The WORST episodes of The Following
Every episode of The Following ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Following!
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.
#1 - Welcome Home
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/11/2013
Ryan and Parker are upset when the FBI makes Nick Donovan (Mike Colter) lead investigator as the search for Joey Matthews and Joe Carroll continues; a follower and Joe Carroll form a deadly plan.
#2 - Demons
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/4/2015
The investigation leads the team to a dangerous serial killer linked to Theo, while Theo and Penny seek refuge from an unknown source with the means of helping them disappear. Meanwhile, Ryan struggles with recent events, sending him into a downward spiral, and the search continues into which agent has been accessing Daisy’s laptop from inside the FBI.
#3 - Exposed
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/16/2015
Ryan, Weston and Max hunt down the person responsible for the latest atrocity, leading Ryan to take a deadly risk. Meanwhile, Mark questions Kyle and Daisy's loyalty.
#4 - Whips and Regret
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/1/2013
Ryan and Parker try to recover after losing Claire to Joe's followers; Claire has an unexpected reunion as she adjusts to life at the mansion; Jacob struggles with Emma's betrayal.
#5 - Guilt
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/25/2013
Joe sends followers to capture Claire; Jacob's stress over recent decisions affects his reunion with Emma.
#6 - Love Hurts
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/18/2013
Ryan and Parker try to outwit their new leader; Joe demands information on Claire's location from Ryan; past followers return.
#7 - Let Me Go
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/4/2013
Joe Carroll makes a case to be transferred to a different facility, raising Ryan's suspicions; Emma and Joey come across one of Roderick's men.
#8 - Reflection
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/17/2014
In an attempt to learn new information, Ryan and Max capture a suspect. But complications lead to a game of dangerous cat and mouse. Also, Joe grows accustomed to his surroundings and establishes a plan of his own, while Emma realizes she is in dangerous company.
#9 - Mad Love
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/11/2013
Maggie devises a plan to put an end to Hardy; Paul reveals a secret that Jacob has been hiding from Emma; Hardy and Claire's relationship is explored.
#10 - The Fall
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/25/2013
A new follower reveals Carroll's true intentions; Hardy tries to turn Jacob, Emma and Paul against one another; Emma makes a surprising decision.
#11 - The Curse
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/8/2013
Ryan finds a follower who may be able to lead the way to Joe Carroll; Agent Weston returns, possibly more affected by his run-in with the cult than anyone realized; Claire and Emma come together for the first time since Joey's abduction.
#12 - Havenport
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/15/2013
When Roderick's role as sheriff is called into question, he makes a shocking decision that impacts Joey; Ryan tries to gain the trust of one of Joe's followers.
#13 - The End Is Near
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/22/2013
Weston, Parker and Ryan plan to storm the mansion, but Joe has already orchestrated his escape; followers create a diversion at the town evacuation center, causing panic and leading to the abduction of an FBI official.
#14 - Trust Me
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/3/2014
The FBI becomes more aware of Ryan's undercover agenda as he searches for a link between the tragedies in New York and the remaining members of the Havenport cult; a shocking event leads to Joe starting a new plan.
#15 - Boxed In
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/9/2015
Ryan may have been able to connect Andrew to Mark, but he and the FBI are unsure of how things may tie into Joe Carroll. Meanwhile, tension mounts among Mark, Kyle and Daisy, and Ryan is placed in a serious situation.
#16 - The Hunt
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/6/2015
With only a few days before Joe Carroll’s execution, Ryan and Mike shift their focus to a new threat. Meanwhile, after being approved to start work again, Max rejoins the task force and comes dangerously close to a deadly menace.
#17 - The Edge
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/11/2015
An increasingly reckless Ryan continues his search for Theo, as Mark and Daisy discover information that leads them closer to the FBI than ever and puts Mike in a dangerous situation.
#18 - Flesh & Blood
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/13/2015
The FBI closes in on a suspect whom they believe to be the culprit behind the latest murders, but Ryan is convinced the killer is still out there, leading him to dig deeper into dangerous territory. Joe undergoes evaluation in the days leading up to his execution and a new threat tries to cover his tracks.
#19 - For Joe
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/27/2014
Ryan receives mysterious phone calls that lead to an encounter with a major threat; revelations about Joe's new life come to light.
#20 - A Simple Trade
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/11/2015
A deadly deal is made, but things don’t go as planned, and Ryan makes a decision for his future.
#21 - New Blood
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/2/2015
Joe Carroll is on death row and his followers are no more, but a fresh series of brutal killings reopens old wounds for Ryan Hardy and a terrifying new nemesis awaits him and the team.
#22 - Freedom
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/31/2014
Ryan and Mike suspect a new cult leader may be on the rise after another deadly massacre; Joe confirms his new plans for the Korban cult.
#23 - Teacher's Pet
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/24/2014
Joe's power over the Korban cult grows, new followers carry out his demands; Max and Ryan try to contact Joe and identify his whereabouts.
#24 - The Siege
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/18/2013
As Hardy and the team make their next move, panic spreads at the followers' hideout; Carroll seeks out a lawyer from his past.
#25 - The Poet's Fire
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/4/2013
Hardy and the FBI try to predict the actions of a new follower named Rick (Michael Drayer); Paul's jealousy reaches a breaking point; the beginning of Carroll and Hardy's relationship is revealed.