The Killing returns with more mystery

AMC's The Killing returned this past Sunday with two new episodes, "Reflections" and "My Lucky Day." Linden (Mireille Enos) decides to stay in Seattle permanently. Suspicious of Holder (Joel Kinnaman) because of the faked photo, she is soon also betrayed by Lieutenant Oakes (Garry Chalk). So she takes matters into her own hands, and is able to clear Councilman Richmond (Billy Campbell) of any wrong doing. Meanwhile, Holder realizes he has been tricked, but can't get Linden to talk to him, let alone work with him.

Holder and Linden's relationship as partners is such a strong component of season one of The Killing, and they go through so much growth, that it is odd to have them at odds in "Relections" and "My Lucky Day." They are both still investigating Rosie Larsen's (Katie Findlay) murder, but from different angles. While Linden and Holder are quite capable on their own, with all these layers of mystery above them, they need to team up. It's going to take more than one person to blow the lid off of this conspiracy.

Holder is not a bad guy. He cuts corners, and gets a promotion for it. But his part in framing Richmond is not a purposeful action. Holder believes Richmond is guilty at the time. This is not an excuse, of course. He still does something wrong, and it's no wonder that Linden doesn't trust him. But he's not involved in the larger plot, as Linden thinks he is. As soon as she realizes that, the sooner they can get back to working together, and the quicker the case will be solved. But scaring her and busting her door, as he does in "My Lucky Day," is a bad idea, no matter how desperate he is to get Linden back on his side.

But will Holder and Linden, when they inevitably team up again, work within the system, or outside of it? Oakes has been replaced by a new boss (Mark Moses, Desperate Housewives, Mad Men) in "My Lucky Day," who may be even more in the pocket of the bad guys. After all, no shady group would let a key player get knocked out by an honest man. Instead, they likely ask Oakes to step down. Which means, while having access to evidence and witnesses is nice, the two lead detectives may just have to go outside of their jobs to find the truth.

What is The Killing's conspiracy about? How is Rosie Larsen involved? These are questions that still need to be answered. Rosie worked for Richmond, and Richmond is a target of the schemers. But why is Richmond a target? Why do these people hate him so much that they frame him for the murder of a young girl? And is Rosie just a random victim, or someone of importance?

At least Richmond can be knocked off the very full suspect tree. He has an alibi: he was trying to kill himself at the time of Rosie's death. This stems from his grief over his wife, the only major back story that has been revealed about Richmond. Which means that the conspirators' hatred of Richmond could somehow be connected to his romantic history. Too bad he's done cooperating with Linden, making the heart of the matter all the more difficult for her to find.

Richmond spends much of The Killing's premiere recovering in the hospital from a gun shot wound. He is now paralyzed. One has to wonder how this injury and near-death experience will change Richmond. He no longer seems to want to die, and he hasn't said anything about giving up his election. Will he return to work reinvigorated, or is something else going on in his head?

Part of the brilliance of The Killing is that it does not shy away from inner turmoil, nor does it spell everything out for the viewer. Much of Richmond's motivation is murky, at best. Gwen (Kristin Lehman) and Jamie (Eric Ladin) spend much of "Reflections" and "My Luck Day" upset, not doing anything much. It makes their actions, when they do act, more meaningful, and allows fans to try to figure out what is going on in their heads, adding another layer of mystery to this unique crime drama. This makes the structure of The Killing very cool.

Richmond is shot by Belko (Brendan Sexton III) in "Reflections," whose reason for doing so is obvious: he thinks Richmond killed Rosie. Belko then takes his own life while in custody. Belko is a tragic character, to be sure, but he is never a central focus of The Killing. Which means, like Rosie, the impact of his death on the people who love him will be more important to the story than the event itself.

Stan (Brent Sexton) is the one most upset by Belko's passing in "My Lucky Day." Stan has lost his daughter. His wife, Mitch (Michelle Forbes), has gone off by herself. And he is still responsible for raising two boys (Seth Isaac Johnson and Evan Bird), who really need him right now. Between Belko's suicide and Rosie's real killer dropping off her backpack on Stan's stoop, Stan is having a very rough couple of days. He can barely keep himself under control, let alone calm his sons. Sexton is knocking this performance out of the park, with these two hours giving the actor the most meaty material he's had yet.

Which leaves Terry (Jamie Anne Allman), Mitch's sister. She is being a good aunt, staying with Stan to help him take care of her nephews. However, Terry also has a hidden agenda. Why is she really there? Not just out of a desire to help, surely. Every scene she has with Stan is awkward, making things even more intriguing. What is going on?


The Killing has lost none of its suspense or draw. Disappointingly, ratings are down, but hopefully fans will return and get over their silly anger at Rosie's killer not being revealed last season. The show is every bit as good a series as it ever was.

Watch The Killing, Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Please click here to buy The Killing streaming episodes and DVDs. Article first published as TV Review: The Killing - "Reflections; My Lucky Day" on Blogcritics.

