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The Worst Episodes of The Following

Every episode of The Following ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Following!

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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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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Following Season 1 Episode 10 - Guilt
    7.0/10(1192 votes)

    #1 - Guilt

    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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  2. The Following Season 1 Episode 11 - Whips and Regret
    7.1/10(1073 votes)

    #2 - Whips and Regret

    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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  3. The Following Season 3 Episode 4 - Home
    7.2/10(665 votes)

    #3 - Home

    S3:E4

    As Mark, Kyle and Daisy plan to make a personal attack on Ryan, the FBI receives a tip leading them to a secret location, which gives them a leg up in the case.

    Director:Nicole Kassell
    Writers:Jeff Eckerle, Marilyn Osborn

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  4. The Following Season 3 Episode 7 - The Hunt
    7.2/10(629 votes)

    #4 - The Hunt

    S3:E7

    With only a few days before Joe Carroll's execution, Ryan and Mike shift their focus to a new threat. Meanwhile, after being approved to start work again, Max rejoins the task force and comes dangerously close to a deadly menace.

    Director:Sylvain White
    Writer:Liz Sczudlo

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  5. The Following Season 3 Episode 11 - Demons
    7.2/10(574 votes)

    #5 - Demons

    S3:E11

    The investigation leads the team to a dangerous serial killer linked to Theo, while Theo and Penny seek refuge from an unknown source with the means of helping them disappear. Meanwhile, Ryan struggles with recent events, sending him into a downward spiral, and the search continues into which agent has been accessing Daisy’s laptop from inside the FBI.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Following Season 1 Episode 4 - Mad Love
    7.3/10(1391 votes)

    #6 - Mad Love

    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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  7. The Following Season 1 Episode 8 - Welcome Home
    7.3/10(1226 votes)

    #7 - Welcome Home

    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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  8. The Following Season 3 Episode 1 - New Blood
    7.3/10(848 votes)

    #8 - New Blood

    S3:E1

    With Joe Carroll awaiting execution on death row and all signs of his following erased, Ryan Hardy has moved on from the dark events of his past. But his newfound happiness is shattered when a series of brutally staged tableaus threatens to tear open old wounds. Ryan and his team are forced to unravel a twisted web of violence before it destroys them all - leading them to face a terrifying truth: Joe Carroll was just the beginning.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writers:Alexi Hawley, Brett Mahoney

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  9. The Following Season 3 Episode 2 - Boxed In
    7.3/10(715 votes)

    #9 - Boxed In

    S3:E2

    Ryan believes he has found the connection between Andrew and Mark, but he and the FBI are still unsure if - and how - Joe Carroll might be connected. Meanwhile, tension between Mark, Kyle and Daisy mounts and Ryan soon finds himself in a dangerous situation, in which facing the truth is the only thing that will set him free.

    Director:Rob Seidenglanz
    Writer:Barry O'Brien

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  10. The Following Season 3 Episode 3 - Exposed
    7.3/10(679 votes)

    #10 - Exposed

    S3:E3

    After a devastating loss, Ryan, Weston and Max aim to hunt down who is responsible and make them pay, leading Ryan to take a risk with deadly consequences. Meanwhile, Mark questions the loyalty of Kyle and Daisy, causing tensions to rise amongst the group.

    Director:Gary Love
    Writer:Brynn Malone

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  11. The Following Season 3 Episode 5 - A Hostile Witness
    7.3/10(698 votes)

    #11 - A Hostile Witness

    S3:E5

    On the day of an important trial, things go awry, causing the FBI to split up to hunt down a missing person. With his team breaking apart, Ryan enlists the help of a former enemy to defeat a greater one.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Following Season 1 Episode 9 - Love Hurts
    7.4/10(1188 votes)

    #12 - Love Hurts

    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:Nora Kay Foster, Adam Armus

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  13. The Following Season 1 Episode 12 - The Curse
    7.4/10(1057 votes)

    #13 - The Curse

    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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  14. The Following Season 2 Episode 8 - The Messenger
    7.4/10(759 votes)

