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Tom is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, with expertise covering all things Classic TV from hilarious sitcoms to jaw-dropping sci-fi.
Initially he was an Updates writer, though before long he found his way to the Classic TV team. He now spends his days keeping Screen Rant readers informed about the TV shows of yesteryear, whether it's recommending hidden gems that may have been missed by genre fans or deep diving into ways your favorite shows have (or haven't) stood the test of time.
Tom is based in the UK and when he's not writing about TV shows, he's watching them. He's also an avid horror fiction writer, gamer, and has a Dungeons and Dragons habit that he tries (and fails) to keep in check.
Even though it only had two seasons and finished way back in 2019, Mindhunter remains one of Netflix’s most beloved crime thrillers. Its measured pacing, unnerving interviews, and psychological depth continue to reward rewatches. Few shows have captured the same chilling intimacy between investigators and killers, leaving its fanbase loyal, vocal, and still pining for something that scratches the same itch.
Fortunately, the void left by Mindhunter may have finally been filled. Netflix quietly added a worthy successor that understands tension, obsession, and moral decay just as well. Better still, it comes anchored by what many consider a career-best television performance from Kevin Bacon, a Hollywood icon operating on the small screen with full cinematic intensity.
For Mindhunter fans searching for something equally dark and bingeworthy, The Following should be considered essential viewing. The Fox thriller aired from 2013 to 2015, and with all three seasons now streaming, it offers a complete, nerve-shredding experience. Its cat-and-mouse structure and psychological focus make it a natural fit for viewers still chasing that Mindhunter high.
The Following Is Back On Netflix
All Three Seasons Are Available In One Gripping, Binge-Ready Package
The Following officially returned to Netflix on January 3rd, 2026, and its comeback is a major win for crime thriller fans. All three seasons are now available, totaling 45 episodes. The revival comes courtesy of a new licensing agreement between Netflix and Warner Bros., restoring access to a series many viewers thought was gone for good.
This is not The Following’s first stint on the platform. When it last streamed on Netflix in 2018, the show quickly found a devoted audience. Its blend of serialized suspense and shocking twists made it an easy binge, and its departure left a noticeable gap in the crime TV rotation.
In terms of plot, The Following centers on former FBI profiler Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), who is pulled back into the field after the capture of charismatic serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). What initially appears to be a closed case rapidly expands into something far more disturbing. Carroll has cultivated a nationwide network of devoted followers willing to kill in his name.
Rather than focusing on a single antagonist, The Following explores the terrifying idea of ideology as a weapon. Violence spreads not through secrecy, but belief, loyalty, and manipulation. That approach gives the show a scope that feels increasingly relevant, even more than a decade after its debut.
Across three seasons, the narrative of The Following constantly evolves. The power dynamics between hunter and hunted shift, alliances fracture, and the moral toll of prolonged exposure to violence becomes impossible to ignore. The incredibly tense thriller rarely allows its characters, or its audience, a moment of comfort.
With its full run restored, The Following plays like a complete psychological descent. For viewers who value the same intensity, continuity, and consequences that Mindhunter provides, its Netflix return could not be better timed.
How The Following Compares To Mindhunter
Psychological Obsession And Moral Erosion Drive Both Shows
While The Following and Mindhunter differ in structure, their appeal overlaps in crucial ways. Both Netflix crime thrillers are less interested in procedural mechanics than in the psychological cost of engaging with extreme violence. They treat criminal minds not as puzzles to solve, but as forces that leave permanent damage.
Mindhunter followed agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as prolonged exposure to serial killers began reshaping their personal lives. The Following mirrors this erosion through Kevin Bacon's Ryan Hardy, whose fixation on Joe Carroll becomes deeply personal. Each victory feels temporary, and each loss compounds.
Another shared strength is the central antagonist’s presence. Mindhunter’s killers linger in memory through their conversations and philosophies. Joe Carroll operates similarly, dominating the narrative even when offscreen. His intelligence and theatricality make him unsettling not because of unpredictability, but because of control.
Both Mindhunter and The Following also emphasize atmosphere over spectacle. Violence is impactful, but never gratuitous. The tension comes from anticipation, from knowing how easily influence spreads and how fragile psychological boundaries can be. That restraint gives their darkest moments weight rather than shock value.
Structurally, The Following is more serialized and fast-moving, but its thematic interests remain aligned with Mindhunter. It examines why people follow, how charisma overrides morality, and what prolonged proximity to killers does to those tasked with stopping them.
For fans who appreciated Mindhunter’s focus on obsession, intellect, and consequence, The Following offers a louder but no less disturbing variation. It scratches the same psychological itch, even as it approaches it from a different angle.
Kevin Bacon Doing Television Was A Big Deal In 2013
His Performance Anchored The Following And Elevated Its Prestige
It’s commonplace in the 2020s for Hollywood A-listers to appear in prestige TV shows. However, in the early 2010s, this definitely wasn’t the case. Kevin Bacon headlining a network thriller in 2013 was a notable shift. At the time The Following arrived, movie stars rarely committed to long-running TV appearances.
Kevin Bacon’s involvement immediately set The Following apart. His portrayal of Ryan Hardy is raw, volatile, and deeply human. The character is brilliant but damaged, driven by instinct as much as intellect. Bacon never softens Hardy’s flaws, allowing addiction, obsession, and anger to remain front and center.
What makes Kevin Bacon's performance in The Following stand out is its unpredictability. Hardy is not a traditional hero, and Bacon leans into that ambiguity. His scenes crackle with urgency, often feeling closer to a psychological drama than a conventional crime series.
Kevin Bacon’s presence also brings out some incredible performances from the rest of The Following cast. His intensity sharpens every interaction, particularly those involving Joe Carroll. The dynamic between Bacon and James Purefoy gives the series its spine, transforming their rivalry into a study of mirrored obsession.
In hindsight, The Following looks ahead of its time. Bacon’s commitment helped bridge the gap between film prestige and serialized television storytelling. Today, such casting is common. In 2013, it was a statement. Revisiting The Following now, Bacon’s performance remains its strongest asset. It grounds the show’s heightened elements and ensures its psychological core never loses credibility.
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