As per usual, this new episode of “The Following” starts off quite nicely, with a bang. It is now evident that every episode will begin with showing the events that led up to the suspensful ending of the previous episode.
Okay, so I’m not actually old enough to remember these characters and only know Apache Chief from Harvey Birdman. That doesn’t make their reinventions here any less cool, though.
In addition to the violence and sex usually in abundance, the newest episode also gives us a compelling philosophical debate.
For a channel with a lineup of so many dramas like FX, the one commonality between all of them is that each and every one of them is unique. With Nip/Tuck, you had a tale of how corrupting vanity can be through the lives of plastic surgeons. With Sons of Anarchy, you had a retelling of Macbeth conveyed through a shady biker gang. And the list goes on from Dirt that was about tabloid journalists, to American Horror Story that condenses the horror genre as a whole into pervasive dramas. FX has a habit of being creative, and doesn’t seem to want to stop anytime soon.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a prime example of the early-in-the-season lulls with this episode of Justified. Be amazed at the sight of the sluggish character arc for a forgettable side character! Hold onto your hats as you venture in a cat-and-mouse game that ended just as it was getting started! And behold the absence of the season’s major storyline!
The Following episode 2 shows some improvements over the pilot.
After the speed bump that was “The American Dream,” “May I Trim Your Hedges?” is gritty comedy-drama at its best. Shameless is back on track.
Aqualad’s memory lane gets some road maintenance, but we don’t get to see any memories along the way. It’s surprisingly underwhelming for such a good premise.
While the season as a whole still smells like trouble, the War of the Damned premiere is solid and compelling.
Last Resort’s series finale Controlled Flight Into Terrain was a faithful reflection of the show. It featured a few moments of brilliance lost in mostly irritating melodrama. In spite of its shortcomings, the finale very effectively used a cliché, touched a chord with its examination of service and duty, and brought some of its characters exactly where they needed to be.
