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Trailer

The Following

2013 – 2015Show3 seasons45 episodesTV-14

CrimeDrama
62
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic585.8Rotten Tomatoes58%65%

A nerve-racking, gripping crime series about crime and the mind, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

3 seasons · 45 episodes · best: S1E1 "Pilot" 8.3

Episodes

7.6
7.7
7.5

Story

Killer instinct.

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.

Feels like

  • Psychological Crime Thriller
  • Serial Killer Investigation
  • Mentally Unstable Protagonist
  • Dark & Atmospheric
  • Complex Character Study
  • High-Stakes Cat-and-Mouse
  • Gritty Realism
  • Emotionally Draining
  • Suspenseful Mystery
  • Critically Acclaimed Drama

Cast

24 of 231 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Marcos Siega, Joshua Butler, Nicole Kassell
Written by
Kevin Williamson, Alexi Hawley, Brett Mahoney
Produced by
Michael Stricks, Lauren Wagner, James L. Thompson III
Music by
John Frizzell

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 21, 2013 · May 15, 2015 · Ended

First aired
January 21, 2013
Last aired
May 15, 2015
Status
Ended
Length
3 seasons · 45 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Suicide Themes
Genres
Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
26 countries

Tropes

Even Evil Has Taste, Badass in Distress, Evil Gloating +9

  • Even Evil Has Taste
  • Badass in Distress
  • Evil Gloating
  • Fingore
  • Creepy Twins
  • Mama Bear
  • Ax-Crazy
  • Shipper on Deck
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech
  • True Companions
  • Love Triangle
  • For the Evulz

12 of 222 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Following?"

Questions about The Following

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Following?

NetflixThe RokuPlexTubi TVHowdy

In the United States, The Following streams on Netflix and Howdy, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Plex, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 7 other countries.

Is The Following worth watching?

62
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 62 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 58%, and Metacritic 58).

Is The Following okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceDisturbing imageryStrong languageSexual contentSuicide themes

Better for older viewers: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, disturbing imagery, strong language, sexual content, and suicide themes, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

How long does it take to watch The Following?

32 h

About 32 hours: 45 episodes in 3 seasons of about 43 minutes each, aired from 2013 to 2015.

Will I feel good after watching The Following?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Will The Following scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 7 of 10.

What tropes does The Following use?

Even Evil Has TasteBadass in DistressEvil GloatingFingoreCreepy TwinsMama BearAx-CrazyShipper on Deck"The Reason You Suck" SpeechTrue CompanionsLove TriangleFor the Evulzand 210 more

TV Tropes lists 222 tropes for it, including Even Evil Has Taste, Badass in Distress, and Evil Gloating.