The Following has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video and Sky Go. 3 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. 598 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Kevin Bacon anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

The Following arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The Following treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Notorious serial killer Joe Carroll, after being found guilty of murdering 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature, escapes from death row. The FBI calls former agent Ryan Hardy to consult on the case, as he was the one responsible for Carroll’s capture in 2003. Ryan, working closely with an FBI team, including Mike Weston and FBI Specialist Debra Parker, piece together the ever-growing web of murders orchestrated by the devious Carroll. The writing gets a boost from Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy, who sell every scene they're in. Across 3 seasons (2013–2015), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. What makes The Following hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find The Following proves them wrong. Waco is the obvious comparison, but The Following earns its own place alongside it. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Kevin Bacon's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.

The Following was cancelled in 2015, created by Kevin Williamson — and 3 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.