" The Following " on FOX - Page 2

That's one of many though, the show's getting very mixed reviews: http://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-following/critic-reviews.

I watched the pilot and liked it. Bacon and Purefoy were terrific, as was Natalie Zia. I was sorry to see Maggie Grace pass from the scene so quickly, though.

I am a little concerned by the show's 15 episode long season. That's so long, it almost guarantees that we won't see the tight writing we have come to expect with the more common 8, 10, or 12 episodes per season shows. The show's main strength, its intensity and violence, is also its weakness. Plausibility has given way to excitement. It worked well in the pilot, so I'll wait and see whether the writers can continue to provide the same magic over the course of 14 more episodes.

Won't proclaim to have read any of the previous page of comments but just finished the Pilot and all I can say is Too gruesome, troubling and violent for this guy. For those into this kind of material I won't say it was done bad or bad in general, just not my cup of tea, one and done for me

I liked it well enuf to give a few episodes to see how it develops.

First show hit about every cliche in the book. Trying very hard to make it interesting. I don't know but will probably try a couple more unless it gets really bad.

I tend to agree. I generally hate violent movies & TV shows, and I told myself I wasn't even going to watch this one. However, since absolutely NOTHING was on last night that I wanted to see, I gave it a shot (or should I say, a stab). It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but much worse from a violence aspect than it needed to be. Our society has become so desensitized to crap like this that it seems as if anything goes these days. I liked the cast and even the story; however, sooner or later enough is enough (or too much).

Bring back Mob Doctor.

Was intrigued by the pilot. And it's a complex serialized drama, pretty much the only thing I enjoy watching on TV, so I was more-or-less on board before the titles rolled.

Bacon is going to be great in this. He conveyed the right mixture of burned-out weariness and dogged determination I expected. Purefoy is always intriguing and has charisma in spades. I've liked him since he played Mark Antony to Cerian Hind's Julius Caesar in HBO's brilliant (and expensive) 'Rome'. He's got the gravitas to pull off a role like this. Like gwsat, I was surprised to see Maggie Grace, an appealing actress with a decent "Q" rating and plenty of experience playing "damsel-in-distress" roles, come and go so quickly. Maybe she'll make a few more appearances via flashback.

This is intended to be a high-octane, fast-moving psychological thriller. I can understand some people being put off by the dark, gruesome nature of the plotline. If so, they must not watch much CBS which wouldn't even have a prime-time schedule if it weren't for an endless supply of serial killers and the cops who chase them.

But that stuff is really secondary to the psychological chess match that will be unfolding over the season between the two highly charismatic leads. That's it's on a broadcast network and consists of only 15 hours instead of 22 means high production values and not a lot of filler. Since we just lost the last really good broadcast thriller -- the under-rated (IMO) 'Last Resort' -- I'm looking at this show to fill a niche I tend to enjoy. So far, so good.
Edited by archiguy - 1/22/13 at 5:15am

They had me at "Sweet Dreams" sung by Patsy Cline as Carroll drove off in the Jeep

There has been a few shows where some washed up/kicked out character is brought back in semi-officially to their former law enforcement agency after some major event goes down involving bad guys they previously dealt with. Kevin Bacon in this show, and Claire Danes' character in Homeland come to mind. Seems like there are others.

It is frustrating that people won't make an effort to stay abreast of a show they like. People here on the forum, well, if they decide to watch a show, they watch the show. They're not all hit or miss about it. But the viewing public in general...unfortunately, they're more fickle than us.

Since it's on broadcast, and thus at least 25% of its time is commercials, a few extra episodes are needed to get the same amount of program time as roughly 11 commercial-free episodes on a premium network.

What you say generally applies only to series run on HBO, Showtime, or Starz. Most of the series run on BBC America, which include commercials, are British and much shorter than shows typically run on any of the Big 4 networks. For example, Season 1 of Copper had 10 episodes and the new BBCA show, Ripper Street is scheduled for just 10. The most episodes of the great Breaking Bad on AMC, who also runs commercials, showed in one season was 13. Anyway, I am convinced that a seres written to tell a story over the course of 15 or more episodes is bound to sag.

Yeah I was hoping for her to stick around.

Kind of the same way he played his role in Mystic River....

I couldn't figure out my reaction to the pilot until I read your comments. I got caught up in the roller coaster ride of the action but had a nagging thought I wasn't enjoying it as much as I should, and couldn't put my finger on why, But you nailed it, there really isn't much original going on , is there? The show has a certain glossy style that I kinda liked but the plot seemed almost paint by numbers...The style might carry it but it could also turn into fluff after a few episodes. I'm on board for now-Bacon was really good. But the writing seems a bit confused, as if they don't really know what they want to be. They seemed to want to be as edgy as something on AMC while still maintaning the widespread appeal of a broadcast network show. That could turn out to be a strength if done right, have to wait and see. 2nd episode will probably be a better sign of where they're going.

