AmyStrange.org and the UNeXpLaiNed ©Copyrighted by Dave Ayotte & Caty Bergman

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     2013-JAN-21 [MON] 20:31 PST

"The Following": Series Premiere on FOX

We're not sure just yet how good this show is going to be, but we can 
   certainly see some signs that something big is about to happen. 
   Something as big, at least culturally anyway, as the "X-Files" and 
   "Dexter" were and are respectively.

The hype is big, and the buzz is even bigger. And best of all is the 
   packaging. From the visually stunning teasers to the excellent cast 
   choices, it looks perfect. Almost too perfect really.



THE PREMISES:
SOURCE: http://www.fox.com/the-following/

"THE FBI estimates there are currently up to 300 active 
   serial killers in the United States alone. What would happen if 
   these killers had a way of communicating and connecting with each 
   other? What if they were able to work together and form alliances? 
   What if one brilliant and charismatic, yet psychotic mastermind was 
   able to bring them all together and activate a cult of believers 
   following his every command?

"Welcome to 'THE FOLLOWING,' the psychological thriller from creator/ 
   executive producer Kevin Williamson ('The Vampire Diaries,' 
   'Dawson's Creek,' the 'Scream' franchise) and starring Golden Globe 
   winner and Emmy Award nominee Kevin Bacon in his primetime series 
   debut... "



MAIN CAST AND CHARACTERS:
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Following

Kevin Bacon as RYAN HARDY, a former FBI agent who 
   retires on disability after catching Joe Carroll. Hardy is called 
   back to service when Carroll escapes from prison.

James Purefoy as JOE CARROLL, a professor of English literature 
   and a serial killer. While in prison, Carroll forms a cult of 
   followers online, before escaping from prison to execute a plan of 
   revenge focused on Hardy.

Natalie Zea as CLAIRE MATTHEWS, Joe Carroll's ex-wife, who also 
   had a relationship with Ryan Hardy.

Annie Parisse as DEBRA PARKER, an FBI specialist on 
   cult behavior, called in to head the investigation of Carroll and 
   his cult.

Shawn Ashmore as MIKE WESTON, a young FBI agent 
   whose hero is Ryan Hardy. Weston makes a study of Joe Carroll while 
   in training, and is the team's expert on the case.

Maggie Grace as Dr. SARAH FULLER, the only survivor of an attack 
   by Joe Carroll, when she is rescued by Ryan Hardy.



SERIAL KILLERS in GENERAL
On the "Official Website" for the show, FOX explained what the show was 
   about, and started it off with an FBI estimated number 
   of serial killers that it believes (or estimates) is the number of 
   serial killers currently working the USA.

That number is, according to the FOX website, 300. Some people may 
   think this is an exaggeration, but we think this is a conservative 
   number. The interestinf thing about this series that wefind 
   intriguing is the premise that one serial killer has figured out who 
   all these serial killers are and organized them all together to 
   follow his lead. We want to know how that worked. It's as good a 
   reason as any to watch a new TV series.



THE SHOW ITSELF
Whenever we watch a serious movie, Dave only has one real rule. 
   Someone has to die in the first five minutes. In the beginning of 
   this premiere, five people die, and quite bloodily at that. For 
   Dave, that was enough, but for me, it wasn't. I like value, not 
   quantity. Dave just likes blood or death or both. The "serious" 
   movies we mostly watch together are horror movies, although we 
   have watched classics too like "Casablance," but even in that 
   movie, someone is killed in the first five minutes.

As we watch movies, we also discuss them. This show was no different, 
   so sometimes we miss things, like how the serial killer escaped.
   It moved quickly through the introductory phases and within the 
   first twenty minutes, we knew the basic characters and premise of 
   the show.

A serial killer escapes, and starts killing again, while at the same 
   time connecting up with an underground network of serial killers, 
   that he created, to start them up on an organized killing spree, or 
   something like that.

The cinematography was dark, but not overly dark. It wasn't gritty dark, 
   but it was intense. You forget for a second sometimes that you are 
   watching free TV and not a cable pay channel like Showtime 
   where shows like the forementioned "Dexter" appears. It is as bloody 
   intense as that, but only time will tell if it will become better than 
   the blood.

Blood does sell, but it has to be better than blood to be culturally 
   significant like "Dexter".