The Following is an intensely uncomfortable show, almost so much so that it's surprising that anyone let a kid within a few miles of it. But yet, there's Kyle Catlett at the heart of the drama, and the show wouldn't be the same without him. There are so many unlikeable characters on the show, so many morally ambiguous people, that his childish innocence as Joey Matthews is incredibly refreshing. He may only be a pawn in a much grander scheme, but he's also the emotional heart of the show. This kid was put through the gauntlet on the show -- being kidnapped by murderous members of a cult, finding dead bodies, dealing with the emotional stress of meeting his sociopathic father. But despite all of that, he never loses his goodness and his sense of hope. He's a clever boy, who does as much as anyone could reasonably expect to get back to his mother. He plays an integral role in a show like The Following; without him, the show would become too dark, too hopeless, for viewers to continue to watch.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
