TV: The Following

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When notorious serial killer JOE CARROLL (James Purefoy) escapes from death row, the FBI calls former agent RYAN HARDY (Kevin Bacon) to consult on the case. Having since withdrawn from the public eye, Hardy was responsible for Carroll’s capture in 2003, after Carroll murdered 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature.

Hardy is a walking textbook of all-things Carroll. He knows him better than anyone; he is perhaps Carroll’s only psychological and intellectual match. But the Ryan Hardy who broke the Carroll case years ago isn’t the same man today. Wounded both physically and mentally by his previous pursuit of this serial killer, it’s been a long time since Hardy has been in the field. This new investigation is his redemption, his call to action. He works closely with an FBI team, which includes young, razor-sharp MIKE WESTON (Shawn Ashmore) and FBI Specialist DEBRA PARKER (Annie Parisse), who is brought in to lead the investigation into Carroll and his followers. Although Weston seems to idolize him, most of the team considers Hardy to be more of a liability than an asset. But Hardy proves his worth when he uncovers that Carroll was covertly communicating with a network of followers in the outside world. It quickly becomes obvious that he has more planned than just a prison escape.

The intense, spellbinding drama will follow Hardy and the FBI as they are challenged with the ever-growing web of murder around them, orchestrated by the devious Carroll, who dreams of writing a novel with Hardy as his protagonist. But since anyone anywhere could be a follower, how do you know who to trust?

This is an amazing new series from creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson (of the "Scream" franchise, among other things). Kevin Bacon hasn't been around in awhile, and honestly, he looks pretty bad here... but he plays the part of a damaged hero quite well. James Purefoy plays the smartest, nicest, most charismatic serial killer you will probably ever know. During everything that happens, he remains calm and collected, as if everything is going according to plan. The thrills and suspense are in no short demand; after watching the first few episodes back-to-back, it almost felt like watching a movie. The twists and turns that appear almost every episode are completely unexpected for the most part (unless you're like me, and have grown accustomed to predicting said twists). The series focuses heavily on the works of Poe, as that's who Carroll idolizes, and murders in honor for.

The first season is planned for 15 episodes, and a second season has already been approved. Is there anyone else here that is... following... this?

I'm watching it, though I'm a couple of episodes behind... need to catch up, enjoying it so far.

The first thing i read about this show gave me the impression that Kevin Bacon was gonna be the serial killer cult leader and it was gonna be about him. Sweet maybe a new Dexter show. WRONG. Was disappointed that he turned out to be the FBI agent that chases him and the FBI is the big focus. But after getting over that i started enjoying it even thou i find some things ridiculous. Also it's a big bonus Natalie Zea has a big role (although i would rather have her as a regular in Justified).

I wouldn't say it's that different from Dexter. The story doesn't just focus on the FBI; Carroll's plans and the actions of his followers are a major part of the series as well. Whereas in Dexter you have one person playing both sides, in The Following you have several on each side. You lose the plot device of "one man trying to balance separate lives", but gain tons of insight into the minds of psychotic serial killers and damaged FBI agents. I also feel like the execution of the show is much better. In Dexter, he's forced to commit his murders in secrecy; they may be brutal and high profile, but they remain unsolved and mysterious. In The Following, Carroll can straight up detail to the FBI how and when he is going to do the things he does (whether it's a murder or an escape), and follow through with it without any hindrance. Nothing is more frightening than a villain that cannot be stopped despite forewarning.

Granted, I've only seen the first two episodes of Dexter, so my opinion is largely based on assumptions.

What have you found to be ridiculous so far in the series? Sure, the premise is a little outside normal reality, but it's entirely plausible.

What I don't understand is why doesn't the FBI check Carol's visiting log when he was in prison? Surely they could cross check all the names in the list with the FBI. They could even monitor who else came to visit him. So far all of the key players in his "story" visited him once in jail. It could help the investigation greatly and prolly cleanse some FBI traitors.

This show has some pitfalls, but it also has some random moments of brilliance.

I really liked the latest episode. I mean, I skipped all the Daddy-Drama scenes, but I loved all the scenes with Carol and the -ex. He's so horribly in love with his -ex that it's almost endearing to watch. And she just totally humiliated him and shat all over his book, which is basically the only thing that's been keeping him afloat for all these years. I'm sort of thinking he resembles the Walking Dead's governer in this way. Nothing really matters but the book and the -ex (and the kid). So it was very fitting that Carol retreated to his safe-haven, that crazy-polygamist bitch, after such a wounded ego.