The Killing spies "Orpheus Descending"

     AMC's The Killing ends their first season with "Orpheus Descending." In the episode, Linden (Mireille Enos) and Holder (Joel Kinnaman) pinpoint Councilman Richmond (Billy Campbell) as the mysterious online personality Orpheus, and then link him as the killer in the Rosie Larsen (Katie Findlay) case. Or do they? Before the credits roll, Holder tells an unseen person that the fake photos of Richmond work, while Linden realizes that the evidence isn't on the up and up. But she's on a plane out of town. Will she get off? To add to the suspense, as Richmond is getting into a car, Larsen family friend Belko (Brendan Sexton III) pulls a gun on him at point blank range.

     Reaction has been mixed on this episode, and most of the negative ones are from loyal viewers upset that there is no real closure to the Rosie Larsen case in this episode. The Killing has already been renewed for season two, but after patiently waiting for three months, assuming the identity of the murderer would be made apparent by this episode, some people feel cheated. All that is certain is there is a lot of grey area, not everything is as it seems, and at least one character considered fairly trustworthy may not be.

     The negative feedback is wrong. It's a brilliant story, and dropping in a few last minute twists at the end only excite the appetite for season two even more. The entire first run is so well written and acted that there is a level of trust in the writers at this point to eventually satisfy the audience beyond reasonable doubt. Or, if that doesn't happen, it's more realistic, as without being a witness to the event, it's never known one hundred percent what happens. But it's more likely the show will finger the real killer, as mentioned in a promo for season two.

     Sadly, not many people have the patience to sit through thirteen slow moving episodes, and it's a testament to The Killing's quality that it hooks as many fans as it does. While it may have lost a few with the vague ending, hopefully even more will be brought into the fold once it gets out that The Killing does not tolerate laziness in its viewers. It makes not only the characters, but also the people watching at home, work for the truth. The story is not an easy one, and a solution is not to be had, even after thirteen episodes.

     One thing relatively predictable is that Belko will not succeed in killing Richmond. Rosie's father, Stan Larsen (Brent Sexton), is already facing charges for nearly beating to death a man wrongfully accused of the evil deed. Richmond is probably not the killer, as evidence against him is not real. It doesn't seem likely that Belko will go through the exact same thing. If there's one thing The Killing doesn't do, it's repeat itself. But I could be wrong. Maybe that's the beauty of going down that path. A similar situation with drastically different circumstances and results.

     For season two, only three main characters have been revealed in the press to have signed on at this time. Holder and Linden will be back, which seems like a no-brainer. Obviously, Linden will not go through with her move to California permenantly, as with the Rosie case still open, her obsession will not be sated. Whether she gets off the plane immediately following the final seconds of "Orpheus Descending," or is haunted by the unsolved mystery for months at her new home, she will return to Seattle to continue to work the case. Given her personality, it's a solid conclusion.

     Holder is still deeply connected with Larsen, too, though his motivations are more murky. Those who have come to adore him as a hero may root for Holder to have the best of intentions in using a fake photograph. Holder and Linden are sure Richmond is their guy, so unable to get the footage he needs, Holder could have forged the shots to put away the man he believes is a bad guy. It's not a smart or noble move, but it's one that may be forgiven by the audience, if not the police department.

     Another option is that Holder is paid off or blackmailed into providing those doctored photos to his boss. While blackmail may fall into the same category as the above theory, bribery definitely would not. Holder is on a strict budget. He may want the money for drugs, which would be a huge disappointment. He may have powerful friends in high places. He may have some personal connection to the real killer, and have a reason to hide the truth. The possibilities are endless, and only season two will uncover which is correct.

     The third character booked to return is Rosie's aunt, Terry Marek (Jamie Anne Allman). What this means is anyone's guess, but it will likely connect to her clan. Stan's story has been emotionally moving, and it will satisfy many to see it continue to play out. As the season ends, Mitch (Michelle Forbes) leaves Stan. Will Stan be with Terry, as their bond seems a little too close for brother- and sister-in-law? If so, sympathy for Stan may fade. Or maybe with Mitch gone and Stan in jail, Terry is the family member the police will work with as they figure out who really killed Rosie.

     "Orpheus Descending" is a brilliant play, with lots of unexpected occurrences and loose ends. While it does not deliver what everyone wants, it continues the series in the same vein it carries with consistency throughout season one. Keep in mind, the original version of The Killing has a twenty episode first season, so there is still material to mine. Toss a second case in to go along with Rosie, and it can be just as dense as the first season. I, for one, cannot wait for the second season, which will likely air spring 2012.


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     If you've missed any episodes of The Killing, catch up with Amazon.com's Instant Video, from which all episodes, including this week's, are now available.

Article first published as TV Review: The Killing - "Orpheus Descending" on Blogcritics.