Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

'The Following' - 'Pilot': Friend or Poe?

What did everybody think of Kevin Bacon's new FOX serial killer drama?

By Alan Sepinwall Monday, Jan 21, 2013 10:00 PM

James Purefoy as serial killer Joe Carroll in "The Following."

Credit: FOX

I posted my review of "The Following" on Friday, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground for this one, based on the other reviews I've seen; the critics either love it or strongly dislike it. I'm assuming your reaction will be much the same way — and am prepared for a great number of you to disagree with me on this one — but as always with a major new show that's just premiered, the floor is now yours.

Did you find the show disturbing? Silly? Somewhere in between? Did you find all the Edgar Allen Poe talk profound or pretentious? Did you like James Purefoy as a hunkier Hannibal Lecter? Did Kevin Bacon work for you as the haunted profiler? Did the various twists and scares work on you, or feel clichéd? And will you watch again next week?

Have at it.

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Related Searches: The Following, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Williamson, James Purefoy

Next 50 Comments

JanieJones

I happened to turn it on 5 minutes while I was doing other things. I'd look and watch for a few and then go back to what I was doing. I can't say I was highly attentive.
I like a lot of Bacon's work so I may give another spin with 1 or 2 episodes but I was bored, quite frankly.
I thought the Poe stuff was interesting but overwrought and drawn out. I felt like I watching a criminal minds episode.
January 21, 2013 at 11:35PM EST Reply to Comment
Intellectual Ninja

Knowing what Williamson does, I am assuming the clichés were introduced for a reason.

I mean, Joe even points them out in his speech at the end of the pilot.

Williamson introduces these clichés into his work, and then takes his time subverting those things we think we know.

Sometimes he does this subtly (think Pacey or Jen in Dawson's Creek) or sometimes not so subtly (the first two Scream films).

I was a little surprised to see Maggie Grace's time on the show end so abruptly (and even more surprised Liam Neeson didn't warn her she was about to be... TAKEN!).

We'll see where it all ends up. I liked Kevin Bacon in this, because, well, I like Kevin Bacon in everything Kevin Bacon does.

It's kind of snuck up on me, but looking back over the last almost 30 years, I think Kevin Bacon may be one of my top-3 favorite actors. I can't remember a bad performance from him. He's been in a few bad films, but even then, he was good.

Purefoy was pretty good in what we got to see of him, but I kinda miss Natalie Zea on Justified, so I can't help but wonder if her talents are better used there. Though she did have a way at looking at Kevin Bacon just so... definitely some chemistry there.

I'm willing to see where this will take me. For. 14. Straight. Weeks!

Hah. When it wants to be, the FOX marketing department is a sledgehammer or some other kind of blunt instrument.
January 21, 2013 at 11:38PM EST Reply to Comment
- chuchundra I think you can get away with winking at the audience in a lighter, comedic movie or TV show. I don't know how well that's going to work in a darker show like The Following.
  
  The pilot is just littered with cliche after cliche and it's annoying as hell. I guess that idea is that Carroll is both the bad guy and the "author" of the piece and so the cliches are there by his design.
  
  Still, he basically a supervillain. At this point, anyone in the show could be a Carroll mole. How is that at all interesting?
  
  I'll probably watch for a while to see if it turns into anything interesting, but I don't have a lot of optimism.
  January 22, 2013 at 12:09PM EST
- Intellectual Ninja Williamson isn't winking at the audience. In Scream, yes. Not here (and not so much in other work like Dawson's Creek). In Vampire Diaries he winks and doesn't wink, it's a fine line.
  
  But here, he is introducing the cliches, as pointed out by Carrol very succinctly, not to wink at us, but to set us up. He's messing with our expectations based upon what we think we know.
  
  At least, that's where I see this going. If not, and it turns into a "hunt for the Serial Killer of the Week" type of procedural, then the joke really is on me.
  
  But I'm looking at what's being set up, and knowing what Williamson does, I'm seeing more. We just have to give it some time.
  
  Look, even Dawson's Creek took two full seasons and about half of season 3 before we understood how Williamson/Berlanti was subverting our expectations for the underachieving underdog Pacey character.
  
  We can't judge based off of one episode. Sometimes (The Office, Parks and Recreation, Star Trek: DS9) we can't judge off of one season, either.
  
  Let the thing breathe a bit. I have faith it'll find its legs.
  
  And if it doesn't, I have faith Kevin Bacon will elevate whatever it turns out to be into something watchable and mostly enjoyable, like Numb3rs was.
  January 22, 2013 at 12:31PM EST
Boricua in Texas

I like Bacon and Purefoy, so I will continue to watch for a while, but the show is a bit lacking. The plot twists with the sleeper accomplices seemed too far-fetched at times. The Poe references made me feel like the writers of this show think their audience consists of a bunch of yahoos who need to be educated about literature. It came across as simplistic and, frankly, a little condescending.
January 21, 2013 at 11:44PM EST Reply to Comment
- Intellectual Ninja See, you say that... but you're only showing either 1) your own education level 2) your snobbery or 3) both.
  
  Go talk to a random 20 year old or 16 year old, and ask them who Edgar Allen Poe is.
  
  $20 bucks says they have no idea.
  
  $50 bucks says they say, "Isn't he that guy from that movie no one saw last year?"
  January 22, 2013 at 12:00AM EST
- Joyeful LOL - I totally get what you're saying. But while I wouldn't call the audience a bunch of yahoos, I'm also willing to bet that the general public doesn't have an in-depth knowledge of the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
  January 22, 2013 at 12:03AM EST
- That Guy I just asked several of both--they all knew who he was.
  January 22, 2013 at 2:13AM EST
- kronicfatigue Did you ask "random" people, or people you interact with on a regular basis and thus probably share some of your characteristics, including education level.
  
  My guess is that the average viewer of a show like this might (might!) Connect the name to the raven poem that was spoofed in tree house of horrors and then have an "oh yeah" reaction to the name telltale heart.
  January 22, 2013 at 10:59AM EST
- Intellectual Ninja Seriously, dude?
  
  If it's one thing the internet has taught us, is people have absolutely no sense of humor (Joyeful being the exception) and that they take themselves WAY too seriously.
  
  Relax, guy. Joke. Duh.
  January 22, 2013 at 11:10AM EST
- adama1843 I found the Poe analysis very simplistic as well. Though we only saw the Poe teaching flashback for a few moments, it wasn't in any way a mind-blowing lesson (as we were constantly told the serial killer's lectures were). I laughed when Kevin Bacon shouted, "Nevermore! 'The Raven!'" No kidding. I would guess just about everyone has read "The Raven," at least in high school...probably one of the reasons that was the name of the silly John Cusack film.
  January 22, 2013 at 5:36PM EST
- bob Hey, we live in a post-Simpsons world. They may not have an encyclopedic knowledge of Poe but most people can at least associate him with the raven.
  January 23, 2013 at 12:58AM EST
MRichard04

Well...I guess it's better than Mob Doctor. I'll stick with it for at least a couple more episodes to see if it gets better. The pilot had its moments...but some of those moments were corny.
January 21, 2013 at 11:49PM EST Reply to Comment
Joyeful

I personally have no problems with TV tropes if they're used well - and I think that the Following was well done. I found it pretty disturbing for network TV, and I'm a lit nerd so I enjoyed the Poe references. I thought both Bacon and Purefoy were quite compelling - especially when their past and presents are contrasted. The lit professor seemed like a completely different person than the jailed serial killer. I'll keep tuning in.

But Now that Kevin Bacon is on TV, do we now reduce his degrees of separation to 5? :-)
January 21, 2013 at 11:55PM EST Reply to Comment
jeff

I wasn't blown away by the pilot, but i think this could be a very entertaining show. It has all the ingredients to be a GREAT show. I'm excited to see where this goes.
January 22, 2013 at 12:01AM EST Reply to Comment
War Chief Shake Zula

I found it an entertaining enough diversion for an hour of TV where "entertaining diversion" is a high compliment next to the toxic reality shows and stillborn sitcoms it's competing against. That said, everything that surrounded this show made it seem as though there would be...well...more. The violence, in particular, was underwhelming, although not unexpectedly so given what venue we're talking about. But the lack of serious consideration of said violence also proved to undercut my larger enjoyment.

That said, this is (once again) the best thing I've seen in the 9pm hour in literally about two years. It's got a good bit of rope because of that. And it feels as though there is some reason to think they'll find a way to work in deeper elements as the season progresses.
January 22, 2013 at 12:16AM EST Reply to Comment
GarySF

I found it all very cliche, with the possible exception of the groupie killing herself with the ice pick. Almost turned it off a few minutes in when Ryan poured vodka into his water bottle -- there's a shocker. This also reminded me of a cross between Silence of the Lambs and Law Abiding Citizen -- the deranged killer calling the shots from INSIDE prison. I'm pretty thick-skinned so didn't find it particularly disturbing, although some of the dialogue was silly. But until something more interesting comes on Monday nights, I'll probably stick with it and see how it goes.
January 22, 2013 at 12:23AM EST Reply to Comment
Brian J

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I can get over the clunky dialogue if it doesn't happen in every episode. The pacing was pretty good, and the acting was pretty solid. The violence is something else, though. I'm not sure I could sit through that every week. Overall, I'll be back next week, because it looks like it could get really intense.

My biggest question is, how does this becomes a long-term series? Perhaps it won't be. Kevin Bacon is supposedly booked for only 15 episodes per season, and it seems like a stretch that this could go on for 80-100 episodes without some absurd developments.

Also, I like of like Matt Zoller Seitz's comparison of this show to terrorism and sleeper agents following 9/11. I somehow doubt that this is what Williamson intended, but it seems to work.

January 22, 2013 at 1:52AM EST Reply to Comment
- kronicfatigue This is about where I was at. it's a drop better than alcatraz and revolution, which is my floor for "entertaining enough to watch" television.
  January 22, 2013 at 11:03AM EST
BigDerf

I enjoyed it. I've watched enough TV to know all these cliches, but as others have said, if they are done well, I really don't mind. Here they are done reasonably well enough, and Bacon and Purefoy are both plenty solid. The excessive moles were well... excessive, but i had suspected the characters as soon as we met them, and the idea that, like Purefoy says in the end, this was all an extended play at Bacon makes the moles make fairly clear sense for Purefoy's longterm plans. It's earned itself a second episode in my book.
January 22, 2013 at 5:21AM EST Reply to Comment
RWGibson13

Mess with Wynona, will you...

"I surrender. I surrender."

BANG. Right between the eyes.

Raylan Givins: Yeah, I surrender too.

RWG (oh, well, I'll give it another week or two...)
January 22, 2013 at 5:33AM EST Reply to Comment
ChampSkins

I actually really enjoyed it. Thought I wouldn't based on your initial review, but I found it to be pretty entertaining. Monday nights are pretty bland from a good TV perspective, so this will work as a decent stand in.
January 22, 2013 at 9:24AM EST Reply to Comment
- gladly That's where I fell. I had such low expectations going in, and there's nothing that I watch regularly on Monday nights. So, I can do other things and keep this on in the background. The serial killer conspiracy network is at least a new and scary twist for me, and Kevin Bacon is good as was promised. Even if I do feel like Poe is getting a bum rap here.
  January 22, 2013 at 10:06AM EST
nik

silly and full of cliches, i think the writer believes his audience lives in the 90's and his waiting for us to be shocked, well that is gonna happen
January 22, 2013 at 10:01AM EST Reply to Comment
Ellen M.

I liked it more than I thought I would. But the heavy handed Poe stuff was annoying to me. It would have been more interesting if they had selected a lesser known literary figure. I know I will be rolling my eyes if I see "never more" written in blood anytime soon.

Bacon was definitely engaging and Purefoy, though hammy, was also interesting to watch. Hard to know if I will care about any of the characters but time will tell. The cult follower idea is something that I need to see more of before I just think it is gimmicky. I'm not sure it will work over time as it may seem like a scifi-body-snatchers sort of thing where anyone can be a bad guy.

But I do enjoy Bacon and Purefoy so I will watch for awhile and give it a chance. Though I'm not sure about sticking with it for 14 weeks in a row.
January 22, 2013 at 10:07AM EST Reply to Comment
Chris

Bacon's performance was fine and,I'll admit, the last five minutes set up what might be an intriguing show--a cult of serial killers isn't THAT cliche, even if the cop/killer relationship seems ripped from Silence of the Lambs.

But the preceding 35 minutes were fairly bland. Not horrible, but nothing exciting or new. When it took Bacon's character--who's supposed to be an expert on the Poe-obsessed killer--five minutes to grasp that "nevermore" was a Poe reference, I nearly changed the channel. You don't need to be a literary genius to make the "Nevermore! Poe! The Raven" link...you simply have to have seen The Simpsons.
January 22, 2013 at 10:08AM EST Reply to Comment
GrammaK

I thought the performances were excellent- Kevin Bacon commands the screen. I found the show intriguing and genuinely spooky- to the extent that I woke up in the middle of the night and could not banish the horrible notion of eyeballs being plucked and snipped, muscle by muscle.
January 22, 2013 at 10:20AM EST Reply to Comment
reader x

Contrived premise, cliched execution. Bacon's pretty good, as usual. But while the idea of the super-genius serial killer who's always several steps ahead of the cops is incredible enough, what stretches it past the breaking point is the notion that the Purefoy character was, upon being jailed, immediately able to recruit a network of followers who simultaneously are 1) mentally disturbed enough to become killers themselves yet 2) competent and clever enough to elude detection and keep secret a conspiracy involving a large number of people. Sorry, but if Purefoy is going to be a comic book super-villain, then maybe Bacon's character needs a super-power or two, or at least a Batmobile, to balance things out...
January 22, 2013 at 11:37AM EST Reply to Comment
- Intellectual Ninja You're assuming a few too many things:
  
  That the cult following he has know each other.
  
  I'm guessing, much like the mentally disturbed people who become terrorists, they either exist as small cells, or as individuals, and only come into contact with each other when it suits Carrol's needs.
  
  Also, there are idiot criminals who get away with their crimes every day. If Carrol is searching out a particular kind of person to contact and convert, I guarantee you he's contacting those with some kind of brains.
  
  And enough with the comic book supervillain crap.
  
  The dude is a charismatic cult leader. These people exist in REAL LIFE, stop pretending they dont'. He's L. Ron Hubbard or Charlie Manson.
  
  He converted the first person he absolutely needed to convert, the guard who was in charge of monitoring his daily activities. Once he did that, he was able to slip into the blank canvas of the internet and then find the people he needed to find over the course of 8 years.
  
  People... stop saying this guy is a "comic book supervillain."
  
  What he did, and how he did it, is very plausible. Cult leaders pray on lost souls. The place to find the most lost souls at any moment IS the internet.
  January 22, 2013 at 1:10PM EST
- reader x Hey, if it works for you, then enjoy. But I found it implausible.
  The Purefoy's character's various pawns don't all have to know each other for it to be a conspiracy, and all it would take to give the game away is one of those mentally unbalanced persons getting too talkative.
  Manson's followers committed very obvious crimes and were caught relatively quickly. The primary concern of Hubbard's followers seems to be making money, so I'm not sure how much that comparison applies.
  Lastly, the preview for next week showed that Purefoy's kids are working with the neighbors that were planted next door to his final victim, so that's at least three of his pawns (not counting his little boy) who know each other; presumably there will be more.
  January 22, 2013 at 1:41PM EST
- Spaceman I'm going to go ahead and keep calling him a comic book supervillain until they stop giving him superpowers, like his amazing hacking ability, or his apparent ninja training.
  January 22, 2013 at 6:13PM EST
- cgeye No, he's worse than a comic book supervillain. He's boring.
  
  He can't even be bothered to be original in his plotting, because he lets his weakness for Poe make his plans too predictable; he can't be bothered with decent costuming, to keep us entertained; and, his sidekicks (with all the websites he created that aren't encrypted or locked down, since the FBI found 'em, of *course* his groupies know each other) are also too predictable.
  
  If they're too nice, or normal, they're moles -- which removes all complexity in *their* characterization, which make the episode-only arcs superflous, because those characters only serve the plot mechanics, not their own stories. Heck, even Criminal Minds bothers to give each and every villain of the week *some* motivation for their crime spree -- these clowns kill because He Says So. Zombies have more motivation and depth.
  
