The Following review: “Freedom”

The Following jumps right in this week, “Freedom” saves the two week teaser, not-dead-but-in-witness-protection Claire, for last.

At Korban, it’s like career day in high school, if you were cool with blindly listening to everything a known serial killer tells you. Joe Carroll bestows the cult their individual “gifts”, after lame tale about a vacation in Florida, Angela is told her “gift” is serenity. What does this mean, you ask? Carla, former Korban member turned sacrifice is cut into, in front of a room full of people. No pressure, not awkward at all. Pretty sure Joe jizzed at the sight. Which is alternately hilarious and truly terrifying.

Max and Mike prove their meet-cutes have  significance, figuring out where every religious-y cult on the East coast is. Perfect timing too because some Italian cafe is about to have their day ruined.

Did Korban cult strike again? White Phantom of the Opera masks and all. Could it be the work of another, like say…Lily Grey? Stayed tuned, though you might of figured out the answer already.

Wouldn’t seem like it’s Korban’s doing, Emma aka baby Joe Carroll, is too busy trying to throw Carroll’s adoptive deadly daughter Mandy, in the hole. Then there’s Robert,  bucking against Carla’s “going home”, questioning Carroll to his face. You best watch your mouth Robert, you could be Carla’ed next. Or some your cult buddies you threw under the bus, those who are “doubting” Carroll too. Emma is asked to test her sway with Robert, Carroll don’t take kindly to no back talk. “Keep him close”, I’m guessing, is code for bang him. Almost, Emma talks about the Mom she killed first.

Foreplay, people!

And don’t ya know, we haven’t seen the last of Lily Grey and her International House of Psychos. After taking out a nurse from Manhattan Memorial and sneaking in with her ID, Grey’s contract killers kick off things with assault weapons. Like you do when you’re attempting to hospital-jailbreak Luke Grey. This approach works out pretty well. Until…

READ:  The Following review: "The Reaping"

Team Rogue get on the Italian Cafe Murder scene, deducing this is Grey’s doing, not that of Carroll/Korban. Off to the Manhattan Memorial in a flash with a ton of backup.

After a wild goose chase, Team Rouge foils Luke’s ambulance get away, and promptly split up , as they’re wont to do. While combing the entire hospital, Hardy trails Luke and Co. down a dark, dank , maze-y path. Not foreboding in the slightest. Good thing Bacon’s still got it, getting himself out of another gun-to-the-head situation. Only to lose Luke, the only thing he was after. Shocked cat emoji.

Mike discovers the nurse fraud, when she says she’d die before giving up Lily Grey, she does! Sprayed to shit with bullets. Can someone please tell them they can shoot below the knee so everyone wins? No? Okay.

Anyway, Luke makes his back to his crazy twin and equally crazy mother. It’d be touching if it wasn’t so  creepy. The fucked up family is back together. Yay?

Now what? Cult vs Cult showdown, Korban vs Grey for ultimate ringleader nutjob? Hell yeah. That only mean one thing, more stabbing!

There were some emotional moments:  wahhh, why’d Lily Grey kill my Dad on tape for me watch. Boooo tears, Korban misses Micah.

Mandy does successfully run away from Korban before Emma makes good on whichever threat she felt like that morning. For some reason though, Mandy gets in touch with newly reunited Grey’s. This poor girl cannot catch a break.

Oh right, Claire. Knock, knock, that’s not your niece Max at the door Hardy, it’s the woman you loved that you thought was dead for last  year -but isn’t!

Aren’t you beyond happy to see her, Hardy?!?! Aren’t ya??

Join me next week for another recap of The Following!

 

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M. Poupard

Margaux Poupard is an award-winning comedy screenwriter, freelance copywriter, and accomplished producer.

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