15 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
This season of "The Following" centers on FBI agent Ryan Hardy, still haunted by his past involvement with serial killer Joe Carroll. Now trying to live a normal life with his girlfriend Gwen, Ryan is drawn back into the darkness when a new wave of killers emerges. Mark, a disturbed individual obsessed with recreating his family's murders, becomes the primary antagonist, leading a group of followers. Ryan, alongside his FBI colleagues Max and Mike, must confront these escalating threats.
The season's central conflict ignites when Mark's followers begin a brutal campaign, leading to the gruesome death of Agent Clarke. This sparks a desperate hunt for the perpetrators, revealing a deeper conspiracy involving Strauss, a cult leader, and his dangerous students, Theo and Daisy. Key turning points include Daisy nearly killing Mike and an escaping Kyle being shot dead by Ryan. Theo emerges as a formidable new threat, orchestrating elaborate schemes that result in multiple deaths, including Theo's wife being murdered and Penny being killed. The season culminates in a final confrontation where Joe Carroll is executed, and Ryan, after a brutal struggle with Theo, fakes his own death to pursue a new target.
Season 3 of The Following covers episodes 1-15. Here's everything that happened:
Season 3, Episode 1: New Blood - Picking up a year later, Ryan is at Gina's wedding with his new girlfriend, Gwen. A waiter throws blood on Ryan, claiming his daughter died in an FBI raid. Mark, with new followers, recreates his family's murders, staging crime scenes with messages. Mark kidnaps a woman to mirror his mother's death. The episode concludes with Mark talking to Luke in a mirror.
Season 3, Episode 2: Boxed In - Mark's followers kidnap Agent Clarke, forcing Ryan to confront his past. Clarke is brutally tortured by Neil, who details how he will paralyze him and fold him into a small box. The FBI finds the box with Clarke's badge and blood, confirming his gruesome death.
Season 3, Episode 3: Exposed - Ryan, Max, and Mike hunt for Agent Clarke's killer, leading them to Neil, a box maker. Mark kidnaps reporters to broadcast his message, but Daisy and Kyle undermine him. Neil is killed in a standoff with the FBI. Daisy and Kyle are given Max's information, setting up a future attack, and Ryan asks Gwen to move in.
Season 3, Episode 4: Home - Kyle and Daisy target Marisol, the judge's daughter, to influence Strauss's trial. The FBI tracks them to a college campus where Daisy nearly kills Mike. Ryan shoots and wounds Kyle. The team discovers the pair's connection to Strauss, setting up a larger conspiracy.
Season 3, Episode 5: A Hostile Witness - As Strauss's trial falters, Kyle and Daisy kidnap a key witness, Carrie Cook. Ryan shoots an escaping Kyle dead. Mark tortures Juliana, learning Daisy and Kyle are Strauss's students before killing her. Daisy attacks Max, allowing Strauss to escape. Ryan visits Joe Carroll for help.
Season 3, Episode 6: Reunion - Ryan and Mike track a target to a small town, uncovering a burial ground and a more dangerous threat. Theo, Strauss's best student, kills Strauss. Max struggles with Mike's past actions. Ryan visits Joe, seeking help and promising daily visits until Joe's execution. The episode concludes with Ryan asking Joe about Strauss's best student.
Season 3, Episode 7: The Hunt - Theo orchestrates the escape of Duncan, killing two U.S. Marshals. Max returns to work, tracking the hacker to a security firm where Theo frames a colleague. Theo targets Luis, who created fake passports, resulting in the murder of Luis's girlfriend. Duncan is shot, and Luis is apprehended. The episode concludes with Max arresting the wrong person.
Season 3, Episode 8: Flesh & Blood - The FBI identifies Theo as the killer and tracks him to his home where Theo's wife is murdered and his children are drugged. Ryan and Mike barely survive a bomb trap at a fake address. Mendez, overwhelmed, leaves the FBI. Theo calls Ryan, promising to ruin his life.
Season 3, Episode 9: Kill the Messenger - Theo manipulates a former military man to deliver a message to Joe in prison, resulting in the messenger's death. Mark, now identifying as Luke, reunites with Daisy. Max and Mike discover a mole within the FBI. Gwen reveals to be pregnant. Joe crafts a weapon from sunglasses. The episode concludes with Joe plotting his next move.
Season 3, Episode 10: Evermore - On the day of Joe Carroll's execution, he takes hostages, demanding to see Ryan. Ryan enters alone, and Joe forces him to admit their connection. Theo retrieves Penny from a crack house, killing her junkie boyfriend. Ultimately, Joe Carroll is executed as Ryan watches.
Season 3, Episode 11: Demons - Ryan spirals after Joe's death, leading Gwen to leave him. The team investigates a serial killer linked to Theo, who seeks refuge with Penny. Tom accidentally kills an agent questioning him about the safe house. Ryan learns Theo asked "The Madman" to kill his family. The episode concludes with Ryan alone, haunted by Joe.
Season 3, Episode 12: The Edge - Ryan's reckless hunt for Theo intensifies as Mark and Daisy uncover FBI intel, endangering Mike. Tom delivers Mike to Mark, but Tom is brutally murdered by Mark and Daisy. Theo then takes Mike, planning a trade with Ryan. The episode concludes with Ryan capturing and torturing Theo's sister, Penny, for information.
Season 3, Episode 13: A Simple Trade - Theo proposes trading Mike for Penny. Ryan agrees, stealing FBI equipment with Max's help. The exchange occurs, but Penny attacks Ryan and is killed. Later, Mark ambushes Mike and Max; Mike shoots Mark, but is himself stabbed multiple times. Mike is rushed to the hospital.
Season 3, Episode 14: Dead or Alive - Theo targets Gina Mendez, luring Ryan into a trap where Daisy shoots Gina's wife. Ryan escapes, and Max kills Daisy. Theo captures Ryan, but Eliza intervenes, wanting Ryan alive. The episode concludes with Theo escaping, and Ryan left to find his own way out.
Season 3, Episode 15: The Reckoning - Theo tortures Ryan, later killing Agent Barton. Eliza arrives, revealing Agent Lisa Campbell as a mole. Ryan and Theo escape, leading to a final confrontation. Ryan shoots Theo, and both fall over a bridge. Ryan, presumed dead, fakes his death to target Eliza, after killing Lisa in the hospital.
