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The Best Episodes of The Following Season 1

Every episode of The Following Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Following Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 58m•Peaking at 8.3/10

Notorious serial killer Joe Carroll, after being found guilty of murdering 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature, escapes from death row. The FBI calls former agent Ryan Hardy to

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Following Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.3/10(2640 votes)

    S1:E1

    Former FBI agent, Ryan Hardy is called out of retirement to track down Joe Carroll after he escapes from prison. Hardy works closely with an FBI team, which includes young, razor-sharp Mike Weston. The investigation also leads Hardy back to Claire Matthews, Carroll's ex-wife and the mother of the criminal's young son, Joey. Hardy soon discovers that Carroll has an ever-growing cult of followers.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Kevin Williamson

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  2. The Following Season 1 Episode 13 - Havenport
    7.9/10(1132 votes)

    S1:E13

    The Havenport Police Department is brought onto the case and Roderick's role as sheriff is called into question, which leads him to make a shocking decision that threatens the safety of Joey. Meanwhile, Ryan goes against the FBI, hoping to gain the trust of one of Joe's followers.

    Director:Nicole Kassell
    Writers:Vincent Angell, David Wilcox

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  3. The Following Season 1 Episode 2 - Chapter Two
    7.7/10(1779 votes)

    S1:E2

    Ryan Hardy, Agent Mike Weston and FBI Specialist Debra Parker, who is brought in to lead the investigation into Joe Carroll and his followers, dive deeper into the history of Carroll's psyche. To do so, they enlist the help of Carroll's ex-wife, and Hardy's former love, Claire Matthews. Meanwhile, Emma, Jacob and Paul keep Claire's son Joey at a house in the country as they prepare for their next move

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Kevin Williamson

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  4. The Following Season 1 Episode 5 - The Siege
    7.7/10(1366 votes)

    S1:E5

    When Claire receives a phone call that may lead her to find her son, the FBI and Ryan Hardy set their next move into motion, causing panic at the farmhouse. Meanwhile, Joe Carroll seeks a lawyer from his past to send a message that has deadly results.

    Director:Phil Abraham
    Writer:Rebecca Dameron

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  5. The Following Season 1 Episode 15 - The Final Chapter
    7.7/10(1265 votes)

    S1:E15

    In the explosive Season One finale, Ryan races to stop Joe Carroll before his endgame reaches a deadly conclusion. Meanwhile, Joe leads Claire to a special location and the ultimate showdown between good and evil takes place.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Kevin Williamson

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  6. The Following Season 1 Episode 6 - The Fall
    7.6/10(1384 votes)

    S1:E6

    Joe Carroll's true intentions are revealed through a new follower, Charlie. As Ryan learns of Joe's plans, he tries to stall Emma, Jacob and Paul by taunting them in hopes of turning them against each other. Meanwhile, Emma makes a shocking decision.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Shintaro Shimosawa

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  7. The Following Season 1 Episode 7 - Let Me Go
    7.6/10(1297 votes)

    S1:E7

    With the help of attorney Olivia Warren, Joe Carroll makes a case against Ryan and the FBI to be transferred to a different facility, but Ryan suspects a larger plan may be at play. Meanwhile, Emma and Joey arrive at a meeting point and come across another one of Roderick's men who has a secret of his own.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writer:Seamus Kevin Fahey

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  8. The Following Season 1 Episode 3 - The Poet's Fire
    7.5/10(1557 votes)

    S1:E3

    A new follower is found in Rick, who is on a determined path to follow through on Carroll's orders. Hardy and the FBI attempt to predict Rick's course of revenge, which leads to a surprising outcome. Meanwhile, Paul's jealousy over Emma and Jacob's relationship leads to a breaking point, and the origin of Hardy and Carroll's relationship.

    Director:Liz Friedlander
    Writers:Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

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  9. The Following Season 1 Episode 14 - The End is Near
    7.5/10(1079 votes)

    S1:E14

    Ryan, Parker and Weston prepare to storm the follower's mansion, but Joe already has an escape plan in action. Meanwhile, disguised followers create a diversion at the town evacuation center, which causes panic among the residents and leads to a dangerous kidnapping of one FBI official.

    Director:Joshua Butler
    Writers:Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

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  10. The Following Season 1 Episode 9 - Love Hurts
    7.4/10(1225 votes)

    S1:E9

    With Weston still in the hospital, Ryan and Parker attempt to outsmart their new leader Nick as a way to continue their search. In a surprising move, Joe reaches out to Ryan to demand Claire's location and reveals that he will go to great lengths to lure her out of FBI custody. Meanwhile, followers from the past make a shocking return.

    Directors:Marcos Siega, Adam Davidson
    Writers:Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

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  11. The Following Season 1 Episode 12 - The Curse
    7.4/10(1086 votes)

    S1:E12

    Ryan and the FBI discover a follower who might be able to lead them to Joe Carroll's location. Agent Weston returns to the case but his run-in with the cult may have had a bigger impact on him than anyone originally thought. Meanwhile, Claire and Emma come face-to-face for the first time since Joey's kidnapping.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writers:Seamus Kevin Fahey, Amanda Kate Shuman

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  12. The Following Season 1 Episode 4 - Mad Love
    7.3/10(1436 votes)

    S1:E4

    Maggie devises a plot to put an end to Hardy. Meanwhile, tension rises as Paul reveals a secret that Jacob has been keeping from Emma and more information about Hardy and Claire's past relationship is revealed.

    Director:Henry J. Bronchtein
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Following Season 1 Episode 8 - Welcome Home
    7.3/10(1264 votes)

    S1:E8

    With Joey Matthews still missing and the search for Joe Carroll escalating, the FBI brings in Nick Donovan to run lead on the case, much to Ryan and Parker's dismay. Meanwhile, a follower from the past meets up with Joe Carroll, and their plans have a life-threatening result.

    Director:Joshua Butler
    Writer:Amanda Kate Shuman

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  14. The Following Season 1 Episode 11 - Whips and Regret
    7.1/10(1103 votes)

    S1:E11

    After losing Claire to Joe's followers, Ryan and Parker attempt to recover while the FBI tracks down an undercover location that may have dark ties to Joe's following. Meanwhile, Claire adjusts to life at the follower's mansion and has an unexpected reunion, while Emma and Jacob continue to deal with Emma's betrayal.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writers:Kevin Williamson, Rebecca Dameron

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  15. The Following Season 1 Episode 10 - Guilt
    7.0/10(1226 votes)

    S1:E10

    After discovering Claire's location, Joe sends two followers to capture her, but Ryan may be one step ahead. Meanwhile, Jacob struggles with recent decisions causing his reunion with Emma to be less than ideal. Also, a relationship from Ryan's past plays a significant role in his future.

    Director:Joshua Butler
    Writers:Kevin Williamson, Shintaro Shimosawa

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Following" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 2640 votes. Directed by Marcos Siega and written by Kevin Williamson, it aired on 1/21/2013. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Havenport".