I would have to say that this first episode fills the bill for a dramatic mini-series. We have police investigator, full of self doubt after leaving a homicide squad for a quiet life in Sonoma. As a matter of fact, her replacement is so impatient he practically pushes her out the door. There is one more case that shows up as she prepares to put her boxes in her car. A young girl has gone missing. She takes the new guy with her and decides to leave after they scoped out the potential crime scene. A bloody sweater has been found (we saw a young woman being pursued at the very beginning). We meet the parents of the girl, the friend she was supposedly with the night before (she wasn't), a school teacher, and a politician, running for mayor. We find there are some intrigues, including some womanizing in his life. Anyway, from the title of the series, it's not too hard to know what is involved here. The interaction between Holden, the ex-narc, and Linden, the female cop, is harsh at first. He is a Neanderthal, it appears, impatient and sort of stupid. The finishing events are striking and raw. It certainly convinced me to watch more.
9 Reviews
Gets Better and better After This/ IMDB Review Theory
scottkursch12 March 2019
Not sure if I'm allowed to address other users, but the reviews are public so, oh well. I'm astonished by the amount of people that watch TV Series and Movies and are so malcontented and disgruntled with the content. One person with nearly 900 reviews, is positive on maybe 10% of their assessments.
With Series, it seems absurd to keep watching episode after episode just to bash, berate, pick apart, and rate sub-par. Who has that kind of time to waste and enjoys being so unfulfilled ? As for Movies, I think eventually you would have a grasp on what you estimate to be a decent watch, before deciding to invest your 2 hours of undivided attention. I'm assuming you read other reviews before tuning in to a show or movie and still watch, then see it through just so you can leave your scathing reviews.
It just makes little sense to me, unless you are a PAID critic. Less than 10% of my reviews are sub-par or highly critical. That's because I research what I am about receive into my optics and ear ducts, and if I find that it's not worth my time I immediately CEASE watching and move on. Unless you have time to view TV and Movies 24/7, there's an endless amount of Cinema/TV to choose from. Who is forcing you to watch crap content ?
I've come to the conclusion that some people just live to criticize and/or be negative. It's what makes them tick. It's also a trend brought about by the age of social media and its anonymous nature. How many "Worst Movie Ever Made's" can there be ? And I have a suggestion if they really are so atrocious and pathetic. STOP choosing to watch such low quality, cut-rate broadcasts in the first place. Learn to filter out the garbage. What's really going on here ? Are you really just living out some Siskel & Ebert occupational fantasy ? Maybe the other conclusion is that your satisfaction is not in watching the productions, but in posting your caustic commentaries. All of that said, I suppose I do appreciate an HONEST and unbiased rating and review. Otherwise, how would IMDB fully function and how would Users properly research and predetermine watch choices. Unfortunately, a lot of critics seem to be in it more for the joy of smack-downs and tongue lashings.
With Series, it seems absurd to keep watching episode after episode just to bash, berate, pick apart, and rate sub-par. Who has that kind of time to waste and enjoys being so unfulfilled ? As for Movies, I think eventually you would have a grasp on what you estimate to be a decent watch, before deciding to invest your 2 hours of undivided attention. I'm assuming you read other reviews before tuning in to a show or movie and still watch, then see it through just so you can leave your scathing reviews.
It just makes little sense to me, unless you are a PAID critic. Less than 10% of my reviews are sub-par or highly critical. That's because I research what I am about receive into my optics and ear ducts, and if I find that it's not worth my time I immediately CEASE watching and move on. Unless you have time to view TV and Movies 24/7, there's an endless amount of Cinema/TV to choose from. Who is forcing you to watch crap content ?
