Ep 3. The Poet's Fire

In The Following season 1 episode 3, titled "The Poet's Fire," the FBI continues their search for Joe Carroll's cult followers. They believe that one of his former students, Rick Kester, may be a member of the cult and responsible for recent murders.

Meanwhile, Ryan Hardy meets with Dr. Arthur Strauss, a professor and expert on Joe Carroll's literary influence. Strauss tells Ryan about the "Poet's Fire," a term used by Carroll to describe the intense emotions that his writing could evoke in his followers.

As the investigation continues, Ryan and the team find a hidden room in Kester's house filled with Carroll's literature. They also discover that Kester had been in contact with Joe Carroll before his arrest. However, Kester denies being a part of the cult and claims that he was just a fan of Carroll's writing.

Emma, one of Carroll's followers, continues to manipulate and seduce Jacob, another member of the cult who is struggling to deal with their violent actions. Meanwhile, Paul is upset with the way Emma is treating Jacob and begins to question his loyalty to the group.

As the FBI closes in on Kester, Carroll's followers become more aggressive. They attack a bookstore owner who refused to sell Carroll's books and leave a message for Ryan, warning him to stop searching for them or face the consequences.

In the climax of the episode, Kester reveals that he was not working alone and that there are more members of the cult. One of these members, a woman named Maggie, is shown performing a ritualistic murder in a dark and eerie scene. The episode ends with the FBI realizing that the cult may be larger and more dangerous than they originally thought.

"The Poet's Fire" is an intense and chilling episode that delves deeper into the psychological motivations and tactics of Joe Carroll and his followers. As the investigation continues, the stakes are raised and the danger becomes more palpable. The cast delivers strong performances, particularly James Purefoy as Carroll and Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy. Overall, this episode is a gripping and suspenseful addition to season 1 of The Following.