Pilot Review: The Following

The Following (FOX)
Premiered January 21 at 9pm

I had heard a lot about this show going into it, and my main feeling was that it didn’t seem like something that network television could pull off as well as cable might be able to. This pilot offering was much darker and more violent than I had expected, creating a universe in which this deranged mind of Joe Carroll exists and in which he has enlisted a terrifying cult following to help him carry out his crimes. The sheer magnitude of his operation is appalling, and does require some suspension of disbelief, to formulate the idea that both Sarah Fuller’s gay neighbors and Claire Matthews’ nanny were secretly posing as good people for years so that they could complete their specific tasks when called upon. That’s what makes this show especially frightening, since anyone – we’ve already seen a prison guard and a cop – can be a disciple of Carroll’s, ready to do his bidding and help brutally murder some unsuspecting victim. The cutting out of the eyes is especially gruesome, and that makes this show considerably more disturbing to watch than anything from all of the seasons of “Dexter” so far. Kevin Bacon isn’t necessarily the most talented actor, but he’s a good fit here for this edgy role, and James Purefoy is over-the-top but sufficiently scary as Carroll, who may well be able to inflict more fear from behind bars than most killers could out in the open. Shawn Ashmore’s excitable profiler and Annie Parisse’s by-the-book federal agent still could use some finessing, and I’m excited by the role that Natalie Zea will be able to play here. The use of Marilyn Manson’s “Sweet Dreams” is extremely effective, and this show is one of the moodiest network dramas I’ve seen in a while. I’m not yet sure how this show will play out, but I was sufficiently hooked by this intense opener.

How will it work as a series? Now that Carroll has been apprehended, it’s unlikely that he’ll try to escape again, instead sending his minions all across the country to make Ryan’s life miserable. That could make for an oddly formulaic pattern, but I suspect that this show is creative enough to remain compelling for an extended period of time, and it’s just a question of what direction the show goes in, opting for even more unsettling material or a less horrific view of the world.
How long will it last? FOX hasn’t had a drama hit in a while, and this could be a real boon for the reality- and comedy-driven network. The pilot numbers were strong but will have to stay that way if the show doesn’t want to earn the same fate as “Alcatraz.” Buzz should be good enough, and I think this one will be FOX’s big hit of the season.

Pilot grade: B+