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BrainDead(TV show/series, 2016)

FSK: 16+ years
| 45min per episode | Genres: Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Drama, Comedy

Scripted Reality in 1 season with 13 episodes

BrainDeadRating: 3.6/5 (with 81 votes)
BrainDead is an American political satire science fiction comedy-drama television series created by Robert and Michelle King. The series stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Laurel Healy, a documentary film-maker who takes a job working for her brother Luke (Danny Pino), a U.S. Senator, when the funding for her latest film falls through. Assigned as his new constituency caseworker, she discovers that Washington, D.C. has been invaded by extraterrestrial insects which are eating the brains and taking control of people, including members of Congress and their staffers. Much of the internal comedy of the series was that, in the altered reality of Washington, D.C. politics, only a few people noticed. CBS announced a 13-episode straight-to-series order on July 22, 2015. The show premiered on June 13, 2016. After four episodes, the show moved from its Monday timeslot to Sundays to make room for the network's coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. The show had a planned four-season arc, which would have seen the bugs then invade Wall Street, Silicon Valley and Hollywood, but on October 17, 2016, CBS canceled the series after one season. ()
Poster of BrainDead

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About BrainDead

A young fresh-faced Hill staffer gets her first job in Washington, D.C. and discovering two things: 1. The government has stopped working, and 2. alien spawn have come to earth and eaten the brains of a growing number of Congressmen and Hill staffers.

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Trailer for BrainDead + Featurettes/Teaser/Clips

BrainDead Seasons and Episodes

06/13/2016Season 1 - 13 episodes
A government employee discovers that the cause of the tensions between the two political parties is a race of extraterrestrial insects eating the brains of the politicians.
#1 | 06/13/2016The Insanity Principle: How Extremism in Politics Is Threatening Democracy in the 21st Century
3.8/5 (with 11 votes)
When Laurel Healy returns home to Washington, D.C. to work for her brother, Senator Luke Healy, on Capitol Hill, she is caught in the midst of two huge problems: the government has stopped working due to budgetary disagreements, and mysterious bugs are eating the brains of a growing number of Congress members and Hill staffers.
#2 | 06/20/2016Playing Politics: Living Life in the Shadow of the Budget Showdown -- A Critique
3.7/5 (with 11 votes)
Laurel continues to investigate the death of esteemed Dr. Daudier, while bugs infect more citizens of Washington, D.C. Rochelle Daudier, the deceased doctor’s daughter and Gustav Triplette, an eccentric genius, both encounter the bugs separately and begin to question exactly what is happening.
#3 | 06/27/2016Goring Oxes: How You Can Survive the War on Government Through Five Easy Steps
3.9/5 (with 11 votes)
When a bizarre and deadly incident takes place on live television, Agent Onofrio's investigation into it causes Laurel, Gustav and Rochelle to dig deeper into the bug mystery. Luke attempts to cover up his affair with his Chief of Staff, Scarlett, before his opponent for the minority whip position, Senator Ella Poundstone, can make it public.
#4 | 07/11/2016Wake Up Grassroots: The Nine Virtues of Participatory Democracy, and How We Can Keep America Great b
3.9/5 (with 10 votes)
Laurel and Rochelle try to persuade Laurel’s friend Abby to get an MRI so they can uncover the real cause of the strange behavior taking over Washington, D.C. Luke attempts to reopen the government through a secret deal with the Republicans
#5 | 07/24/2016Back to Work: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Congress and How It Gets Things Done (and Often Doesn't)
3.6/5 (with 10 votes)
Laurel asks her brother, Luke, for his help to get the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the bugs, but he insists she first consult Dr. Joanne Alaimo, a leading entomologist, for her perspective on the invasion. Laurel’s relationship with Anthony takes a drastic turn.
#6 | 07/31/2016Past as Prologue: Notes Toward a Post-Reagan Theory of Party Alliance, Tribalist, and Loyalty
3.7/5 (with 10 votes)
When Laurel is infected by the bugs, Gustav and Rochelle work quickly to figure out if there is any way to save her. When the Centers for Disease Control has its funding temporarily cut, Luke attempts to reach a compromise to have the money reinstated, but Red’s political machinations undermine him at every turn.
#7 | 08/07/2016The Power of Euphemism: How Torture Became a Matter of Debate in American Politics
3.7/5 (with 6 votes)
Laurel comes under investigation about her potential involvement with the bug infestation. Also, Gustav and Rochelle discover a unique way to communicate with those infected by the bugs.
#8 | 08/14/2016The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm
3.7/5 (with 7 votes)
Rochelle and Gustav capture and question a man they suspect is infected by the bugs. Also, Luke and Red face off in a Senate Intelligence meeting about a potential war.
#9 | 08/21/2016Taking on Water: How Leaks in D.C. are Discovered and Patched
3.6/5 (with 8 votes)
Senator Red Wheatus hires a special investigator to dig into the Healy family’s financial and personal history. Also, when Gareth learns some sordid details about Laurel’s romantic past, it puts a strain on their budding relationship.
#10 | 08/28/2016The Path to War Part Two: The Impact of Propaganda on Congressional War Votes
3.3/5 (with 6 votes)
Laurel must work alongside an old boyfriend, Ben Valderrama, when Luke enlists her help in putting together a political documentary to support his anti-war initiative. Also, Laurel worries about the health of Luke and Germaine’s baby.
#11 | 09/04/2016Six Points on the New Congressional Budget: The False Dichotomy of Austerity vs. Expansionary Polici
3.7/5 (with 7 votes)
Luke and Laurel rush to uncover Red's secret agenda, which is buried in a massive new budget bill. Also, Gareth inadvertently witnesses an unsettling bug encounter in Red's office.
#12 | 09/11/2016Talking Points Toward a Wholistic View of Activism in Government: Can the Top Rebel?
3.6/5 (with 8 votes)
When Laurel discovers that a senate bill is not what it appears, she implores Luke to help, leading to a dramatic Senate sit-in. Also, Red and Ella battle for control of the bug agenda, and Laurel questions whether or not she should leave Washington, D.C. for good
#13 | 09/11/2016The End of All We Hold Dear: What Happens When Democracies Fail: A Brief Synopsis
3.8/5 (with 8 votes)
Laurel discovers the secret to driving the bugs out of a person's brain and tests the tactic on her father. Armed with new knowledge, Laurel and Gareth attempt to expel the Queen bug out of Red's head once and for all. Laurel and Gareth progress in their romantic relationship.

Additional Information

Production country: United States of America (USA)
Original language: English (EN)
Spoken languages: English (EN)
Translated into 21 languages: Bulgarian (BG), Bosnian (BS), Corsican (CO), Czech (CS), German (DE), English (EN), Spanish (ES), Finnish (FI), French (FR), Hebrew (HE), Italian (IT), Japanese (JA), Korean (KO), Letzeburgesch (LB), Dutch (NL), Polish (PL), Portuguese (PT), Russian (RU), Slovak (SK), Ukrainian (UK), Chinese (Mandarin) (ZH)
Status: Canceled
First episode released on: 06/13/2016
Last episode released on: 09/11/2016
Alternative titles in other countries (from previews, ads etc.):
"BrainDead - Alieni a Washington"
"ブレインデッド"

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WatchPlayStream ID: SHOWS:2089, Added: 05/11/2018, Last updated: 03/27/2024