Kevin Bacon's psychological thriller The Following is available on Netflix and has been hailed as so addictive that some viewers report staying up until 3am unable to stop watching.
The American series follows Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), a troubled hard-drinking former FBI agent, and his quest to recapture serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). When Carroll escapes custody, Hardy is brought out of retirement to help the FBI hunt him down and protect Carroll's ex-wife, Claire Matthews, and their son, Joey.
Fans praise 'dangerously addictive' show
The recommendation came after one individual turned to social media seeking suggestions. In a TikTok post, Robert wrote: "Give me a dangerously addictive Netflix show to watch that will have me binging until 3am begging for another episode." Numerous people proposed various shows, but one standout recommendation was The Following.
One person wrote: "The Following, had to make myself go to bed at 6am could not stop watching! A 10/10."
Plot and characters
Set in New York City, Virginia and Maryland, Carroll surrounds himself with a group of like-minded individuals he met while in prison, turning them into a cult of killers, making Emma Hill, played by Valorie Curry, his right-hand woman. Carroll's son Joey Matthews (Kyle Catlett) is abducted by his father's followers as the rest of the FBI team discover it is the first step in his wider plan to escape custody and be reunited with his ex-wife Claire, played by Natalie Zea.
The second series focuses on a fresh cult, headed by Lily Gray (Connie Nielsen) and her twin sons Mark and Luke Gray (both played by Sam Underwood), as they start making public declarations to draw Carroll from hiding while everyone assumes he's deceased. The third series tracks Hardy's existence following Carroll's capture and depicts Kevin Bacon's character in a more positive state.
Ratings and viewing options
The Following aired for three series from 2013 to 2015. Fox axed it due to a consistent drop in live television audiences. Despite launching in 2013 as an enormous breakout success, attracting over 15 million viewers for its debut episode, it failed to sustain that popularity. During the second series, average audiences fell to approximately 5.2 million, while the final series witnessed live broadcasts tumble to roughly 3 million viewers.
To catch The Following, you can stream it on Channel 5 free of charge with adverts, or on Netflix with a subscription. Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Sky Store all offer options to rent or purchase individual episodes or complete series.