I've come to the conclusion that some people just live to criticize and/or be negative. It's what makes them tick. It's also a trend brought about by the age of social media and its anonymous nature. How many "Worst Movie Ever Made's" can there be ? And I have a suggestion if they really are so atrocious and pathetic. STOP choosing to watch such low quality, cut-rate broadcasts in the first place. Learn to filter out the garbage. What's really going on here ? Are you really just living out some Siskel & Ebert occupational fantasy ? Maybe the other conclusion is that your satisfaction is not in watching the productions, but in posting your caustic commentaries. All of that said, I suppose I do appreciate an HONEST and unbiased rating and review. Otherwise, how would IMDB fully function and how would Users properly research and predetermine watch choices. Unfortunately, a lot of critics seem to be in it more for the joy of smack-downs and tongue lashings.
Interesting?
cliffmacdev12 August 2014
Loved the start.Great acting by Mireille Enos. However, Joel Kinnaman is simply appalling! Why are detective characters written this way. This guy stands over people, invades their space and probes directly. Intelligent people are almost always aware of themselves. Surely, you have to be intelligent to be a detective. He's direct and blunt. He appears to be on cocaine or speed. Information is obtained by watching and listening. He puts people on their guard because of his abrasiveness. Really hope his character settles down, if I am to continue watching. You will rarely find a wise person who's abrasive, abrupt, terse and socially inept. They acquire their intelligence through shrewd study and introspection. This is a society that seems to equate money with intelligence. Money is acquired through ruthlessness or discipline. Intelligence helps with being manipulative but that could simply be mistaken for intelligence and maybe only cunning and greed focus.
Very intriguing start...
Red_Identity8 April 2011
The Killing is the 5th show brought to us by AMC... and another success!
Well, to call it a success is probably too early, but if anything the show is going to become another reason to love AMC. The Pilot was very intriguing, and while flawed, it still did a very nice job of representing the characters. This is AMC's first show with a woman lead, and how does she do? Mireille Enos has a captivating glance about her. You can tell so much by looking at her, and tell just how many times she has witnessed events like this unfold in front of her. She has definitely left a mark on me, and now I cannot imagine anyone else in the role. Let's see what else is going to happen...
Well, to call it a success is probably too early, but if anything the show is going to become another reason to love AMC. The Pilot was very intriguing, and while flawed, it still did a very nice job of representing the characters. This is AMC's first show with a woman lead, and how does she do? Mireille Enos has a captivating glance about her. You can tell so much by looking at her, and tell just how many times she has witnessed events like this unfold in front of her. She has definitely left a mark on me, and now I cannot imagine anyone else in the role. Let's see what else is going to happen...
The Killing - The Pilot
Scarecrow-883 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This pilot of the AMC crime drama series, The Killing, focuses on a missing teenager named Rosie Larsen, as Homicide detective, Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos), planning to leave for California with her 13-year old son to marry a businessman she is in love with, breaks in a new partner from Narc, Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) during the case. Without a body, it is assumed that she could be off with a douchebag entitled brat named Jasper (Richard Harmon) after Rosie's best friend, Sterling (Kacey Rohl) cops to her not hanging out with her during the weekend. The mystery of Rosie's disappearance concludes when Sarah realizes where her body might just be
in a lake near Puget Sound. As a car is pulled from the water, the body of Rosie is found in the trunk
the car belongs to the campaign of city councilman, Darren Richmond (Bill Campbell). The show has these alternating threads that eventually converge. For a little while, how Richmond could possibly link to Rosie was questionable. Then the car is linked to him (or somebody on his staff) so perhaps one of his political entourage is involved. The third thread involved the Larsen family, moving company father, Stan (Brent Sexton) and his wife Mitch (Michelle Forbes) wondering where their daughter is. One of the questions that is obviously answered towards the end is whether or not Sarah will leave on the plane out of Seattle. There could be no show if she does so that isn't much of a surprise. However, the show is pushing the eventual tumult that Richmond will face during his campaign. It seems that by the end of the show, someone among his staff could be disloyal to him and loyal to his rival, the current Seattle mayor. The shocking discovery of Rosie's corpse, and the way the car was disposed leaves an emotional gulp in the throat. Stan's arrival to the scene adds to the dramatics of the body's finding. So sets off the series.
I was Bored
arfdawg-19 July 2015
The Plot.