  Sorry, he's a comic book supervillain of the lowest water. If he weren't, they wouldn't have bothered to cast an actor with the standard hoity-toity British RP accent. That's the sign of supervillain quality.
  January 23, 2013 at 2:46AM EST
Jobin00

The violence was gratuitous and the reveals of these sleeper cell type followers popping up are already making my eyes roll.

I'll continue to watch it, only because there really isn't anything else in that time slot currently.
January 22, 2013 at 12:12PM EST Reply to Comment
- Jim You know we're going to find out Shawn Ashmore is another of those sleepers, right?
  January 22, 2013 at 7:22PM EST
Dezbot

I need a couple more eps to see if the parts I like take over, or if the clichés and florid language overwhelm even Kevin Bacon, who was very good. Not sure I want to watch a series about a modern-day Manson family, though, especially if it's not well-done (also because I thought the plot of the killer going after the victim who got away would have been better as a movie). BTW, Carroll going after Maggie Grace's character put him more on par with Jason than Lecter (the second FRIDAY THE 13TH starts with Jason killing the Final Girl from the first film, a pattern which I think was repeated in the other sequels, though I can't be sure because I didn't see them all).
January 22, 2013 at 1:10PM EST Reply to Comment
Teklanika

I thought it was pretty good except for the part near the end when Bacon tried to lose it and just looked silly.

It's better than a lot of the new stuff I've seen lately. I'll keep watching for now.
January 22, 2013 at 1:27PM EST Reply to Comment
ralphgoings

I would give it another episode, but it looks like too many ways for this criminal to be stopped, and that's annoying. He's a cult favorite?
Fox certainly gave a graphic show a shot, maybe too graphic for a 9pm slot on a Monday. Good acting.
January 22, 2013 at 4:31PM EST Reply to Comment
Dallas

Does anybody know the song that played in the last 5 minutes of the show. When joe carroll is talking about his friends.
January 22, 2013 at 4:56PM EST Reply to Comment
- kronicfatigue Didn't the show begin and end with marlyn (sp) manson's cover of sweet dreams? Or are you talking about a song before that?
  January 22, 2013 at 7:21PM EST
- cgeye If I hear Manson's version one more time during a horror TV show or movie, I'll take my beloved Eurythmics Barbie and shove it down the music supervisor's throat. Why not play MM's Apples of Sodom instead, for Pete's sake?
  January 23, 2013 at 2:52AM EST
Jim

I was a little surprised at the eye gouging -- really, FOX? Really? Otherwise, it seemed like a straight up 24 remake with serial killers and art-as-life philosobabble. (Did anyone really understand that?)

I like Kevin Bacon, and I might give it a second look. But it was definitely not at the level I would have expected.
January 22, 2013 at 7:21PM EST Reply to Comment
bitchstolemyremote

The amateur level of analysis is definitely elementary-school. Purefoy and Bacon are excellent, and Zea is okay, but everyone else is far too underdeveloped, the plot is lukewarm and far too obvious.

Our take: http://wp.me/p2MfmI-24i
January 22, 2013 at 8:02PM EST Reply to Comment
Lee

Yup - cliches and I really don't like shows that incorporate humor - well written, that is. Justified, on the other hand, is loaded with stuff that constantly surprises, horrifies, saddens and amuses me. Only one on tv right now that I'm watching with both eyes and ears.

Anything good on the horizon anyone knows about? I know Parade's End is up on HBO next month and looking forward to watching that again but anything else? I could use some good suggestions....Thanks.
January 22, 2013 at 10:20PM EST Reply to Comment
Guest

Zzzzzzzz.....
January 23, 2013 at 3:04AM EST Reply to Comment
starling

I really enjoyed Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Anthony Hopkins as Dr Lecter was mesmerizing. Hannibal only killed people who were trying to catch him or those that he thought the world would be better off without. The problem with Carroll is I don't find him interesting. The Poe stuff is tiresome. I am a huge fan of Kevin Bacon. I wish they would have just cast him as a profiler without this involved story where he will be tracking a follower each week. I'm actually more interested in the new Hannibal series on NBC if they ever decide to run it. I think it's going to be killed off as a Summer replacement. 13 episodes and see you later
January 23, 2013 at 3:40AM EST Reply to Comment
gcm85

