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: 6/17/2025Network: FOXStatus: Ended
Exposed
star
7.45
1368 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Boxed In
star
7.47
1427 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Demons
star
7.47
1167 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Welcome Home
star
7.50
3466 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
New Blood
star
7.51
1367 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Hunt
star
7.55
1283 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Edge
star
7.57
1028 votes

#7 - 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Whips and Regret
star
7.58
3744 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Guilt
star
7.58
3494 votes

#9 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Let Me Go
star
7.63
3849 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Flesh & Blood
star
7.63
1225 votes

#11 - 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Kill the Messenger
star
7.64
1240 votes

#12 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Love Hurts
star
7.64
3487 votes

#13 - 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
A Hostile Witness
star
7.65
1341 votes

#14 - 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
Mad Love
star
7.66
4111 votes

#15 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
A Simple Trade
star
7.70
1134 votes

#16 - 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Home
star
7.70
1293 votes

#17 - 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Fall
star
7.70
4037 votes

#18 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Curse
star
7.72
3385 votes

#19 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
For Joe
star
7.72
2624 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Reunion
star
7.73
1335 votes

#21 - 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:AmazonApple TV
The End Is Near
star
7.74
3349 votes

#22 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Trust Me
star
7.75
2353 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:AmazonApple TV
The Poet's Fire
star
7.76
4125 votes

#24 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Resurrection
star
7.77
2718 votes

#25 - Resurrection

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/19/2014

Despite appearances a healed Ryan Hardy has gotten his life together, he continues to obsess about Joe Carroll; a murderous rampage on the anniversary of Joe's death leaves everyone determined to uncover the truth.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV