Foster the Killer, The Following “Reflection” 

Most Monday nights, I find myself wondering how it is that I watch this show and still manage to sleep at night. And this week was no exception. We learned a handful of interesting things including nice brother’s aversion to being touched, mean brother’s one weak spot, that murder can be an aphrodisiac and that Max and Ryan do a stellar good cop/bad cop. But nothing gave me the chills quite as much as Mama Bear’s Murder Lair. When Lily lead Joe down to show him his “surprise”, she was so excited and so proud that at first I wasn’t sure what to expect…and even if I had guessed, a “killer kitchen” probably wouldn’t have been in my top three. 

Joe: What is this?
Lily: It’s for you. I assumed you’d want to get back to work as quickly as possible. Have you been writing?
Joe: I was in Arkansas.
Lily: Well, I’ve provided a bit of inspiration for you. (Reveals girl). This is Wendy Porter and she was a sophomore at San Diego Tech. She’s sedated, she can be noisy. Joe, I’m an art dealer, its my job to foster and nurture talent and I believe in you. I want to give you everything you desire.
Joe: And what do you get in return?
Lily: I get to be part of your greatness.
Joe: Just who do you think you are? Who do you think I am?

Lily presents this to him as calmly and rationally as giving a painter a new paintbrush. To her, it’s just common sense that Joe would need ice picks, scalpels and a murder table because she is there to support him and “foster his talent,” even if his talent isn’t going to be winning him a blue ribbon anytime soon.

I actually loved when Joe rebuked her offering at first. He almost seemed horrified by the girl in the cage and what Lily expected of him. Of course, I’m not naïve enough to think that Joe had actually changed, but I found it interesting that he momentarily seemed to question what use he would have for such a room. That being said, I now realize it wasn’t the room he was questioning, as much as it was her directive for him to use it. Joe doesn’t like being told what to do, we saw that last season when Roderick got too big for his britches. So once again, Joe’s need for control arises and he is determined to set his own agenda.

Lily: Was my proposition really so unappealing? I only want what you want.
Joe: I will not be controlled. By anyone.
Lily: I don’t want to control you. I wouldn’t want to if I could.

And this was all it took to free Joe from his uncertainty. The decision was once again his and he was drawn back to where he feels most at home. And for all of us who thought for a mere second that Joe was going to let poor Wendy go, shame on us. We should know better. So with Tchaikovsky playing in the background, Joe went to work and christened his new workplace.

As result, this bloodshed literally brought Lily and Joe closer than ever before. And now that they’re on the same page and have created this “family of killers,” I find it hard to imagine that Joe is going to be leaving anytime soon. After all, why should he? He’s got a lover, a house, a workspace and a team of loyal followers who seem dead-set on continuing his legacy. And while he may have been a force to be reckoned with last season, this season he’s not the only one calling the shots and that brings this game to a whole other level.

The Following airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX.