Dutch Velders, The Strain

Dutch Velders (Ruta Gedmintas)

British computer hacker Dutch Velders is a main character on horror drama series The Strain. She was introduced in season 1 as she was attacked by vampires and trapped in a convenience store together with her roommate, and later revealed ex-girlfriend Nikki, and a few others. Nikki managed to escape but went missing after stealing Dutch’s belongings.

Season 2

Dutch became romantically involved with Ukrainian rat exterminator Vasily Fet. Dutch and Fet then found Nikki who was hurt and hiding from vampires. Nikki moved in with them and she and Dutch began reconnecting, leading to the two of them having sex.

Dutch was then caught in a love triangle as she said she cared deeply for both Nikki and Fet. She ended up telling Fet that she was going to leave him for Nikki, though it was unclear if she was leaving him because she loved Nikki more or because she didn’t want risk hurting him anymore.

However, when Dutch got to Nikki, she was in the process of leaving and although Dutch asked her to stay, Nikki left her to seek safety in a different city.

Season 3

In season 3, after Dutch lost all her friends when Nikki left town, she teamed up with a group of raiders. They raided a high rise for food and drinks, but Dutch got left behind to fight strigoi by herself. After she made it out, she tracked down the group, and realizing their leader was infected, cut him in half then set out on her own (episode 3×02).

In episode 3×04, Dutch showed up at Fet’s place, where lead male character Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather had been living. Dutch was tired, suffering from insomnia and unable to sleep without nightmares. Eph gave her some pills to help: some to stay awake, some to sleep.

For the rest of the season, Dutch and Eph teamed up and tried to study strigoi communications, which lead them to JFK airport where they were looking for a black box that had a recording of the Master (the main antagonist, an ancient vampire responsible for the strain affecting New York City).

In episode 3×08, as they were listening to the black box, Dutch passed out from the sound, and Eph took care of her, telling her he couldn’t “do any of this without you”. At the end of the episode, Dutch thanked him.

Dutch: “It’s nice to see your nurturing feminine side”
Eph: “I figured you’d like that”
Dutch: “For a moment there I nearly got lost in an old fantasy of mine about a very butch very old female nurse. We’re not quite the lesbian nursing scenario you’re used to thinking about”

Dutch then started to describe a lesbian fantasy with herself and a topless nurse, which turned into a fantasy threesome with Eph. He replied he wasn’t really into it, he just wanted “one man, one woman. A little vanilla for you”. Dutch kissed him.

Eph and Dutch’s were together for the rest of the season. In episode 3×09, Fet briefly showed up asking Dutch to flee the city with him, but she refused, and he left, wishing her the best of luck.

Season 4

FX renewed the series for a fourth and final season on September 27, 2016, and it’s scheduled to premiere on July 16, 2017.

Appearances:

• 32 episodes.

Female love interests:

• Nikki (Nicola Correia-Damude, guest 4 episodes)

Relationship story arc with a woman: No

Male love interests:

• Vasiliy Fet (Kevin Durand, main cast 26 episodes)
• Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll, regular - show lead)

Relationship story arc with a man: Yes

Filter Relationship Arc:

• Male (Regular)

[1] A relationship story arc is defined as explicit, developed on screen, and lasting more than 3 episodes. It is listed as questionable or subtext if romance is only implied, mentioned instead of shown on screen, part of a dream sequence, or otherwise not explicit for the viewer.