^^^ Agreed. Plus I was disappointed in Purefoy. While the chess match set up between Bacon and him was promising, there wasn't enough charisma from his portrayal to convince me he could create a following.
Edited by bruce73 - 1/22/13 at 4:10pm

Watched and liked it... Reminded me a lot of the Michael Mann Thriller "Man Hunter" with Billy Peterson as the burned out FBI Agent, Dennis Farina, Joan Allen and the usual cast of Mann actors..I thought Purefoy was great, just the right amount of creepiness and aggression as he was kicking KB's A**. Certainly very violent, maybe over the top. Well stated above, Ion. Going to see how it develops... Enjoyed the Marilyn Manson Sweet Dreams rendition at the end...

Maggie Grace might have been too busy with "Californication" to have more than a guest appearance. Looks like she might be Hank's "squeeze" for this season. I like this show and can see how they can do a formula but still keep it interesting. Nice concept. And I wonder if cult dramas are going to be the next TV trend as "The Cult" starts on the 19th on the CW?

Lots of gratuitous violence and for me that's worth watching only if the writing and plotting are topnotch - which wasn't the case. Unfortunate.

Exactly, you took the words right out of my mouth.

However, after watching the Pilot and then thinking about things for a while I've come to the conclusion that, for me, the intellectual content of the show is not enough to outweigh its violence and gruesome aspects. Bacon is very good but being a veteran watcher of "24", etc., I have a feeling we'll end up getting a another "Perils of Pauline" serial. But maybe not. I can understand the people who like it, I hope they're rewarded.

You know I liked it. I'll stick with it and see how it goes. I am definitely not in the too gory camp. Love serial killer movies/ series. Don't worry I'm not creeping around at night

I don't get the ending. Fine, he completed a final task. Gave up easily. Was found even easier from a little background shot from a picture but lastly he is captured and how will he communicate with "The Following". They are on to his "family". So keep him away from the net and read his mail. Why isnt he on death row as the monster he is? Then there would be no visitors.

Don't tell me the guards, Chaplin and other prisoners are going to pass him secret notes via toilet paper??

I'm okay with it. I'll leave my logic at the door and see how it plays out.

Rick

It was one of the guards that was a follower of his and the person whom we saw in the last scene with the blond girl. It would surprise me if its already been planned out and has just been set into motion now. He won't need any contact as he knows they'll come to him which will allow him to keep tabs on how the plan is being executed.

This looks very promising! It's way too early to judge the show and its plot/story arcs... Let's just see how things unfold... Kevin Bacon was great, which is not very surprising.

re: sweet dreams - they had me at the first images with the Marilyn Manson version...

Was pretty good. Wasn't as intense as I thought it would be based on the articles I read on how they were shocked this was on regular TV, etc. Will stick with it.

That's how I see it as well. He's already planned the whole thing and set it in motion. Now it just plays out and Kevin Bacon and the cops are just pawns in this larger game. But, of course, not everything will go according to plan and Purefoy no doubt has some contingencies built in. So, the good guys will have some victories but the overall plan will unfold more-or-less how Purefoy envisioned it. 15 hours later, that's a wrap. But, seeing as how this is U.S. network television, they must have a plan for follow-on seasons.

I watched this because the wife wanted to see it. I am not a viewer of network television; 24 and Lost are the only two series I’ve watched since, IIRC, Seinfeld, so it’s going to take a lot to win me over. This didn’t. One of the biggest irritants that push me away from these series deals with the way they incorporate the dialogue. Maybe this is in their SAG contract; but whenever you have a group of people, they all must interject at least one word in the conversation. Someone says something, and then another, and another, and another, rather than two people conversing; you know, like in real life. It is so chopped, so unrealistic, and so contrived, that I can’t seem to get beyond it; and it happens way to often. I also find the constant flashing from one camera to another, to another, during the conversations unnecessary - this falls into the shaky cam irritant territory. Why is it off-limits to take a wider camera angle on occasion during these conversations? Also, because of time restraints, I find shows poorly produced and often poorly acted. Everything about this production reminded me of 24, only with a different plot. The PQ also reminded me of 24; they are still unable to do a grain-free night shot. If this is what I have been missing since Lost and 24 went off the air, I am missing very little.

I thought Bacon’s outburst outside of the house was so poorly acted that it had me rolling my eyes. Beyond that, I thought he was good, as usual.

I saw nothing compelling in the first show for me to watch the next 13, or however many weeks. Kidnappings, torture, brutal murders, and narrow escapes, led by a Charles Manson wannabe, week, after week, after week, with an emotionally unstable Kevin Bacon leading the charge, where 1 in 4 people he encounters is a follower, just doesn’t leave me sitting in great anticipation of what is to come – kidnappings, killings...

The wife says she liked it and is interested in seeing it, but I’m going to pass. JMO, so enjoy.

Pretty nice symmetry musically eh?

Start to finish--same song titles....vastly different artists belting out the tunes.

Oh the humanity!

I enjoyed the pilot but after Last Resort/Revolution I have to wait a few weeks to say if it's good.