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.

Last Updated: 12/6/2025Network: FOXStatus: Ended
Exposed
star
7.45
1348 votes

#1 - 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.

Boxed In
star
7.47
1407 votes

#2 - 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.

Directors: Rob Seidenglanz
Demons
star
7.47
1151 votes

#3 - 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.

Welcome Home
star
7.48
3410 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: Joshua Butler
New Blood
star
7.52
1350 votes

#5 - 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.

Directors: Marcos Siega
The Hunt
star
7.55
1257 votes

#6 - 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.

Guilt
star
7.57
3430 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Joshua Butler
Whips and Regret
star
7.57
3678 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: Marcos Siega
The Edge
star
7.58
1015 votes

#9 - 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.

Let Me Go
star
7.61
3792 votes

#10 - 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.

Directors: Nick Gomez
Love Hurts
star
7.62
3423 votes

#11 - 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.

Flesh & Blood
star
7.63
1204 votes

#12 - 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.

Kill the Messenger
star
7.64
1219 votes

#13 - Kill the Messenger

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/20/2015

After the latest shocking discovery, Ryan finds himself being tracked by the new elusive killer and a game of cat-and-mouse begins leading them both back to Joe Carroll, for different reasons. Max and Mike look for a stolen clue and Mark makes a shocking decision.

Directors: David S. Tuttman
Mad Love
star
7.65
4058 votes

#14 - 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.

Directors: Henry Bronchtein
A Hostile Witness
star
7.65
1318 votes

#15 - A Hostile Witness

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/23/2015

On the day of an important trial, things go awry, causing the FBI to split up to hunt down a missing person. With his team breaking apart, Ryan enlists the help of a former enemy to defeat a greater one.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Fall
star
7.69
3982 votes

#16 - 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.

Directors: Marcos Siega
The Curse
star
7.69
3326 votes

#17 - 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.

Directors: David Von Ancken
A Simple Trade
star
7.70
1118 votes

#18 - 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.

Home
star
7.70
1269 votes

#19 - Home

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/23/2015

As Mark, Kyle and Daisy plan to make a personal attack on Ryan, the FBI receives a tip leading them to a secret location, which gives them a leg up in the case.

For Joe
star
7.71
2582 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Joshua Butler
The End Is Near
star
7.72
3294 votes

#21 - 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.

Directors: Joshua Butler
Watch Now:Amazon
Reunion
star
7.73
1310 votes

#22 - Reunion

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/30/2015

With their latest target on the run, Ryan and Mike follow a tip to a small town to investigate and confirm he isn't seeking protection. While in town, they both discover an even larger threat who has managed to avoid suspicion up until now. Meanwhile, Max struggles to make a confession.

Watch Now:Amazon
Trust Me
star
7.74
2308 votes

#23 - 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.

Directors: Liz Friedlander
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:Amazon
Reflection
star
7.75
2129 votes

#24 - 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.

Directors: Nicole Kassell
Watch Now:Amazon
The Poet's Fire
star
7.75
4067 votes

#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.

Directors: Liz Friedlander
Watch Now:Amazon