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 Having since withdrawn from the public eye, Hardy was responsible for Carroll’s capture in 2003.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?
renew!!!
Are you kidding me? Please don’t leave us hanging!!! Love this programme!!!! Please renew this show!
Please continue the show!!!
I am REALLY UPSET!!!!! That was the best show and I LOOKED FORWARD TO WATCHING IT. Fox you made a big mistake as usual. If Hula is smart they will pick it up. I am not going to watch fox shows anymore. Every time I get into a show they cancel it. Its getting really old Fox!!!!!!!!!!!
Me too! I like Gotham but then they killed the Joker. How can you kill the Joker as a young adult?
should definitely have another season at a minium
big mistake not have another season big mistake
Agreed. I thought Joe inside Ryan’s head was the only way to continue the show as I believe those two characters and their interesting relationship was what made it great in the first place. Creating a happy, content life for Ryan is what did it in. I didn’t want him content. It was his inner conflict and struggle to stay not only sober but sane that made the show and Kevin Bacon so enticing. With Joe in his head he teetered on the edge of all of that. He eventually would have turned to the “dark side” so to speak… Read more »
I think that the show should have renewed for another season or two because it was still interesting with Joe’s presence in Ryan’s head
JAMES PUREFOY IS MAGNET OF THE SHOW, ONCE HE GONE THEN RATINGS DROPPED. I WATCHED THE SHOW BECAUSE OF PUREFOY. WITHOUT HIM THE SHOW WAS DEAD. THE WRITER MADE A HUGE MISTAKE TO KILL JOE CHARACTER, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT ALIVE UNTIL THE OF SERIES!!
It needs to be renewed. Every show I’ve liked on fox has been cancelled, and I’m tired of it. The Following is very intense and it is thrilling. You can’t say that about most shows and mean it. A lot of fans are upset about it being cancelled. As am I. This is by far my favorite television show. And for fox to say it’s the fans fault for not fighting to get it back, is disrespectful because I didn’t know that the “ratings” were down. I did not know that there were petitions to get it back on the… Read more »
Don’t Fox think that people in the UK watch this not just the USA, what if we refused all the movies they make because we didn’t like them I wonder what they would do then?
This was a fantastic show. I was so disappointed to see it was cancelled. My husband and I were so drawn into the show with the great writing and the equally talented actors. It is extremely rare to find a show that keeps you guessing and shocks you every episode. I loved that everytime one episode ended, it left you saying, “Wow, I did not see that coming.” Just a shame…
Ratings dropped too low to justify s fourth season my you-know-what. Excellent show and excellent actors. This show will be sorely missed.
This was a good show in the first season, as it was meant to be. Unfortunately they never should have caught Joe. His incarceration changed the original focus of the program. Ryan’s personal relationships were falling flat as well. We needed him to stay unhappy and tormented which is where they were leading at the end of last season. They should have stayed with the original setting and cult following as a focus I think it would have done better. These two actors, Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy, are very engaging and I’m sorry I won’t be able to look… Read more »
I am soooooo disappointed this show was canceled. I waited all summer for the series to begin and I’m so mad it is not showing. Why??????!????