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The Following

The Following

Killer instinct.

2013–2015Ended3 seasons45 episodes~43 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

Notorious serial killer Joe Carroll, after being found guilty of murdering 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature, escapes from death row. The FBI calls former agent Ryan Hardy to consult on the case, as he was the one responsible for Carroll’s capture in 2003. Ryan, working closely with an FBI team, including Mike Weston and FBI Specialist Debra Parker, piece together the ever-growing web of murders orchestrated by the devious Carroll.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Following?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Following streaming on Howdy via Prime Video, Netflix, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about The Following?

The Following earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Seriously scary.

  • Reception
  • Content

Reception

Is The Following worth watching?

The Following's Midcredits score is the 65th percentile of all shows, from 98K ratings across 2 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

65th percentile

Better received than 65% of shows

61st percentile among Crime63rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)58th
Approval (how many liked it)70th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

72 /100

58th percentile of all shows

58th percentile among Crime56th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

79% liked it

70th percentile of all shows

61st percentile among Crime68th percentile among 2010s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

98th percentile

98K ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Crime98th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A dark, violent thriller centered on a charismatic serial killer and a cult of followers that stretches plausibility.

Fans praised

  • James Purefoy's charismatic and menacing Joe Carroll
  • Kevin Bacon's compelling performance as the flawed hero
  • Tense cat-and-mouse dynamic between Hardy and Carroll

Detractors panned

  • Incompetent FBI and police making constant idiotic mistakes
  • Implausible cult with followers appearing everywhere conveniently
  • Repetitive capture-escape cycle with overused twists

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

Bacon and Purefoy praised; some critics find supporting cast weak

AtmosphereDivisive70

Grim, tense immersion with Poe-inspired dread

TensionDivisive65

High suspense in early episodes; diluted by repetitive escapes

CharactersDivisive60

Carroll charismatic but one-dimensional; Hardy's depth debated

OriginalityDivisive55

Fresh cult-of-serial-killers concept but derivative execution

PacingDivisive45

Fast-paced early episodes; later seasons drag with filler

Emotional impactDivisive40

Some feel for victims but overall detachment

Plot and storyDivisive35

Premise intriguing but riddled with plot holes and implausibility

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 17 points higher than over-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

3 seasons

Season 3 · 2015 · 15 episodes · 6.4 average across 15 rated episodes

  • S3E1

    New Blood

    Mar 2, 201544 minTMDB rating 6.3
  • S3E2

    Boxed In

    Mar 9, 201544 minTMDB rating 6.1
  • S3E3

    Exposed

    Mar 16, 201543 minTMDB rating 6.5
  • S3E4

    Home

    Mar 23, 201544 minTMDB rating 5.8
  • S3E5

    A Hostile Witness

    Mar 23, 201544 minTMDB rating 5.3
  • S3E6

    Reunion

    Mar 30, 201544 minTMDB rating 6.6

Watch experience

What is The Following like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — a relentless watch that leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseDreadMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Brutal · 3% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its material straight and darkly serious, with a knowing edge of pulp thriller.
The rideThe series maintains near-constant tension and a sense of dread, punctuated by bursts of graphic violence, with an increasingly dark and personal toll on the protagonist in the final season.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional chronological order across seasons, with occasional flashbacks to prior events.
Episode formatEach episode typically follows the FBI team investigating a murder or thwarting a plot by the cult, while advancing the season-long hunt for Joe Carroll and his inner circle.
Season formatEach season introduces a new phase of Joe Carroll's influence or a new antagonist within the cult, while the core cast and the central dynamic between Hardy and Carroll remain constant.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
UnsettlingHaunting · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe show's portrayal of a manipulative cult leader and relentless violence leaves a lingering unease.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach episode typically features the FBI hunting the followers of a charismatic serial killer who has built a murderous cult.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfViolenceSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2% (this title)
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9% (this title): Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% (this title) · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Survival

Violence · 2% of showsObsession · 2% of shows: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Family bonds
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores the pervasive and contagious nature of violence, the obsessive drive to stop a charismatic monster, and the toll it takes on personal relationships.
StanceThe show warns about the seductive power of charismatic evil and the vulnerability of society to organized, ideologically-driven violence.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · John Frizzell
SettingAn FBI task force hunting a cult of serial killers operating across the Eastern seaboard.
MusicThe score blends ominous orchestral tones with electronic textures to heighten the psychological tension.

Content guide

Is The Following okay for kids?

TV-14

The Following is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (84/100), sexual content at mild (29/100), language at mild (29/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (45/100) and frightening material at severe (90/100). Overall it is heavier than 94% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 12 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany18
  • Ireland15
  • Brazil16
  • Austria16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland18
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 80% of all showsHeavier than 94% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 94%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 28%
Profanity
Mild
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 18%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 72%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 98%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material and violence. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Following have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Following?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Kevin Bacon
as Ryan Hardy
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Shawn Ashmore
as Mike Weston
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
James Purefoy
as Joe Carroll
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Sam Underwood
as Mark Gray
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jessica Stroup
as Max Hardy
Rising: A short career with a standing when this show came out above the median working actor today.
Valorie Curry
as Emma Hill
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Natalie Zea
as Claire Matthews
Zuleikha Robinson
as Gwen
Nico Tortorella
as Jacob Wells
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Kyle Catlett
as Joey Matthews
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

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What are shows like The Following?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Following include Furious (2026), Rellik (2017) and Bones (2005).

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What other shows share a tag with The Following?

577 other shows share the rarest tag below, up against: serial killer. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.