The Following: A TV Show For Writers

I just watched the first episode of The Following.

Wow!

I wasn't planning on watching the series because my friends said it was violent. Really violent. Torturing-puppies-for-fun-violent.

And they weren't wrong.

But there's a lot more to the show than violence. It has a flawed hero (Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy) to root for, a thoroughly, irredeemably, evil villain (James Purefoy as Joe Carroll), a damsel in distress (Natalie Zea as Claire Matthews) and clearly defined stakes that we care about.

Excuse this turn of phrase, but it's clearly writer porn.

No, it has nothing to do with writers--pale out-of-shape flab-buckets that we are--doing the nasty. If you haven't seen the first episode you won't know what I'm talking about so in true fan-girl fashion (and, yes, it took only one episode for me to become a fan) I transcribed the really juicy bits from the end.

SPOILER WARNING!!!!
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Okay, if you're still reading you either know what's coming or you don't care about spoiling the surprise. This dialogue is between the convicted serial killer, Carroll, and disgraced FBI agent Ryan Hardy.

Carroll: Claire is very important, Ryan. Every good story needs a love interest. She's the only woman I've never truly loved. She's the mother of my son.
.  .  .  .
Carroll: [Referring to the next book he is going to write] I thought I might go more traditional this time. A hero, a villain, good versus evil. I need a strong protagonist so the reader can truly invest. A flawed, broken, man searching for redemption.

Carroll: And that is you. [Carroll points to Ryan.] You are my flawed hero.

Carroll: Yes, I insured that by killing Sarah. She was the 'inciting incident,' the hero's 'call to action.' Oh this is merely the prologue, this is just the beginning. That was the entire point of Sarah's death.

Carroll: It was for you.

Ryan: If this book ends with anything other than your death, you better plan on a rewrite.

That has to be one of the best last lines ever.

But, then, Kevin Williamson is the shows creator (The Scream movies, The Vampire Diaries, Dawson's Creek) so that's hardly surprising.

I've taken a look at some of the reactions over at IMDB and find that the show isn't universally liked and that some folks have complained about the later episodes, but ... well, I guess I'll see for myself. I hope the show lives up to its (great) potential.