The Following - Season 3 Recap "Evermore"

In the series history of The Following, this was probably one of the most tension-filled, game-changing episodes for the show. We finally witnessed the death of Joe, Ryan finally admitted the true 'satisfaction' he gets from killing (while also showing it) and we also learned Theo must kill Ryan in order to save himself.

Our episode begins with the set up being done for Joe's execution.  We find Joe in his cell, still sharpening that set of sunglasses he stole to use as a weapon.  Once taken to an examination room to ensure his 'procedure' goes accordingly, Joe quickly overtakes the prison guards and takes hostage a few innocent bystanders.  As he states, "You didn't think it would be easy to kill me, did you?"

Meanwhile, we find Ryan watching coverage of the planned execution on TV.  Of course he hasn't been able to sleep and looks visibly shaken by the events going on.  Gwen tries to talk him into going out for the day (and tell him about the baby) but Ryan wants to stay busy with work until the execution is over.  Once again, showing the disconnect that exists now between the two now.

Our good buddy Theo by the way is searching through a meth house looking for a girl who is still unknown to us.  He finds her, past out with another man in bed (who he quickly disposes of when threatened) and brings this girl back home.  We later learn that this girl is indeed his sister and his well aware of who and what Theo really is.  Turns out Theo took captive an expert symbol reader in order to break Straus' code to which no avail.  Theo states the key is to break the code so he can find a student of Straus who can fix the mess he's now in.  They key though is Ryan Hardy.  With Ryan dead, Theo has leverage to give to this individual that the mess can be cleaned up (we'll probably find out more on this next week).

By now, Joe's prison takeover has made the news and Ryan is requested to come see him or else all the hostages will die.  Ryan begrudingly accepts Joe's request and soon enough is in the custody of Joe (not before getting one hostage to be released).

After being tazed and knocked out, Ryan is tied up and laced at the neck like the hostages with Joe demanding a confession about Ryan's true feelings.  Joe wants Ryan to admit he 'likes' killing people and that he himself is his real soul mate.  Ryan of course denies all this at first, but once Joe begins to operationally take one of the hostage's eyes out, Ryan confesses to the truth.  That killing brings him satisfaction, and that Ryan has dreams of Joe where they are the best of friends.  Joe relents his takeover, telling Ryan how proud he is of him and gives himself up.

Everything is looking all great and peachy until Theo's sister (who conveniently is just as good with a computer as he is) opens the doors to the cells holding other prisoners as Ryan, Joe and the other hostages are trying to leave.  She also locks out help from coming (Mike and Max are on standby), leaving Ryan and a tied up Joe to take on the fired up prisoners.

While Joe is humorously taken by a pissed off inmate, Ryan is left to handle the others on his own.  He quickly takes down a few, but after getting knocked down as one hostage is hurt and the other (a girl) is led away to seemingly be raped, something snaps inside of Ryan and he goes on a full-fledged killing spree.  He brutally takes down the other inmates as being splattered by blood.

Joe is also about to be choked to death by his pissed off prisoner but not long before Ryan actually SAVES Joe and takes down the final bad guy.  Mike, Max and Co. conventinly (finally) show up to restore order and put Joe back on-track to be executed.

In the closing five minutes, Ryan tells Gwen he needs closure on Joe and needs her to understand that (still no mention she's pregnant even though she's tried to tell).  Joe is laid out to be executed by lethal execution but not before happily seeing Ryan there to witness him go, quoting the Raven in his last words "Evermore".  Ryan looks disturbed as Joe's execution goes through and were left with our final look at a lifeless Joe Carroll.

Ryan wraps up his day at a bar, ordering two scotches, with one for him and the other for Joe.  He sees an illusion of Joe as his falls of the wagon to take a drink, and then proceeds to order another, setting up what is sure to be his demise.

Grade: A-

Notes/Questions:

• That poor attorney girl just couldn't catch a break, huh?  I bet she quits her job soon enough.
• Liked how Ryan told Mike and Max to take care of each other if something happens to him.
• No mention or showing of Max's boyfriend this week.  Is she even with him anymore?
• Even though Joe's now dead, he looks to be prominent the rest of this year in visions.  I hope this show knows what it's doing in that aspect.