    #14 - The Messenger

    S2:E8

    After a tragic turn of events, Ryan attempts to find the man who originally taught Joe to kill, in hopes of finding new answers. Meanwhile, at the compound, Joe tries to get his bearings, while Emma and Mandy wait for him to reveal his new plan.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Alexi Hawley

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  15. The Following Season 2 Episode 10 - Teacher's Pet
    7.4/10(765 votes)

    #15 - Teacher's Pet

    S2:E10

    As his power over the Korban cult grows, Joe sets a deadly plan in action using new acolytes to carry out his demands. Meanwhile, Ryan and Max devise a plan to contact Joe, in hopes of tracking down his whereabouts, and Weston meets with a face from the past.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Brett Mahoney

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  16. The Following Season 2 Episode 12 - Betrayal
    7.4/10(735 votes)

    #16 - Betrayal

    S2:E12

    After a series of public condemnations of Joe and his followers, Joe targets the son of a man who stands against him. Meanwhile, Ryan is faced with the shocking news of Claire's reappearance and Mandy makes a decision that leads her to a familiar face which could undo all that Joe has been working for.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Lizzie Mickery

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  17. The Following Season 1 Episode 3 - The Poet's Fire
    7.5/10(1513 votes)

    #17 - The Poet's Fire

    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:Nora Kay Foster, Adam Armus

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  18. The Following Season 1 Episode 14 - The End is Near
    7.5/10(1047 votes)

    #18 - The End is Near

    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:Nora Kay Foster, Adam Armus

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  19. The Following Season 2 Episode 2 - For Joe
    7.5/10(929 votes)

    #19 - For Joe

    S2:E2

    After the tragic subway killings, Ryan’s obsession with the case becomes stronger than ever. Soon, mysterious phone calls bring him face-to-face with what may be his biggest threat yet. Meanwhile, revelations surrounding Joe’s new life are brought to the surface.

    Director:Joshua Butler
    Writer:Vincent Angell

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  20. The Following Season 3 Episode 8 - Flesh & Blood
    7.5/10(654 votes)

    #20 - Flesh & Blood

    S3:E8

    The FBI closes in on a suspect whom they believe to be the culprit behind the latest murders, but Ryan believes the killer is still out there, leading him to dig deeper into dangerous territory. Meanwhile, Joe undergoes evaluation in the days leading up to his execution and a new threat tries to cover his tracks.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Mary Leah Sutton

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  21. The Following Season 3 Episode 12 - The Edge
    7.5/10(566 votes)

    #21 - The Edge

    S3:E12

    An increasingly reckless Ryan continues his search for Theo, as Mark and Daisy discover information that leads them closer to the FBI than ever and puts Mike in a dangerous situation.

    Director:Nicole Kassell
    Writers:Jeff Eckerle, Marilyn Osborn

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  22. The Following Season 1 Episode 6 - The Fall
    7.6/10(1342 votes)

    #22 - The Fall

    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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  23. The Following Season 1 Episode 7 - Let Me Go
    7.6/10(1257 votes)

    #23 - Let Me Go

    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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  24. The Following Season 2 Episode 4 - Family Affair
    7.6/10(876 votes)

    #24 - Family Affair

    S2:E4

    After the latest shocking revelation in the case, Ryan and Max attempt to put the pieces together and stay two-steps ahead of the FBI, despite Weston's constant warnings to stay out of the way. Meanwhile, Emma becomes even closer to Mark and Luke, while Joe and Mandy meet up with a follower in search of assistance.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Brett Mahoney

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  25. The Following Season 2 Episode 5 - Reflection
    7.6/10(830 votes)

    #25 - Reflection

    S2:E5

    In an attempt to learn new information, Ryan and Max capture a suspect. But complications lead to a game of dangerous cat and mouse. Also, Joe grows accustomed to his surroundings and establishes a plan of his own, while Emma realizes she is in dangerous company.

    Director:Nicole Kassell
    Writer:Lizzie Mickery

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Guilt" is the worst rated episode of "The Following". It scored 7/10 based on 1192 votes. Directed by Joshua Butler and written by Kevin Williamson, Shintaro Shimosawa, it aired on 3/25/2013. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Whips and Regret".