The Following... Such an awesome TV show. It looks like FOX finally found a worthy replacement for 24 (which ended in 2010) with this new drama—which focuses on a formerly-retired FBI agent (Ryan Hardy, played by Kevin Bacon) who goes after a group of cult members that an imprisoned serial killer (Joe Carroll, played by James Purefoy) unleashes on the public as a way of getting revenge on the agent, who arrested the killer and once slept with his wife. Just like Kiefer Sutherland as 24's Jack Bauer, Bacon is a bad-ass as Hardy. Case-in-point: For those of you who saw yesterday's episode ("The Fall"), Hardy would've totally pwned (to borrow Internet message board parlance) those three cult members had the girl (Emma Hill, played by Valorie Curry) not been equipped with that stun gun...courtesy of Joe Carroll. Of course, Hardy does pwn—okay, own—two of the lackeys once he frees his hands of that rope. Like the terrorists in 24, the bad guys in The Following are so intensely sinister that one can't help but wait for Hardy to show up on scene and end their murderous rampage with a bullet to the chest. However, Carroll is so resourceful that Hardy is not just going up against average Joes and plain Janes who are carrying out the author-turned-killer's bidding...but police officers, former soldiers and SWAT team members who'll be ready to strike once they get the word from Carroll (through coded televised messages via Carroll's hapless lawyer).
If there's one gripe I have about The Following, it's the numerous flashback scenes in each episode. I understand that they're needed to show the relationship between Hardy and Carroll before they became mortal enemies, and to explain the events that led people like Emma to want to fall under Carroll's stewardship. But the main highlight of each episode is when Hardy appears on scene—ready to hand out justice to these homicidal followers. Considering the high-concept premise of this show, one wonders if The Following will get at least a second season and at most a fourth (just like Prison Break) on FOX. Of course, how many people thought that Jack Bauer would endure 8 separate days (as in 8 seasons) saving the world within each of those 24 hours? Just like Bauer, don't underestimate Agent Hardy. And definitely don't underestimate Joe Carroll. Looking forward to next Monday's episode.
(PS: And no, I wasn't paid to blog about this show. Would've been cool if I was, though. Hah.)
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