The Following' season 3 spoilers: Agent Mendez returns; huge explosion triggered by Theo  

\'The Following\' season 3 spoilers: Agent Mendez returns; huge explosion triggered by Theo in \'Flesh & Blood\'

Ryan Hardy and his team are up against a new antagonist in season three. After Joe Carroll is put on death row and the date of his demise looms near, Ryan\'s team is up against Michael Ealy\'s Theo this season.

While some audiences may be saddened by Joe\'s absence, some others feel this is a positive step in shaking up the plot and re-inventing the series. In episode 8 titled "Flesh & Blood", Ryan makes it clear he isn\'t convinced that the FBI has the right murderer. In the promotional clip, Hardy is seen saying, "The guy we\'re looking for is meticulous. He would never leave such a clumsy trail."

Design & Trend reports that Ryan and Mike dig deeper which leads them to a secret lair rife with video cameras. While the duo enter the dilapidated building, it becomes apparent that it may be a trap. The clip also shows Ryan taking down Theo, but it seems unlikely that he captures this season\'s villain so easily. Additionally, the report indicates that Hardy and Theo will continue to play a cat and mouse game throughout season three.

Ealy\'s Theo isn\'t one to back down easily. He remotely detonates a bomb in a residence and the clip makes it unclear who, if anyone, was inside the building. Agent Mendez is back after a noticeable absence for two episodes. The detective will work alongside Ryan to track down the latest serial killer. TVGuide\'s official episode synopsis also reveals that Joe is evaluated as his executive date nears and a new threat attempts to cover his tracks.

What impact will Joe\'s execution have on Ryan? Kevin Bacon spoke to TVGuide about this, explaining, "He\'s (Joe) been such an important piece of (Ryan\'s) life. And the question is, when something that\'s that important in your life, whether it\'s good or bad, goes away, does it leave a hole that needs to be filled up by something else? That\'s the question that we\'re dealing with this year."

Meanwhile, actress Annet Mahendru has been cast as Eliza, reports another TVGuide article. She is very sexy, dangerous but also very sophisticated and is the face of a larger evil that Ryan will be against towards the season\'s end. Mahendru will star in multiple episodes.

"Flesh & Blood" airs on Monday, April 13 at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

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