The FBI estimates there are currently over 300 active serial killers in the United States. What would happen if these killers had a way of communicating and connecting with each other? What if they were able to work together and form alliances across the country? What if one brilliant psychotic serial killer was able to bring them all together and activate a following? This idea is centralized in the new hit TV show The Following. This show premiered on Monday, January 21st on FOX at 9 p.m. It stars Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, an FBI agent on a mission to hunt down the notorious serial killer Joe Carroll, played by James Purefoy.
These two have a history together which involves a love triangle with Claire Matthews played by Natalie Zea. See, Joe Carroll was legally married to Claire before Ryan caught Joe in the act of committing another murder on a college campus. Since then, Claire has developed an attachment to Ryan and vice versa. But Ryan’s believes that everyone near and dear to him dies, so he doesn’t want to allow this relationship to go anywhere and Claire has a child, Joey Matthews, son of Joe Carroll. Joey is played by Kyle Catlett.
The series premiered showing Joe Carroll escaping and murders being committed. The one problem with the logical reasoning to who is responsible is that someone else is caught killing the people. The only thing that ties Joe to the murders is the way they were committed. Joe in his life before prison was spent as a college English professor who had a fascination with Edgar Allen Poe. Joe loved to use knifes to kill his victims and after which he would cut out their eyes, or portals to the soul. Since Ryan was the man who caught Joe before, the FBI calls him in to consult on the case. But this was all part of Joe’s plan.
In the most recent of episodes, Joe has once again escaped prison and has moved into a house filled with his ‘followers.” These mad people have all come under one roof with the promise of becoming a “chapter” in Joe’s new story which Ryan will be the author of. So these killers do what Joe asks of them, like hid out as a nanny for years to later kidnap Joey. This was Emma Hill’s job, played by Valorie Curry. She took Joey and began small manipulations to his impressionable mind to warp it into liking his father and accepting killing as good and police as bad. Joey does his best to stay true, but little by little he begins to change. After a few mishaps with the plan, Emma was able to reunite Joey with his father. Also, Claire was one of Joe’s requests for his killers. He wanted his ex-wife and still love to join them and help raise their child. After many spillings of innocent blood, Claire willingly goes to the house which still cannot be found by anyone.
The ratings of The Following have continued strong and have actually increased. This show is sure to catch the attention of a large audience for its ability to portray all aspects of entertainment. This show successfully expresses excitement, love, danger, action, mystery, and many more qualities. I would recommend this show for all to watch.