So I'm trying to theorize the crazy ass logic that the cult members have. To them, death is the greatest form of masturbation. Killing is a great privilege reserved only for those who are strong enough. Why don't they just all kill each other? There's something very powerful behind being the person to take a life, but also being the person to give your own life up when you want to. And these melodramatic attention starved hipsters obviously prefer a suicide in the most dramatic way possible, or to have someone sexy like Carol kill them. Being killed by normal means (such as aging), or by some outsider is just no good. So the only way you can keep yourself safe from being mass murdered by one of these guys is to join them and earn a rank of respect.

I disagree with the Governor similarity. Carroll cares most about his ex-wife, his son, and his book, sure, but he hasn't once tried to hide his true colors to his community; rather, he has flaunted them, which was what helped create his cult in the first place. The Governor, who only really cared about his undead daughter, led an ignorant mass of survivors trying to live in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world, while brutally acquiring resources however possible and eventually creating an army to go to war with Rick's group. Carroll has formed a community where everyone as "psychotic" as him are welcome, and won't be judged for what "nature has given them". He's working on some type of plan, but everyone (except the viewer and the FBI of course) is involved. And his "enemy", Ryan, has been his enemy from the start, but instead of simply wanting to erase him from existence, he has cast him as the leading role. If you want to say they're both villains, then sure, they are. But their ideologies and personalities are much different.

Also, his book isn't what has "kept him afloat all these years". It's motivated him to get him to where he is now, but only because he wants to finish what he started. Carroll has never once displayed any type of fear or depression or anything resembling the act of "clinging to life", except in this latest episode when he reached a point where he couldn't find the words to write down. But even that was most likely due to the situation with Roderick and the armory. His ex-wife's opinion of his book probably shook him, but she really doesn't have any standing to judge it. It could be nobel prize worthy, but because of their relationship, she is going to trample on it. Carroll is ignorant to not realize that, and even more so for wandering back to Emma, but such is the pain of having your plan slowly becoming unraveled.

I agree about the cult members though. Ignoring the fact that we don't know what Carroll's plan is, or how it involves these people, it still seems like the kind of ideology that you mentioned Saph. I understand why they don't kill each other though... they don't want to take the life of someone who shares their beliefs, unless it's for the greater good. But then again, we've only seen a handful of the members so far. The majority of them may not have even killed before, and they just want a place where they can fit in, psychotic or not.

An advance preview of the first episode for the second season aired last night after the NFC Championship... did anyone else watch it? It was a fairly predictable episode, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It's been too long since season one.

I like the introduction of the Joe Carroll masks. They actually look creepier than the Poe masks from the first season. It's also nice to see that Bacon's character has recovered quite a bit from his old self. I'm not sure why he decided to go rogue with his investigations though. Emma is still an annoying bitch, and she didn't even have that much screen time. I'm debating whether I want Ryan to take her out, or Joe, in a fit of sexual rage. But I'm sure we'll get to that later. The twins are a great addition to the cast, though. They were the only part of the episode that tricked me. I thought for sure, based on the situation, that one of them was a hallucination. Those that watch(ed) will know what I'm talking about.

All in all, I found it to be a great first episode, if a little slow at first. I'm anxious to see what Carroll and his following have been planning all year. I'll be a little disappointed if he waited around doing nothing.

No one else is keeping up with this? Season 2 has been quite different so far, but I feel like it's been better. Someone mentioned above that they didn't like how (the beginning) of the first season focused more on the FBI... There's been very little FBI involvement so far this season. Time has been better spent between the new cult of followers, and Ryan's personal vendetta.

I'm glad the situation with Lily ended; I didn't like her character or her "family", other than the twins. I'm a little disappointed Luke seems to be out of the show now, as I liked him much better than Mark, but we'll see how things go. Emma has been such a whiny bitch. I half-expected Joe to take her out instead of including her in his "epic plan". At this point, though, I feel like she's going to be there until the end.

For anyone that still hasn't watched the first season, it's up on Netflix. And I think you can catch up on season 2 on Fox's website.