‘The Following’ 1x4 “Mad Love” Recap

The show takes an unexpected turn when Ryan’s sister is kidnapped and held for ransom against Ryan. Maggie is the one that is threatening him and Ryan desperately tries to find her. We finally find out what Paul has been nagging about Jacob about and we also see that Jacob's secret is one that has potentially to be a problem in the future.

The show opens with Paul/Jacob talking to Megan. Emma/Jacob are freaking out because it’s not part of the plan. Emma tells Paul to kill her so that Joey doesn’t see her.

Ryan is showing everyone the video trying to figure out all the clues on it. Claire is frustrated that they still haven’t found Joey.

Ryan/Parker are in F BI headquarters. Ryan receives a call from Jenny (his sister). 2009. She helps Ryan into her apartment and he is drunk. Present day. Ryan doesn’t answer. He says that he wants to talk to Joe about Maggie first. Ryan goes to see Joe. He challenges him calling it ‘amateur hour’. Joe says he didn’t like the Poe-mask idea. He says he was more interested in Maggie. Ryan tells Joe that Rick is dead and he’s happy, but Maggie probably isn’t. He talks about their visit. He says she got away with a killing spree in Arkansas. He was impressed by her. Mike tells Parker/Ryan about the serial killer.

Emma and Jacob talk about Maggie. Joey eavesdrop on their conversation and he senses that something is wrong. Paul says that Jacob is supposed to be taking care of Megan. She says she knew that they fooled around. He says that Jacob’s been lying to everyone. He says that Jacob never killed anyone and Emma is surprised.

Mike shows them a video of Maggie killing someone upstate. Ryan gets another call from Jenny. 2009. He wakes up and she lectures him about his lifestyle. She leaves him angry. Ryan takes the call. When he answers, Maggie is there. She says she’s with Jenny and asks him how he wants her to kill Jenny.

Maggie says that she wants Ryan. She won’t harm Jenny if he comes to her. She says that Joe doesn’t know and demands that he comes alone.

Jacob goes to talk to Emma. She asks him about the girl in the basement. She wants him to kill Megan. He says that Paul should do it. She tells him that she knows he didn’t. 2009. Jacob is talking about how he killed a body and hid it. Present day. He says he lied because he was ashamed because he was the only one. She asks why he’s a part of it.

Parker asks about the call. Ryan says it’s personal and leaves. Parker tells Mike to follow him. Mike asks Ryan where he’s going. He asks about Jenny. He says that Maggie has Jenny. Mike convinces Ryan to let him go with him.

Ryan/Mike drive to Brooklyn to where Jenny lives. 2005. Ryan is walking down the street with Claire. He brings her to meet Jenny. Present day. Mike gets a call from Parker and he ignores it.

In Brooklyn, Ryan and Mike arrive at her house. He says that he’s going to go to her restaurant and that he’s going to go in and Mike will follow. He says main objective is to get Jenny safe. Ryan arrives at the restaurant and he unlocks the side door for Mike before going to the main room. There he gets a note telling me to put a blindfold on. He does. Maggie comes in. She starts talking to him. He calls for her and Maggie hits him on the back when he takes his blindfold off.

Jacob goes to the basement and removes her duct tape. He gives her some water. She promises not to say anything to anyone and that she has an idea. He can fake kill her. And he thinks they won’t believe it. 2009. Jacob is visiting Joe in jail. He says he can’t do it. Joe quotes ‘The Raven’. He says that one day he will when he’s ready. Present day. He plays with her with the knife and holds it to her throat.

Ryan wakes up and is duct taped down. Maggie is over him and he sees that Maggie is tapped to a chair.

Maggie says she won’t kill Jenny, but she’s going to watch Ryan get killed. 2005. Ryan and Claire are in bed together. She wants him to talk to her. He talks to her about his parents. His mother died from leukemia when he was 14. His dad was a cop. He got killed in a robbery gone wrong. His other brother Ray was a fireman and he died in 9/11.

Jacob starts pacing before he unties her. She goes to the 1st floor. The TV is on. She gets out of the house and starts to run away and Emma/Paul chase after her. Megan goes and hides in the stable. Paul gets called back by Emma and when Megan tries to make a run for it she gets cornered. Emma stabs her.

Maggie opens Ryan’s shirt. She tells him about her foster dad. She uses magnets to upset his heart. He aks her to let Jenny go. She says that she won’t let Jenny go. She says that she’s shutting down his heart ticker. She pulls out a knife and cuts his hands free and Ryan rolls off the table. Mike comes in as Maggie drags Jenny closer to Ryan. Mike knocks Maggie down and shoots her before she can stab him.

Emma/Paul clean up after killing Megan. They share a tender moment before kissing.

Jacob goes back down to the basement and sees Megan tied up again.

Ryan is in an ambulance. Mike says that he got Maggie’s phone with all the texts and e-mails. Ryan tells Jenny to disappear for a while. She asks about Claire. 2005. Ryan tells Jenny that he broke up with Claire because he was trying to be noble so that Claire and Joey can move on. Present day. Jenny tells her that he can’t go through life alone.

Paul walks in and Jacob and Emma showering together. He apologizes before joining them in the shower.

Ryan goes to see Claire. He tells her that they found the house where Joey is. Claire asks him to stay. 2005. He says that he’s not ready for a relationship and that he’s a reminder of the worst time of her life. Present day. He says he needs to get back but he will call her when something comes up. And he leaves.

What we learned/new notes
-Joey’s starting to see that Emma isn’t as trustworthy as he thought. What will this mean for his safety in the future? Will he start challenging her more or risk trying to get away?
-What brought Maggie to Joe? She seemed to be doing fine in Arkansas. What drove her to come and join in Joe’s group?
-They are on the cusp of finding Joey which means a very action and drama filled sequence.
-Will Ryan ever stop being noble and finally give into his feelings for Claire?
-Will what happened with Megan cause a drift between Jacob/Paul/Emma or will it make them stronger? No doubt, they will keep pressuring Jacob to killing Megan.

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, Springfield TV Examiner

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