Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: The Killing: Season 1

 

The Killing is a crime drama that aired on AMC for three seasons and Netflix for its final season. The 13-episode first season aired during the spring and summer of 2011.  It stars Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Brent Sexton, Michelle Forbes, Billy Campbell, Kristen Lehman, and Jamie Anne Allman. The best way I can describe the series is if you mix a serial murder mystery such as Twin Peaks (without supernatural elements and quirkiness) with a cop drama where the partners don't always get along. The series is the US adaptation of a Danish TV show about the murder of a young girl named Rosie Larsen (played by Katie Findlay) in Seattle, Washington. She is found in the trunk of a car that has been submerged in a lake. The events of the season span two weeks and detail the investigation of her death by homicide detectives Sarah Linden (played by Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (played by Joel Kinnaman). The story has a lot of twists and turns and a ton of different possible suspects. There are a lot of misdirection and plot twists throughout the season, and the investigation is still ongoing as the season ends with the thirteenth episode.

The Blu-Ray set is a three-disc set. The show looks great in HD, with many good visuals of the Pacific Northwest. The extras include commentary tracks on two episodes, an extended version of the season finale, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a gag reel. So, there is a decent amount of material for those who like watching the bonus features.

Overall, the season is very good. There is a lot of character development, and not too much is revealed too soon. There are intertwining storylines, including the investigation, the family reaction to Rosie's death, and the political race for mayor, which may or may not be a factor in Rosie's killing. The series is very well written and acted, and I think the show took a risk (in a good way) by casting unknown character actors in the main roles. Joel Kinnaman has gone on to have what is probably the most notable career since the series ended, appearing in House of Cards and the Suicide Squad movies. However, when the series aired, both he and Mireille Enos were relatively unknown and definitely did not fit the mold of series leads. I know some people think the series was too slow, but I think the writers made the correct decision not to reveal the killer in the first season, as it probably would have been the Death Knell for the series since all the plotlines were tied to the murder mystery. It is definitely not family-friendly, as there is some sexual content and a lot of swearing. But if you are looking for a good combination of mystery and drama, this is definitely worth checking out.