The Following Recap: Love is a Many Splendored Thing

The Following, Episode 9: "Love Hurts"

The Following has been finding it's footing and has become more sure of itself with each passing episode.  There was a heck of a lot of good in this episode and really only a small not so good.  So, let's dive in.

The Good

Paul and Jacob.  We finally catch up with Paul and Jacob, after Paul's stabbing and Emma's abandonment of the boys.  Jacob takes him to his families cabin where he is confronted by his mother.  Jacob continues to be a very intriguing character.  From the flashbacks, you see that he really doesn't fit in with the other cultists.  He doesn't want to kill and we see Paul cover for him for the first time.  I'm not sure if Jacob is just really searching for a place to belong and he thinks this is it.  Maybe he is in too deep now.  It could be his love of Emma and then Paul that keeps him in it.  The conversation with his mother is interesting and you get the impression that maybe Jacob and his dad don't have the best relationship.  This is just me spitballing, but it seems like Jacob could have been a victim of abuse by his dad and maybe mom covered it up?  The bottom line is dad's on his way and the boys have to be gone before he gets there.  Paul is for sure going to die.  He and Paul share a nice moment and then Jacob makes his first kill, smothering Paul with a pillow.  The final image of the episode is Jacob showing up at the compound and greeting Emma.  I am really interested to see what is going to happen.  What are Jacob's intentions?  One thing we know for certain, this is not the same Jacob that Emma left behind.

This weeks chapter.  This weeks cultist, Amanda, wanted her chapter to be about the enduring love of Joe and Claire.  This lady knows about love.  She murdered her husband and his mistress when she caught them cheating.  A regular Cupid this one.  She tries to lure Claire out of hiding by murdering women who are also named Claire Matthews.  This was definitely one of the best one off stories so far.  This chick was a real psycopath.  The scene in the diner where she shoots the harpoon through the first Claire?  Chilling.  I did think it was odd that the final showdown happened at a rave/carnival?  That was odd.

Hardy.  Ryan was bringing it again this week.  I'm not sure if Ryan really is a badass or if he just seems like more of a badass because he is the only competent law enforcement person on the show.  It is probably the latter, but who cares.  Ryan was a force as he tracked Amanda and  Louise aka Roderick's eff buddy through the rave/carnival and then shot Louise point blank.  That was awesome.  This also brings us to...

The Not So Good

I thought that the whole Amanda thing was wrapped up a little too neat and tidy.  She has been portrayed this whole episode as a cold blooded killer, yet she hesitates to shoot Ryan.  It just didn't make much sense to me.  It kind of took you out of, what was otherwise, a pretty stellar ep.

So, what did you guys think?  Let me know in the comments.