The Following
Season 3 Episode 14: “Dead or Alive” & Episode 15 “The Reckoning”
Created by Kevin Williamson
Directed by Rob Seidenglanz (14), Marcos Siega (15)
Written by Brian Malone & Michael McGrale (14), and Brett Mahoney & Alexi Hawley (15)
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Sam Underwood, Valerie Cruz, Jessica Stroup, Michael Ealy, Zuleikha Robinson
FOX
Air Date: Monday, May 18th, 2015, 8:00pm

Last night marked the end for one of television’s most vicious crime dramas, The Following. Last week’s penultimate episode set the stage for one final showdown between Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and cyber genius serial killer Theo (Michael Ealy). A trade of Theo’s sister Penny (Megalyn Echikunwoke) for Agent Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore), ended with Penny dead and Theo hot for revenge, with Daisy (Ruth Kearney) very reluctantly at his side. All other bad guys in this season’s cornucopia are now dealt with after the scorned lover/accidental murderer/all around bad FBI agent Tom (Gbenga Akinnagbe) died, as did Mark Gray. Mark’s death hurt, as I was such a huge Sam Underwood fan. He carried two seasons, doubling as twins Luke and Mark, and sometimes splitting their personalities. His death came via gunshot after surprising Mike and Max (Jessica Stroup) but not before leaving Mike a bloody mess. Ryan knows he’s about to be a father. Will he live to see his child born? Will Strauss’s other followers play a significant role? Will the ghost of Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) have one last quiet moment with soulmate Ryan? Time to say goodbye… to The Following.

The Following
Season 3 Episode 12: “The Edge” & Episode 13 “A Simple Trade”
Created by Kevin Williamson
Directed by Nicole Kassell (12), Marcos Siega (13)
Written by Jeff Eckerle, Marilyn Osborn (12), & Liz Sczudlo, Mary Leah Sutton
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Sam Underwood, Valerie Cruz, Jessica Stroup, Michael Ealy, Zuleikha Robinson
FOX
Air Date: Monday, May 11th, 2015, 8:00pm

This is a sad week for us followers. We learned that this season will be the final one for Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and his group of FBI agents, as Fox has cancelled the series after this, its third season.

Last week, Team Hardy found out the truth about Theo’s bloody childhood, and went after a long thought cold case to discover his murderous origins. When that killer, The Madman, was caught, we learned that Theo (Michael Ealy) is so evil, he scares serial killers! Meanwhile Mark Gray (Sam Underwood) and Daisy (Ruth Kearney) hatch a plan to hook up with Theo and his sister Penny (Megalyn Echikunwoke). It’s shaping up to be a battle royal between Team Hardy and the bevy of bad guys. Of course there is the little issue of jealous FBI agent turned accidental murderer and future bad-guy conspirator, Tom (Gbenga Akinnagbe).

First Joe Carroll, now this! Fox reported via Deadline, that The Following will be cancelled after its third season. In 2013, The Following became a smash hit for Fox on Monday nights behind massive lead star power (Kevin Bacon) and a chilling and psychotic villain, Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). Carroll was a former literature professor who used his position in front of countless impressionable minds, to build a following of serial killers in the name of his idol, the gothic poet Edgar Allen Poe. Bacon’s Ryan Hardy doesn’t just have a professional stake in the case, he has a personal one, as he was dating Carroll’s ex-wife Claire (Natalie Zea). Hardy is joined in his quest to stop Joe by Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore), a rookie FBI agent and his niece, agent Max Hardy (Jessica Stroup).

The Following
Season 3 Episode 11: “Demons”
Created by Kevin Williamson
Directed by Marcos Siega
Written by Dave Johnson
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Sam Underwood, Valerie Cruz, Jessica Stroup, Michael Ealy, Zuleikha Robinson
FOX
Air Date: Monday, May 4th, 2015, 9:00pm

Last week the bell tolled for Joe Carroll. However… this is television, and James Purefoy needs work dammit! So now, Joe is acting as Ryan Hardy’s demon stalker and last week’s episode ended with Ryan (Kevin Bacon) tapping out on sobriety and giving in to shots with his imaginary serial killer friend. Will Joe’s influence help give Ryan what he needs to catch Theo?

Ryan follows his break with sobriety with a break from fidelity, and returning home wreaking of alcohol and sex are too much for Gwen (Zuleikha Robinson). Ryan still doesn’t know she’s pregnant, which I’m sure will come into play later at the absolute worst time.

The Following
Season 3 Episode 10: “Evermore”
Created by Kevin Williamson
Written by Michael McGrale
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Sam Underwood, Valerie Cruz, Jessica Stroup, Michael Ealy, Zuleikha Robinson
FOX
Air Date: Monday, April 27th, 2015, 9:00pm

Last week on The Following, Ryan Hardy’s current nemesis met his arch nemesis when Theo (Michael Ealy) spoke with Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) through a prison guard avatar. Theo needed Joe to help him find Strauss’s other disciples, and in exchange he promised to kill Ryan (Kevin Bacon) and give Joe eternal infamy. Joe, however, had other plans, dispatching of Theo’s accomplice and claiming Ryan as his own. It’s all rather touching in some strange horrific way. Tonight, Joe Carroll walks the Green Mile… yeah right!

Do not continue if you haven’t watched last night’s episode – definite spoilers!