When thinking of a modern day show that incorporates all the elements of jacobean style play, the first show that comes to mind is “The Following.” In this show, Joe Carroll is a diabolical serial killer who goes on a killing rampage and doesn’t sympathize with anyone except his ex-wife and child. The protagonist of the show is Ryan who is Joe’s arch nemesis because he had an affair with Joe’s ex-wife (Claire). Throughout the show, Joe makes multiple attempts to kill Ryan even though Ryan deeply cares for Joe’s his ex-wife and genuinely loves her, feelings Joe is incapable of expressing to her. Joe’s ex-wife and Ryan form a deep bond and Joe is aware of this, however, chooses to disregard his ex-wife’s happiness because Joe wants her to be with no one other than himself.
A lot of Joe Carroll’s characteristics are portrayed in the character Ferdinand in the play “The Duchess of Malfi.” Similar to Joe, Ferdinand is ruthless when it comes to killing and makes it very clear that he does not want his sister marrying anyone unless he approves of that person.
In both scenarios, you have two men who care about a woman but both are manipulative and disregard what the person they care for really wants and see no wrong doing in their actions.
In the scene below we see Joe confront Ryan and the extreme measures that Joe is willing to take to get back with his ex-wife.
