For a moment, "The Following" season premiere picked up events immediately following the double shooting of Ryan and Claire. While both were rushed to the hospital, Claire didn't make it. Jump to a year later and Ryan had fallen off the wagon. Now only five month sober, he's pulled back into the FBI investigation into a new group of killers wearing life-like Joe Carroll masks for the anniversary of Carroll's death. Ryan feigns ignorance, but that's because he's working his own investigation.


He knows there are other cult members out there, and he's not convinced Joe is dead. By the end of the hour, he was proven right -- even if he doesn't know it yet. Going by the name Daryl, Joe is now fully bearded and living with a woman and a young girl in a remote rural setting. The pieces are in place. What kind of game will they play this season?


Sydney Bucksbaum of Zap2It said this premiere felt like a reboot. "With a ton of new characters (hello, Sam Underwood pulling double duty as the world's creepiest set of twins ever), new situations (Ryan Hardy's a vigilante?) and new alliances (Ryan and his niece Max vs. the FBI), Season 2 was officially reset," she wrote. Buddy TV's Eva Des Lauriers noted the changes as well, writing, "It's true that it has deviated a lot from season 1 in style and look, but it is a good change. The writing is better, the acting is better and it still packs a gruesome punch."


"The Following" settles into its regular timeslot on Monday, January 27 at 9 p.m. EST on Fox.


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