This was as bad as advertised on the Firewall and Iceberg podcast. And I'm only halfway through. It's about as well thought out and purposeful as the Saw sequels. I thought Bacon and Purefoy were fine. The problems for me were in the writing and production, not the performances.
January 23, 2013 at 11:19AM EST Reply to Comment
bigperm33

Wow. This show was simply awful. I get it is TV and it is entertainment, but it is just quite simply beyond believable. There is absolutely no way a person on death row could plan what that guy planned. Every visitor to a prison is logged, all communications by an inmate (let alone a death row inmate) are tracked. I did laugh out loud when after the escape, someone says to Kevin Bacon, "we searched his cell for forensics and didn't find anything." Do they know what forensics are? They knew who committed the crime, they knew it was his cell. What exactly were they looking for in terms of forensics? I absolutely will not be watching another episode. Or at the end when they say, the cliche cop show line, "he will only talk to you." The guy was already on death row. Why would they care if he talked or not? They knew he killed prison guards. Why would they care if he talked or not? Kevin bacon knew he killed that woman. Why would they care if he talked or not. When you have all the evidence you need (and when the guy is ALREADY on death row), you don't need a confession. Just dumb.
January 23, 2013 at 10:08PM EST Reply to Comment
bigperm33

Write a comment...Wow. This show was simply awful. I get it is TV and it is entertainment, but it is just quite simply beyond believable. There is absolutely no way a person on death row could plan what that guy planned. Every visitor to a prison is logged, all communications by an inmate (let alone a death row inmate) are tracked. I did laugh out loud when after the escape, someone says to Kevin Bacon, "we searched his cell for forensics and didn't find anything." Do they know what forensics are? They knew who committed the crime, they knew it was his cell. What exactly were they looking for in terms of forensics? I absolutely will not be watching another episode. Or at the end when they say, the cliche cop show line, "he will only talk to you." The guy was already on death row. Why would they care if he talked or not? They knew he killed prison guards. Why would they care if he talked or not? Kevin bacon knew he killed that woman. Why would they care if he talked or not. When you have all the evidence you need (and when the guy is ALREADY on death row), you don't need a confession. Just dumb.
January 23, 2013 at 10:08PM EST Reply to Comment

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Comments

Option 1

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Option 3

Joyeful LOL - I totally get what you're saying. But while I wouldn't call the audience a bunch of yahoos, I'm also willing to bet that the general public doesn't have an in-depth knowledge of the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

That Guy I just asked several of both--they all knew who he was.

Intellectual Ninja Seriously, dude?If it's one thing the internet has taught us, is people have absolutely no sense of humor (Joyeful being the exception) and that they take themselves WAY too seriously.Relax, guy. Joke. Duh.

bob Hey, we live in a post-Simpsons world. They may not have an encyclopedic knowledge of Poe but most people can at least associate him with the raven.

MRichard04 Well...I guess it's better than Mob Doctor. I'll stick with it for at least a couple more episodes to see if it gets better. The pilot had its moments...but some of those moments were corny.

jeff I wasn't blown away by the pilot, but i think this could be a very entertaining show. It has all the ingredients to be a GREAT show. I'm excited to see where this goes.

kronicfatigue This is about where I was at. it's a drop better than alcatraz and revolution, which is my floor for "entertaining enough to watch" television.

RWGibson13 Mess with Wynona, will you... "I surrender. I surrender." BANG. Right between the eyes. Raylan Givins: Yeah, I surrender too. RWG (oh, well, I'll give it another week or two...)

ChampSkins I actually really enjoyed it. Thought I wouldn't based on your initial review, but I found it to be pretty entertaining. Monday nights are pretty bland from a good TV perspective, so this will work as a decent stand in.

nik silly and full of cliches, i think the writer believes his audience lives in the 90's and his waiting for us to be shocked, well that is gonna happen

GrammaK I thought the performances were excellent- Kevin Bacon commands the screen. I found the show intriguing and genuinely spooky- to the extent that I woke up in the middle of the night and could not banish the horrible notion of eyeballs being plucked and snipped, muscle by muscle.

Spaceman I'm going to go ahead and keep calling him a comic book supervillain until they stop giving him superpowers, like his amazing hacking ability, or his apparent ninja training.

