Here's what I think: One Season Wonders...Or Maybe Not!

For years now, I've been hoping for a show that is as good as LOST was. I know, I  know, the last episode of LOST wasn't everyone's cup of tea but you can't deny that every episode leading up to that point was freaking mind blowing. I think a few show have tried and have had excellent concepts but fell flat and didn't return after just one season.

After watching the season finale of The Following last night, I was a little afraid that this would happen with yet another promising show. However, after a little research this morning I'm surprised to find that this gruesome thriller has been renewed for 15 more episodes in season 2! Here is what I think the show needs to do in order to become better next year:

1. We need more character development and a better range of emotion from the leads. I love Kevin Bacon, but he is a much better actor than the way he is playing lead character Ryan Hardy. This isn't just the way he plays the character but also the way the character is written. We need to care more about these people, otherwise it wont be shocking or even all that upsetting when the show brutally kills them episode after episode.

2. With the demise of Joe Carrol, I'm hoping that creepy Emma takes the reigns as the mastermind of behind the cult and is able to draw them back together to reek havoc on the innocent people they prey on. OR she may decide to go solo in an attempt to avenge the man she loved and followed so devoutly. Also, just to put it out there just because Joe is dead doesn't mean we wont see him in season 2, the show relies heavily on flashbacks so my guess is he could be back.

3. They need some kind of female FBI replacement for Debra, they need to keep agent Weston around and in all honesty I kind of hope Clair dies because she's a complete moron but we'll see what happens when the show returns!

Here are some examples of shows that sound pretty awesome in theory, but ended up being a one season wonder:

Flashforward:
A special task force in the FBI investigates after every person on Earth simultaneously blackouts and awakens with a short vision of their future.

The Event:
When a man goes looking for his missing girlfriend, he stumbles upon a government conspiracy that is bigger than the president himself. To be honest, I only made it a few episodes in on this one so I'm not even sure what the big conspiracy was....

While, I don't think The Following will ever come remotely close to being as good as LOST was, and I'm still looking for a really great science fiction mystery to take it's place, The Following does have an opportunity to delve a little deeper in season 2 and has already broken out of the one season wonder rut that we're finding so much of in TV these days.

*Side note - I think Hannibal also has some major potential.