Fans are rediscovering a 'jaw-dropping' crime thriller that can be binged in as little as a week, with some claiming it rivals Broadchurch in quality. All episodes of the dark serial killer drama The Following have recently been added to Prime Video. However, those without an Amazon Prime subscription can access all three seasons of the programme on Channel 5's streaming platform at no additional charge.
Episodes originally broadcast from 2013 until the third and final series concluded in 2015, with 15 episodes per season. According to the synopsis, the FBI recruits former agent Ryan Hardy, despite his having left the service carrying both physical and emotional scars. He is drawn back into active duty following the escape from death row of notorious serial killer Joe Carroll. Carroll previously worked as an English professor and novelist.
Obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe, he brutally murdered 14 women before his capture. Hardy and the FBI discover that during his imprisonment, Carroll had been assembling a cult-like following. These recruits demonstrate their willingness to commit murder, carry out abductions, and even sacrifice their own lives to assist Carroll in pursuing his deadly objectives and achieving his ultimate aim: exacting revenge on Ryan Hardy. The opening series follows Hardy's efforts to recapture Carroll while his own family becomes endangered.
Subsequent seasons introduce fresh villains and other menacing cults to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Kevin Bacon leads the cast as FBI agent Ryan Hardy throughout all three seasons, while James Purefoy — best known for his roles in fantasy and period dramas such as Rome and The Witcher — portrays killer Joe Carroll.
The series was created by Kevin Williamson, the mastermind also responsible for the Scream film franchise, Dawson's Creek, The Vampire Diaries and Netflix's The Waterfront. Following the conclusion of the entire series, one devoted fan took to Reddit seeking recommendations for similar shows to watch. Among the most popular responses was the suggestion: 'Just as good as The Following are Broadchurch, The Killing, The Sinner, Mindhunter and Hannibal.'
Fellow fans were quick to share their own views on The Following, with one admitting to racing through the entire series after stumbling across it on a streaming platform. They said: 'I binged all three seasons in just one week. The first season was jaw droppingly incredible to me.' Another enthusiastic viewer added: 'Wildly underrated and unpredictable. Worthy of your time!' while another offered a word of caution: 'Definitely not for the squeamish though. So many twists and turns, you never know who is going to be a goody or baddie. Amazing acting James Purefoy is brilliantly evil!'
Someone else posted: 'This show is simply one of the best shows. Literally right from episode one I was hooked. It's unbelievable how good this show is. This show, when it came out on streaming literally messed up my sleeping schedule. I wouldn't be able to go to sleep without knowing what happens next.'
The Following is streaming on Prime Video and Channel 5.
