The Following traded high volume stabbings for poor decision making by the female leads, and it pays off for a satisfying “Betrayal”.
Reunited with Claire after thinking she’s been dead for last year, Hardy cannot stop saying “I thought you were dead”. Believe it dude, she ain’t. Claire goes on to ruin a lot in this episode, starting with what would be a tender moment, “I think about you, Ryan…and Joe”. You’ve gotta suspend your disbelief constantly while watching The Following, but the hardest thing the writers try to convince you of is, Ryan Hardy love Claire and Claire love Ryan. Murder! It brings people closer together.
Carrie Cook, Hardy’s current Chinese food and bang partner, welcomes Joe Carroll’s new nemesis Pastor Kingston Tanner on her show. Pastor Tanner urges Carroll to repent, because that’s how you go about stopping evil and whatnot. We do find out more about Joe’s beliefs or lack thereof in God, refreshing to see someone other than Hardy get under Carroll’s skin. After using scripture to explain his master plan to ascend to power, Carroll finally asks, “Have you seen Mandy?”.
What a great question Carroll, she’s sitting in the snow, waiting for the The Grey’s to pick her up. Naturally, Mark is very interested in Carroll’s whereabouts, which Mandy refuses to give up from the onset. Not sure what Mandy’s particular logical was when she fled Korban for Lily Grey but one thing is clear, her misplaced loyalty to Joe rivals a Golden Retriever.
After Cook’s talk with Pastor Tanner, her car is stopped by Joe’s cronies, they have part two of Joe’s message they want to air exclusively tonight, or you and everyone you love dies. Yada, Yada. Hardy rushes to the scene, securing a copy of Carroll’s message. Joe’s video is usual Carroll faire: masks, God, I’m the truth. Eventually he names his target, Kingston Tanner. New to Carroll’s religious streak, Claire gives us a little background on Carroll’s upbringing. The point being, Claire is super down to join Team Rogue’s mission to shoot Joe Carroll dead.
At Northfield College, Korban Killers van merrily rolls through campus, shanking the campus security on their way to Pastor Tanner’s son, Preston. Good thing Mike and Ryan are on their way already, leaving Max behind to babysit Claire. Will they braid each other hair and bond? Probably not. Team Rogue locates Pastor Tanner’s sons college, and that he’s kind of a shitty student, so you won’t be finding him in class. You’ll be finding him at the frat house the Korban Killers just pulled up to. Inside, it’s not weird at all that people in all black and gloves are asking where Preston’s room is. Stupid college kids, directing Don’t Call Me Fatty and Beautiful People Kill Too right up to Preston, but he’s not home. His frat bro and some girl are hooking up in there, the trigger word “fatty” gets thrown around, and frat roomie gets cut to the new Black Lips songs. Cool, I didn’t wanna listen to that song ever again. When Preston does show up, it’s uh, lights out, at least for his girlfriend. For a lack of better words.
Back with Lily Grey, making Mandy a chocolate cake probably riddled with poison, Mandy holds her ground, not copping to where Joe and Korban are. So she gets slapped. Oh no, Lily’s not who you thought she was Mandy. What were you expecting, out of any of this, a positive outcome? On to Family Game night! If spin the bottle wasn’t awkward enough, try playing it with serial killing twins Mark and Luke. When Mandy loses at Truth (not the same game, psychos!) the Twins dare themselves to burn her arm over a candle till she tells them where Joe is. Which happens to to be the exact moment Joe and Emma figure out Mandy is with Lily. Against Emma’s wishes, Carroll calls Grey, knowing they’ll kill Mandy whether he shows his face or not. Joe bids Mandy adieu, sealing her fate, a betrayal for a betrayal. And if you needed further confirmation Mandy is hella dead, we’re treated to a truly creepy scene: The Greys toasting a battered and lifeless Mandy over chocolate cake. Thanks for the nightmares, Kevin Williamson.
Entering the completely dark frat house, saying “hello” like a character about to get stabbed in a horror movie, Mike and Ryan have arrived to sort of save the day. Up on the second floor, the whole frat have had JC masks superglued to their face, making it hard to tell who’s a cult member with a knife and who’s some asshole wasting his parents money. There’s a room full of them, Hardy chases Don’t Call Me Fatty and the others to their shady van, watching them pull away with Preston Tanner in tow. At least no one took three to the chest this time. But Hardy speeds off after the van, following them into the night, dumping his phone. Like you do when you’re rolling solo to take out Joe Carroll and an entire cult.
After Carroll’s video message airs on Cook’s show, she turns up at Hardy’s apartment to discover that not only is Ryan on the hunt for Carroll, but Claire isn’t dead. She wants to go on her show. Talk about taking lemons and making lemonade. Speaking of welcoming, Preston is welcomed with open arms to Korban. Rest easy little Preston, Hardy is hiding in the bushes, like a creep.
With only three episodes left, looks like all hells ‘bout to break loose. For real. Join me next week for another recap of The Following!
About Author
