Matt Smith reviews the latest episode of The Following….
So… a skipped week, a skipped episode of The Following. I had to go on holiday. Get away. It’s a hard life, watching things on a screen occasionally and writing about what I think of them. I mean, the plight of the critic is a harsh one, y’know? So I went to Rome, visited the Pope’s house (he’s moving out though, they had one of those signs with a phone number and an agency out the front), tried to find some spiritual awakening that would lend my soul a hand up to a higher plane. Anyway, the inside of the Sistine Chapel looks like they’re doing guttering work and it’s full of other tourists (how selfish), so the awakening will have to wait.
Being the figurehead of a religion must be a tricky business. Keeping everyone happy, making sure nothing changes too much but also adding your own little bit, otherwise what’s the point in you being there? Must be like being a director on a set, except you don’t get to wear a funny hat and kids are only allowed to work… well, okay, I won’t touch that joke.
Anyway, it’s all about finding togetherness through harmony, right? There are always a few people who don’t get what they should. And so I implore you to go out and tell these other people to watch this, so we can all revel in the cult togetherness of The Following. I know what you’re thinking. Did he just compare the Pope to the head of a cult? Does he mean cult following? Are we missing out by not following The Following?
The answer to all those questions is a resounding: maybe. If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve already seen The Following and are loving it as much as I am, which is to say, a lot. Even with its flaws.
I caught up with last week’s episode, where things were quickly turning into a freaky murderer group sex therapy session (along with the young boy kidnapped in the next bedroom, and the woman in the basement who’d been stabbed, and the police trying to find them, and the bad guy’s wife being taken away, and Kevin Bacon downstairs trying to save the day and…).
My point being is that, with so many stories to catch up on, I think the series is doing a resounding job of keeping things coherent. The fact it’s entertaining as well is a testament to the show, which as I’ve said before has successfully found its feet.
It’s not trying to be highbrow anymore, which makes it smarter than the early episodes. Which is a bit unfair on the early episodes, as without all the groundwork covered these latest instalments wouldn’t be able to capitalise. Tension wracks in the brain with each episode, each time Hardy is put through the mincer.
This week, unfortunately, it’s a bit of a let down when it comes to story. The Achilles’ Heel (and supposed selling point) are the twists, which are easily found out in this episode due to their abundance. The writers write themselves into corners they can’t get out of without a kind of Deus ex Murderer, meaning new characters introduced aren’t showing the complexity of the show. More, it’s spiralling out of control. Hopefully they sort it out in next week’s episode.
And while I sometimes find it hard to find a flaw in this show, I do hope something changes to just reshape everything. I found the formula a nice place to stay at first, but I think a refreshing change is needed to liven things up. Otherwise it’s just Kevin Bacon running around and occasionally sitting down to catch his breath and have a drink. Be it bringing in a new director or a new permanent character. Just something, because I don’t want this show to come to a standstill because of its own weight.
At the moment, everyone but Joe Carroll is in great turmoil. Which suits him just fine. James Purefoy stands out purely because he does such great work with limited screen time (stand out moment has to be his serial killer muttering the words ‘Celine Dion. Good God…’).
The performances all round are still fantastic and rock solid, from the minor characters to the main events. Kevin Bacon’s obviously had fun in this episode, with his Ryan Hardy easily making fractures in the murderous threesome from his armchair. It’s entertaining and also a little funny in a really dark way, which is where the show should stay.
But for all the aforementioned turmoil, it’s really Megan the woman in the basement who’s having the worst time. Forget the kidnapped kid! Somehow, a woman has survived being stabbed in the stomach, tied up in a basement and with the threat of death constantly hanging over her head for days. There’s an under represented story. But then again, with all the characters to appease and keep in the spotlight, there’s always going to be one who misses out.
Originally published February 27, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
