You’ve seen the commercials. You’ve heard the hype. Now there’s only one thing you want to know: Which of the new fall shows are worth watching and which should be avoided at all costs? In this continuing series, we give you the scoop on some of the most highly-anticipated shows of the season, with today’s subject being FOX’s THE FOLLOWING.
The Boilerplate: Since these pilot presentations may go through numerous rewrites and casting changes prior to premiere, this by no means should be considered an official review. Rather a preview of what one can expect come Fall.
The Plot: After Joe Carroll, one of America’s most notorious serial killers escapes from death row to take care of some unfinished business, the FBI enlists the help of former agent Ryan Hardy, also known as the man responsible for Carroll’s capture nine years prior, to consult on the case.
The Cast: THE FOLLOWING stars Kevin Bacon (X-Men: First Class) as Ryan Hardy, James Purefoy (ROME) as Joe Carroll, Natalie Zea (JUSTIFIED) as Claire Matthews, Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) as Agent Weston, Jeananne Goossen (ALCATRAZ) as Agent Jennifer Mason, Valorie Curry as Denise, Adan Canto as Billy Thomas, Nico Tortorella as Will Wilson and Kyle Catlett as Joey Matthews.
The Snap Judgment: From the terrifying Silence of the Lambs-esque opening scene to the truly shocking cliffhanger of a conclusion, THE FOLLOWING is everything you’d expect from a series that was able to lure Kevin Bacon to television. So much so that the pilot is even able to overcome a somewhat less than stellar set-up — one that goes to great lengths to ensure viewers grasp the fact that Bacon’s ex-FBI agent Ryan Hardy PLAYS BY HIS OWN RULES — by culminating with a thrilling second half that will have audiences on the edge of their seat. Or to put it in another way: Replace terrorists, moles and Kiefer Sutherland with serial killers, moles and Kevin Bacon and you’ve pretty much got a good idea as to the type of hit series Fox has on its hands. Add to that some surprisingly graphic almost Cable levels of violence, the always delightful James Purefoy as Bacon’s nefarious nemesis and the only real negative we can say about the series is that audiences will have to wait until sometime in early 2013 to experience it for themselves.
The Conclusion:: Assuming creator Kevin Williamson can live up to the high bar he set for himself in the pilot without the assistance of his previous partner-in-crime Julie Plec (See: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), we can all but guarantee that THE FOLLOWING will have no trouble attracting one of its very own. 
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THE FOLLOWING premieres sometime in early 2013 on FOX (CTV in Canada)