Network: FOX
Episodes: 45 (hour)
Seasons: Three
TV show dates: January 21, 2013 — May 18, 2015
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Annie Parisse, Adan Canto, Kyle Catlett, Natalie Zea, Nico Tortorella, and Valorie Curry.
TV show description:
This psychological thriller begins when a notorious serial killer, Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), escapes from death row. The FBI calls in 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 Having since withdrawn from the public eye, Hardy was responsible for Carroll’s capture in 2003. Carroll had murdered 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature.
Hardy is a walking textbook of all-things Carroll and knows him better than anyone else. He may be 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. Could this be his redemption?
In contrast to the original investigation of years ago, Hardy isn’t calling the shots anymore. He works closely with an FBI team, which includes young, razor-sharp Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore) and FBI Specialist Debra Parker (Annie Parisse), who’s brought in to lead the investigation into Carroll and his followers — serial killers that secretly live among us.
Although Weston seems to idolize Hardy, most of the team considers him 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 FBI’s investigation leads Hardy back to Claire Matthews (Natalie Zea), Carroll’s ex-wife and the mother of their young son, Joey (Kyle Catlett). Close during Hardy’s initial investigation, Hardy turns to Claire for insight into Carroll’s next move.
The tension rises when Carroll’s accomplices kidnap his intended last victim (Maggie Grace) a decade earlier. Hardy becomes ever more determined to end Carroll’s game when he realizes that the psychopath intends to finish what he started.
The drama follows Hardy and the FBI as they are challenged with the ever-growing web of murder around them. It’s all orchestrated by Carroll who dreams of writing a novel with Hardy as his protagonist. Since anyone anywhere could be one of Carroll’s serial killer followers, Hardy and the FBI have a hard time knowing who they can trust.
Episode #45 — The Reckoning
The FBI hunt for Theo continues and the stakes are higher than ever as some of their own come under attack. As suspicions rise, alliances are shaken and no one is safe in the series’ harrowing final heart-stopping moments.
First aired: May 18, 2015.
What do you think? Do you like The Following TV series? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
I’m with Sandy…probably more new shows about the “housewives of )pick Any city”, or following someone through their everyday life acting stupid…I can’t believe the shows that get renewed, when this one that actually provoked the audience to think gets cancelled…maybe that’s saying something about the attention span of the younger audience?
best show on tv!
Do not cancel…such a great show and cast!
Surprised!! After Dexter ended I felt empty because nothing I watched really did it for me. One day I found the following and I loved it from the start. Kevin Bacon & James Purefoy! Not to mention Connie Neilson, Natalie Zea and Shawn Ashmore! It even has Sam underwood and Keith Carradine from the Dexter cast in it. These are all greatly talented people and I love dark shows. Wasn’t too gory or unreal for me. Canceling was bad news for me. The people that don’t like it have tons of other shows to choose from.
Please do not cancel! Every single year that a season of “The Following” ends, my entire household can’t wait till it comes back on, and we’ll all want it to return as soon as possible. I think it’s a huge mistake to take “The Following” off the air. It’s an usual show, it has very believable story lines, and quite honestly, it’s great entertainment. As usual however, it’s one of those shows that seems like it’s on for a very short period of time, which actually makes us want it even more! Please do not cancel the show! There are… Read more »
Joe Carroll finally killed The Following. Obviously from the success of programs like Criminal Minds, scripted shows involving law enforcement and serial killers are highly popular, so where did Following fail? Because Joe Carroll won’t go away. The guy has been executed, and still will not die. As measured in regular season episodes, The Following only lasted a season and a half, and the Purefoy episodes should have ended with the explosion at the end of season one. Frankly, the five sets of predators from season two through the series finale were far more interesting than Joe Carroll was after… Read more »
As usual one of the best shows on TV is being cancelled. There are too few shows for people that have a brain!!! What a wonderful cast and story line.
I bet it will be replaced with more reality shows.
I am so sick of the crap on TV.
Please Do Not Cancel the Following. I have never been into such thrilling and gore shows like this one. Friends kept telling me how awesome it was so I went back onto netflix and watched it from Episode 1 Season 1 and got into it real quick. I am so up to date on it and would love to see where the show goes. You just want to know what happens next. Please don’t take it off the air. Please give us a fourth season of the Following.
PLEASE don’t cancel my favorite tv series. It gets better and better and you’re cancelling it!Shame on you FOX! Kevin Bacon is fantastic in his role as Ryan Hardy. All the characters: Mike, Max, Theo and of course Joe are so believable and so interesting. I’m on the edge of my seat when its on-never a dull moment! Everyone I work with watches it and they are as upset about you cancelling it as I am. I swear I will never watch another new series on FOX ever again if you cancel The Following!
Do not cancel the following ,I wait for next season to start.You guys are nuts for canceling the best show on T.V. Can’t stand reality shows.
cancelling The Following was a badmove. Good writers fantastic actors there were still so many places you could go with it. Y ou have a larger audience in the over 50 crowd and most of the tv series plays to 20 somethings. Kevin Bacon appeals to a large audience and is a good dramatic actor. James Purefoy was the serial killer you loved to hate. really sorry you guys were so stupid to cancel such a good show.
This is a ridiculous choice! I know at least 20 people just in my workplace that watch this show, so I know it is popular. Must be politics, because the show rocks! If ratings went down, change the time slot, because when you have Bates Motel and The Following at the same time we are forced to choose week to week. These 2 shows have the same viewership!
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! Don’t cancel the Following!! The best show on Fox by far!!
The Following will be missed by many “followers” it’s a thrill ride! Please reconsider this decision.
Do not cancel the Following! Old people watch more dramas than most TV experts think. The Following and Bones are two of FOX’s best! Fox is keeping Bones, be smart and keep The Following too!