The Following continues to up the ante.
Following Monday's episode, "The Cursed," Fox has released an inside look at the tense confrontation between formidable foes Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) -- which The Hollywood Reporter debuts. Unfortunately, FBI Agent Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore), back in action just days after being tormented by Joe's followers, is held hostage in the dungy basement of one of a follower's home.
STORY: 'The Following': Shawn Ashmore on Mike Weston's Return and a 'Huge' Season Finale
"There's nothing Hardy can do about it," executive producer Marcos Siega says of the situation. "Mike is basically the pawn here and Ryan is basically negotiating for my release, and the only way that Joe will let that happen is if he opens up to Joe," adds Ashmore, who calls the exchange "intense."
Through Joe's manipulative ways, Ryan is forced to come to grips with the fact that he witnessed his own father die during a corner store robbery years ago. "It's great to have Joe and Ryan face to face, and there's lots of different layers of emotion that you get to play with both of our leads," says episode writer Amanda Kate Shuman.
As the scene plays out, there's a sense that Ryan and Joe two peas in a pod, as both are driven by death. How's this for bleak? "It is through death that we both live," Joe declares.
The Following airs at 9 p.m. Mondays on Fox.
E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube
