Let me start off by saying that I am one of the biggest
“Batman” fans on the planet. I have a “Batman” tattoo sleeve and every statue
from all the games.
Now Fox has sure hit cable television with one of the best
pilots for show that I have ever seen. “The Following” follows retired FBI
agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) as he looks to end the massacre of serial killer
Dr. Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). Hardy’s success came from putting away this
mass serial killer obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe and a “hopeless romantic”.
To not spoil the episode I’ll set the scene of the series,
which is depicted strongly. For one I saw a nod at Bacon’s previous role in
“X-men First Class” because the opening music which showed Bacon’s character
reminded me of the “First Class” instrumental music.
To sum up the first episode it actually finishes a older
story between the characters then begins a new one. We see flashback sequences
through each characters introductions which paint a vivid violent seen of the
hunt for Dr.Carroll. Then at the end a tense standoff between in a jail holding
cell sets it’s sights on a brand new series Fox is using.
This final scene is set up just like the scene between
“Batman” and “Joker”, when “Joker” is placed under arrest in Nolan’s
blockbuster “The Dark Knight” (2008). Hardy (Bacon) being “Batman” is looked at
a hero and insightful in stopping Dr.Carroll’s (Purefoy) character, which
resembles the “Joker” in terms of insanity.
Hardy’s sanity is called in to question many times in the
episode especially the fact that he is a alcoholic much like “Batman’s” sanity.
I believe Fox utilized Nolan’s
ideas of the meeting of The Dark Knight and his greatest rival because it
worked and made over a billion dollars.
And so far this worked. Dr.Carroll uses the calling card of writing
“Nevermore” on the wall in blood, which again if you remember Joker left his
own playing cards at the scenes of his crimes.
The premise of the first episode is Dr.Carroll escaping from
prison to finish his last victim. He is so obsessed with the fact that Edgar
Allan Poe never finished his last book that he could not let his last victim
live. The “Tell-Tale Heart” and
“Raven” are consistently mentioned throughout the episode and the episodes
music makes nods to this by consistently having a heart beat. This is done for
other reason to because Hardy’s character was stabbed in the heart during the
fight between Carroll when Carroll was arrested. Leaving Hardy with a pace
maker and bad heart. The beating heart is also used in tense bringing
situations that also seem to have horror movie elements.
This episode truly left me on my seat through the flashbacks
and actual present. Fox after every commercial warned viewer discretion advised
which they weren’t kidding. This show seems to be a lot darker than Nolan’s
PG13 films and goes at no expense to show the blood and gore of every death
scene. I do however question Fox’s choice for timeslot knowing how graphic the
show is but then I think this could possible be a replacement for “House”.
The title of the show “The Following” is explained in the
episode to which it is a cult. Dr.Carroll is so perceptive that he is able to
get people to join this “cult” which he calls his “friends” through chat rooms
while in jail. This makes getting his last victim easy also leaving the
watchers wondering who is in this “cult” and who isn’t.
The previews depict a battle strong between good and evil
just like “Batman” and also how far everyone will have to go. That breaking point
which has to be met, and Fox has promised us that and more in 12 straight weeks
of “The Following.”
Greatest Review’s gives “The Following” (2013) (Pilot Ep.1)
5 stars out of 5, for a riveting story. Also by being able to end one story and
begin another without leaving out any of the details in just their first
episode. We also praise the fact that Fox uses themes from Christopher Nolan’s “The
Dark Knight” to make a damn good show.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>By:
Gabriel Roderick
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