On what is supposed to be her last day at work, detective Sarah Linden is called to the scene of a violent crime after a blood- covered woman's sweater is found in a park.
There is no body however.
The police have also found an ATM card in the name of Stan Larsen.
Sarah and her replacement, Stephen Holder, follow-up and when they learn that the Larsen's 17 year-old daughter Rosie did not spend the weekend at a friend's house and has not been seen since Friday night, they suspect the worst.
While Rosie's parents Mitch and Stan try to locate her on their own, the police concentrate on searching the park where they eventually discover a car at the bottom of a small lake with the body of a young woman in the trunk.
They also learn that the car is registered to the election campaign of city councilman Darren Richmond who is running for mayor.
Proof that some people will watch anything. Firstly ENOS is fugly and really hard to watch with her squinting in what is rainy skies, not even full sun.
Next, the plot moves way to slowly. We really don't care about side plots. Gets some action going.
I hated the pilot. The plot is derivative and the direction sucks.
Given other good, if limited reviews, I will give this another two episodes before bailing if it doesn't get better.
On what is supposed to be her last day at work, detective Sarah Linden is called to the scene of a violent crime after a blood- covered woman's sweater is found in a park.
There is no body however.
The police have also found an ATM card in the name of Stan Larsen.
Sarah and her replacement, Stephen Holder, follow-up and when they learn that the Larsen's 17 year-old daughter Rosie did not spend the weekend at a friend's house and has not been seen since Friday night, they suspect the worst.
While Rosie's parents Mitch and Stan try to locate her on their own, the police concentrate on searching the park where they eventually discover a car at the bottom of a small lake with the body of a young woman in the trunk.
They also learn that the car is registered to the election campaign of city councilman Darren Richmond who is running for mayor.
Proof that some people will watch anything. Firstly ENOS is fugly and really hard to watch with her squinting in what is rainy skies, not even full sun.
Next, the plot moves way to slowly. We really don't care about side plots. Gets some action going.
I hated the pilot. The plot is derivative and the direction sucks.
Given other good, if limited reviews, I will give this another two episodes before bailing if it doesn't get better.
Slow Start Has Dark Realism & Mystery
AudioFileZ1 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
AMC's teasers for the second season of "The Killing" worked. After seeing a banner ad and link on IMDb I then researched the show to learn it was a remake of a Danish production that received high accolades. In other words, I missed this entire first season which I have began to now watch since I'd rather catch up as opposed to drop in on the second season without previously watching. Perhaps useless information, this is, nonetheless how I'm approaching the series: I'll watch the first several episodes and I'll either be in or out depending on how they interest me.
Some series hit you with instantly likable character in which I call the show character driven. I'll use "Two and a Half Men" as an example. It is character driven and, presently, that it the trouble with the show sans Charlie Sheen (you can like the character even if you find him reprehensible). The first thing I noticed about "The Killing" is I really did not particularly like any of the characters, but I found their roles interesting. I didn't like the the atmosphere of Seattle, but I found it super atmospheric and dark, thus, interesting. Detective Sarah Linden wasn't very engaging, but it was a good device that she was given a case on her very last day as she was transitioning her job to her replacement. Speaking of her replacement, Detective Stephen Holder, he isn't particularly endearing either as he looks more like a loser than someone representing the Seattle Police Department...Again, interesting. Importantly, however, there is a mysterious case of a bloody sweater, a debit card, and a possible murder leading to a missing seventeen year old girl. At this time there is a high-profile city councilman running for political office named Darren Richmond. Councilman Richmond is polished, but is true to form here as not particularly likable, especially when combined with his spin-doctors attempting the usual media/voter manipulation. Well, perhaps not so surprisingly I'm beginning to feel a "hook" as this has the feel of real life without the Hollywood type over-the-top action and glitz. I'm going to compare it to the BBC's Case Histories but with less charisma (Jackson Brodie had it in spades, not anyone here however)and more grit and realism. Bottom line is it is, in a good way, not instantly character driven, though I'm sure it will build, and, to excellent effect, very story driven.
