Due to a busy work schedule I wasn't able to watch the second episode of "The Following" until last night. I have to admit I wasn't very impressed with the pilot. It was so unpromising that I almost didn't watch the second episode. However I decided to give "The Following" another chance and I'm glad that I did. Last night's episode "Chapter Two" was a hour of very compelling television.
James Purefoy plays Dr. Joe Carroll, serial killer and leader of the following, a bit too well. Kevin Bacon plays Ryan Hardy, he was the FBI agent that captured Carroll in 2003. Shortly after the Carroll's capture Hardy went on disability and left the FBI. When Carroll escapes prison in 2013, Hardy is called back in to help track down Carroll. Carroll didn't appreciate being captured by Hardy and has recruited the so-called following in an elaborate scheme to exact revenge on Agent Hardy.
Also playing into this storyline is the lovely Natalie Zea, who plays Joe's ex-wife Claire. Following the Carroll's divorce being finalized, Claire and Hardy had a two month relationship. The Carroll's also had a son together Joey. Through the first two episodes of this show Joey is being used as a pawn in a very dangerous game between Joe and Ryan. This is a game that Joe only wants to play.
The lovely Miss Zea:
Some thoughts after the first two episodes:
Carroll's following, or cult, is very scary. The idea that a complete psychotic can have control over seemingly rational people is scary. Carroll is basing the following's belief system on the works of Edgar Allen Poe. Poe was sort of a freaky looking dude, which only adds to spooky factor of this show.
I predict that someone close to the investigation is part of Carroll's following, but who is it? What did that very knowing glance exchanged between Carroll and Agent Parker mean? She's an expert on cults, just how much inside knowledge does she have about Carroll and his cult? Also what was Hardy doing his about 10 years away from the FBI? He wouldn't be a suspect at all due to his past capture of Carroll. But how was he able to capture Carroll in the first place? Is Hardy part of Carroll's following?
Also the scariest thing about this whole idea is that literally anyone could be part of the following. That means you literally can't trust anyone. That's part of the reason that I jumped about 7 times while watching this episode.
I'm not sure why Agent Hardy told Joe that his patsy, Jordy Raines, was still alive. Joe feeds on information. Now that he knows that Raines is still alive, he can have one of his cult kill Raines. Hardy should have kept that information from Joe, they could have interrogated Raines in peace. Also he would have been safer.
After the show was over it took me about a hour to come down from the freakiness of this show.
One of the things that heightens the freak factor is the music. Here are a few of the creepier selections. These aren't the kind of songs you want to hear when checking under your bed 6 times looking for a serial killer.
Sepultara's "Angel:
The Deftones "Change (In The House of Flies):
Band of Skulls is one of the best bands that have come out the last few years. Their song "Close To Nowhere" served as the background music for Ryan and Claire's first kiss:
Then I'll never forgive Marilyn Manson from perverting this great 80's song, but I have to admit that this does fit in too well in with the ambience of "The Following". I purposefully put the lyric video here, so you don't have to look at the freak himself.
Here's Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart's original, they were known as the Eurythmics:
Do I recommend that you watch this show, most definitely. If all the episodes are as good as "Chapter Two", then this will be a great show. However it may not be the best thing to watch the show by yourself. This would be the kind of show you want to watch with a cuddle partner. Also due to how freaky this show is I would reccommend that you not watch it if you have a similar heart condition to Hardy.
One of my favorite movies growing up was the original "Footloose", I'm glad to see Kevin Bacon back in the public eye once again.
Also at grantland.com Andy Greenwald wrote up a very glowing review of fx's "The Americans". He called it the best new show since "Homeland", which is the best new show I've seen in the last several years. (Dear Showtime, I'm waiting patiently for Season 2 of "Homeland" to go on sale.) Anyway "The Americans" makes it's debut tonight. Due to Greenwald's recommendation I'll be watching "The Americans" tonight. Or I'll record it and watch Lakers-Suns. Hmm.
themusicaddict
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