ray Gill

Gustav Triplett

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 13, 2016 The Insanity Principle: How Extremism In Politics Is Threatening Democracy in the 21st Century When Laurel returns to Washington, D.C., to work for her brother, Sen. Luke Healy, she discovers that budgetary disagreements have halted the government, and mysterious bugs are consuming the brains of Congress members and Capitol Hill staffers. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 20, 2016 Playing Politics: Living Life in the Shadow of the Budget Showdown--A Critique Laurel continues her investigation of Dr. Daudier's death, while more citizens are infected by the bugs; Dr. Daudier's daughter and Gustav Triplette begin to question what is happening. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 27, 2016 Goring Oxes: How You Can Survive the War on Government Through Five Easy Steps Agent Onofrio's investigation of a deadly incident on live TV causes Laurel, Gustav and Rochelle to delve deeper into the bug mystery; Luke tries to hide his affair with Scarlett. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 11, 2016 Wake Up Grassroots: The Nine Virtues of Participatory Democracy, and How We Can Keep America Great by Encouraging an Informed Electorate Lauren and Rochelle push Abby to get an MRI to help uncover the cause of the strange behavior taking over D.C.; Luke tries to make a secret deal with the Republicans to reopen the government. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 24, 2016 Back to Work: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Congress and How It Gets Things Done (and Often Doesn't) Laurel asks Luke to help persuade the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the bugs, but Luke wants Laurel to first consult a leading entomologist (Margo Martindale); Laurel and Anthony's relationship takes a drastic turn. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 31, 2016 Notes Toward a Post-Reagan Theory of Party Alliance, Tribalist, and Loyalty: Past as Prologue Laurel and Gareth are drawn closer together as the bugs continue to take over Washington, D.C.; when the CDC has its funding cut, Luke tries to reach a compromise. Details Episode 7 Aired Aug 7, 2016 The Power of Euphemism: How Torture Became a Matter of Debate in American Politics Laurel is scrutinized over her possible involvement with the bug infestation; Gustav and Rochelle find a way to communicate with those infected by the bugs. Details Episode 8 Aired Aug 14, 2016 The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm Rochelle and Gustav question a suspect whom they believe to be infected; Luke and Red face off in a Senate Intelligence meeting. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 21, 2016 Taking on Water: How Leaks in D.C. Are Discovered and Patched Sen. Wheatus hires an investigator to dig into the Healy family's history; Gareth gets some information about Laurel's romantic past, which puts a strain on their new relationship. Details Episode 10 Aired Aug 28, 2016 The Path to War Part Two: The Impact of Propaganda on Congressional War Votes Laurel works with an old boyfriend to help Luke create a political documentary to support his anti-war initiative; Laurel has concerns about Germaine and Luke's baby. Details Episode 11 Aired Sep 4, 2016 Six Points on the New Congressional Budget: The False Dichotomy of Austerity vs. Expansionary Policies Luke and Laura race to find Red's secret agenda, hidden in a massive new budget bill; Gareth accidentally witnesses an alarming bug encounter at Red's office. Details Episode 12 Aired Sep 11, 2016 Talking Points Toward a Wholistic View of Activism in Government: Can the Top Rebel? Laurel asks for Luke's help when she finds out that a Senate bill is not what it appears to be; Red and Ella fight for control of the bug agenda; Laurel considers whether she should leave Washington, D.C. for good. Details Episode 13 Aired Sep 11, 2016 The End of All We Hold Dear: What Happens when Democracies Fail: A Brief Synopsis Laurel finds the secret to forcing the bugs out of a person's brain and tests her theory on her father; Laurel and Gareth try to remove the queen bug from Red's head. Details

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BrainDead — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Brooke Kennedy, Jim McKay, Allan Arkush, Frederick E.O. Toye, Felix Alcala, Robert King
Executive Producer
Robert King, Michelle King, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Brooke Kennedy, Liz Glotzer
Screenwriter
Jonathan Tolins, Jacquelyn Reingold, Lawrence Kaplow, Aurin Squire, Peter Parnell, Robert King, Laura Marks, Michelle King
Network
CBS
Rating
TV-14 (L|V)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 13, 2016
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