This past Sunday’s episode of ‘The Killing’ is slow, even by ‘Killing’ standards. The show itself is a methodical plodding series. It doesn’t move fast at all. Clues are slowly revealed, characters grieve and feel – that’s what makes it a good watch. However, I felt like the first 45 minutes of this latest episode are almost too slow. Nothing seems to happen. Characters wander around, Holder rides a bus in what appears to be the longest bus route ever created, and Linden hopes to find more clues on who killed Rosie.
I will say that the last 8 – 10 minutes of the episode make up for its interminably slow pace. The reveal at the end isn’t so much of an “a-ha” moment as an “I knew it!” moment. I kept feeling that there was something more to Mr. Bennett than we were led to believe.
I feel that the bait and switch with the two drugged out teenage losers is a bit of a stretch. Now that’s a “twist” that’s straight out of an ‘SVU’ episode. Turns out that the girl getting raped in the video wasn’t Rosie at all; it was her friend Sterling dressed up like her. I’ve never been a big fan of shows that intentionally mislead just to draw out the drama.
After finding out they have nothing with the videotape, Linden makes Holder ride a bus that Rosie usually caught outside of school to see if any of the drivers recognize her photo. It isn’t until the end of the episode that Rosie’s destination is revealed, but it gives a jumpstart to the story.
Rosie’s family is taking a weird turn too. So, her dad used to be a gangster? Or used to know gangsters? Or used to hang out with gangsters? That’s seems a little silly. ‘The Killing’ is almost taking on a ’24’ feeling, where numerous characters have extraneous subplots that never seem all that interesting until they converge in the last few episodes. In ’24’, though, sometimes those subplots led to absolutely nothing in particular. Hopefully that doesn’t happen with ‘The Killing’.
My gut still tells me that Jamie had something to do with the murder, even though right now we’re being led to believe that Bennett is up to no good.
Other random thoughts:
- All that blood in “the Cage” was from a simple nosebleed? Not buying that one at all.
- Holder takes the longest bus ride ever. He’s on the bus the entire day, and by the end of it he finally reaches the end of the line. Does Seattle really have an all-day bus route?
- The scene where Linden’s son and fiancé stuff cake in their mouths is weird, but that cake looks yummy.
- Where in the world does Linden buy all her baggy sweaters? Those things are atrocious.
Dail Whiteley
i liked this show. it is getting a little redundant. ii ve been to seattle many time in the last year and i ve been on the bus up there you should only be on the bus foe may be 30 min. 45 tops.
Josh Zyber
I wonder if he’s supposed to have been riding the bus route back and forth all day to talk to all the drivers? Admittedly, if that’s the intent, it wasn’t made very clearly. I also think there’d be an easier way to accomplish that, like going to the depot and questioning the drivers there.
Dail Whiteley
and they do not change drivers like that. in the middle of a route. thought that was odd.
Shannon Nutt
I like that this show is slow and plodding. Not sure if you guys are aware, but there’s a big push from the fan-base of this show NOT to reveal the killer and/or to leave it unsolved until the series has run its course. The big network decision over at AMC right now seems to be if they want every season to revolve around a new case, or if they want the entire series to revolve around this one murder…I’m hoping for the latter. We all saw what happened to TWIN PEAKS once we found out who killed Laura Palmer…no one cared any more. I hope the writers over at THE KILLING don’t make the same mistake…in fact, I’d be quite happy if we NEVER found out who killed her (which was David Lynch’s original intention with TWIN PEAKS). The story is about the affect this murder has had on the characters, not (necessarily) “who done it”.
Aaron Peck
AuthorI too like that the show is slow and plodding, but this last episode was nearly stagnant. The show is also easing itself into a rut that many other dramatic television shows have done. There’s always a BIG reveal at the end of the episode to keep you hooked.
Josh Zyber
There’s a double-edged sword in that. The audience also starts to lose interest if you don’t resolve the mystery. I think they’ll pretty much have to set up a new storyline each season. If they’re clever, perhaps they’ll find a way to make it directly related to this one.
Anyone know what the original Dutch show did?
Shannon Nutt
I believe the Dutch show has a different mystery each year/season.
Aaron Peck
AuthorI think I’d dig this show as a once and done. Like an epic mini-series or something. Thinking about it continuing on seems kind of weird.