So, in a very low-key, but highly interesting way, "The Killing" gets off to a slow, but promising start. Characters that seem real, great cinematography featuring a menacing and depressing atmosphere, and a senseless murder that may have a connection to an up and coming prominent man who happens to be a politician. I'm now set to watch more as I must find out how this evolves. If it continues to build on the excellence hinted at here I will be pushing through the rest of the first season, catching up to the present second one with some haste. Recommended if you like less action and more atmosphere and story.
Some series hit you with instantly likable character in which I call the show character driven. I'll use "Two and a Half Men" as an example. It is character driven and, presently, that it the trouble with the show sans Charlie Sheen (you can like the character even if you find him reprehensible). The first thing I noticed about "The Killing" is I really did not particularly like any of the characters, but I found their roles interesting. I didn't like the the atmosphere of Seattle, but I found it super atmospheric and dark, thus, interesting. Detective Sarah Linden wasn't very engaging, but it was a good device that she was given a case on her very last day as she was transitioning her job to her replacement. Speaking of her replacement, Detective Stephen Holder, he isn't particularly endearing either as he looks more like a loser than someone representing the Seattle Police Department...Again, interesting. Importantly, however, there is a mysterious case of a bloody sweater, a debit card, and a possible murder leading to a missing seventeen year old girl. At this time there is a high-profile city councilman running for political office named Darren Richmond. Councilman Richmond is polished, but is true to form here as not particularly likable, especially when combined with his spin-doctors attempting the usual media/voter manipulation. Well, perhaps not so surprisingly I'm beginning to feel a "hook" as this has the feel of real life without the Hollywood type over-the-top action and glitz. I'm going to compare it to the BBC's Case Histories but with less charisma (Jackson Brodie had it in spades, not anyone here however)and more grit and realism. Bottom line is it is, in a good way, not instantly character driven, though I'm sure it will build, and, to excellent effect, very story driven.
So, in a very low-key, but highly interesting way, "The Killing" gets off to a slow, but promising start. Characters that seem real, great cinematography featuring a menacing and depressing atmosphere, and a senseless murder that may have a connection to an up and coming prominent man who happens to be a politician. I'm now set to watch more as I must find out how this evolves. If it continues to build on the excellence hinted at here I will be pushing through the rest of the first season, catching up to the present second one with some haste. Recommended if you like less action and more atmosphere and story.
Perfectly ridiculous scene destroys all the credibility the first episode has built up.
sogoodlooking15 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Rosie's missing, and Det. Linden finds A body---not THE body, just A body. Its face is obscured. The missing girl's dad shows up at the scene (cliche me, baby) and Det. Linden DIRECTLY IMPLIES to him that this is the dad's daughter. She has no reason to think it's surely the missing girl. The car has no connection to the missing girl, and they haven't even run the car's plates, yet. It's absurd, and I go from interested and engaged to rolling my eyes at the sacrifice of all authenticity just to milk the scene for a few seconds of a father's agony, which the script could have delivered anyway, without this nonsense, two minutes later. Awful.
It's almost enough to make me give up on the series. If you can't intelligently handle the reveal of a central character's death, how likely are you to get much else of importance right, especially with the handicap of charisma-vacuum Joel Kinnaman as one of the leads?
Just a completely pointless, utterly ridiculous bit of business no self-respecting writer nor showrunner would permit---but here we are, in Farceland.
It's almost enough to make me give up on the series. If you can't intelligently handle the reveal of a central character's death, how likely are you to get much else of importance right, especially with the handicap of charisma-vacuum Joel Kinnaman as one of the leads?
Just a completely pointless, utterly ridiculous bit of business no self-respecting writer nor showrunner would permit---but here we are, in Farceland.
A very intriguing start
gedikreverdi4 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Rosie's dead body found in the trunk of a car that belongs to the councilman. I thought I couldn't care less about that man and his campaign but the ending changed my mind. The city looks really good for such a murder mystery.
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