Jobin00 The violence was gratuitous and the reveals of these sleeper cell type followers popping up are already making my eyes roll. I'll continue to watch it, only because there really isn't anything else in that time slot currently.

Jim You know we're going to find out Shawn Ashmore is another of those sleepers, right?

Teklanika I thought it was pretty good except for the part near the end when Bacon tried to lose it and just looked silly. It's better than a lot of the new stuff I've seen lately. I'll keep watching for now.

ralphgoings I would give it another episode, but it looks like too many ways for this criminal to be stopped, and that's annoying. He's a cult favorite?Fox certainly gave a graphic show a shot, maybe too graphic for a 9pm slot on a Monday. Good acting.

Dallas Does anybody know the song that played in the last 5 minutes of the show. When joe carroll is talking about his friends.

kronicfatigue Didn't the show begin and end with marlyn (sp) manson's cover of sweet dreams? Or are you talking about a song before that?

cgeye If I hear Manson's version one more time during a horror TV show or movie, I'll take my beloved Eurythmics Barbie and shove it down the music supervisor's throat. Why not play MM's Apples of Sodom instead, for Pete's sake?

bitchstolemyremote The amateur level of analysis is definitely elementary-school. Purefoy and Bacon are excellent, and Zea is okay, but everyone else is far too underdeveloped, the plot is lukewarm and far too obvious.Our take: http://wp.me/p2MfmI-24i

Guest Zzzzzzzz.....

gcm85 This was as bad as advertised on the Firewall and Iceberg podcast. And I'm only halfway through. It's about as well thought out and purposeful as the Saw sequels. I thought Bacon and Purefoy were fine. The problems for me were in the writing and production, not the performances.

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Intellectual Ninja Seriously, dude?

If it's one thing the internet has taught us, is people have absolutely no sense of humor (Joyeful being the exception) and that they take themselves WAY too seriously.

Relax, guy. Joke. Duh.

MRichard04

Well...I guess it's better than Mob Doctor. I'll stick with it for at least a couple more episodes to see if it gets better. The pilot had its moments...but some of those moments were corny.

jeff

I wasn't blown away by the pilot, but i think this could be a very entertaining show. It has all the ingredients to be a GREAT show. I'm excited to see where this goes.

RWGibson13

Mess with Wynona, will you...

"I surrender. I surrender."

BANG. Right between the eyes.

Raylan Givins: Yeah, I surrender too.

RWG (oh, well, I'll give it another week or two...)

ChampSkins

I actually really enjoyed it. Thought I wouldn't based on your initial review, but I found it to be pretty entertaining. Monday nights are pretty bland from a good TV perspective, so this will work as a decent stand in.

nik

silly and full of cliches, i think the writer believes his audience lives in the 90's and his waiting for us to be shocked, well that is gonna happen

GrammaK

I thought the performances were excellent- Kevin Bacon commands the screen. I found the show intriguing and genuinely spooky- to the extent that I woke up in the middle of the night and could not banish the horrible notion of eyeballs being plucked and snipped, muscle by muscle.

Jobin00

The violence was gratuitous and the reveals of these sleeper cell type followers popping up are already making my eyes roll.

I'll continue to watch it, only because there really isn't anything else in that time slot currently.

Teklanika

I thought it was pretty good except for the part near the end when Bacon tried to lose it and just looked silly.

It's better than a lot of the new stuff I've seen lately. I'll keep watching for now.

ralphgoings

I would give it another episode, but it looks like too many ways for this criminal to be stopped, and that's annoying. He's a cult favorite?
Fox certainly gave a graphic show a shot, maybe too graphic for a 9pm slot on a Monday. Good acting.

Dallas

Does anybody know the song that played in the last 5 minutes of the show. When joe carroll is talking about his friends.

bitchstolemyremote

The amateur level of analysis is definitely elementary-school. Purefoy and Bacon are excellent, and Zea is okay, but everyone else is far too underdeveloped, the plot is lukewarm and far too obvious.

Our take: http://wp.me/p2MfmI-24i

Guest

Zzzzzzzz.....

gcm85

This was as bad as advertised on the Firewall and Iceberg podcast. And I'm only halfway through. It's about as well thought out and purposeful as the Saw sequels. I thought Bacon and Purefoy were fine. The problems for me were in the writing and production, not the performances.

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