“The Killing” is a new series from AMC which does a tremendous amount of things right. It’s moody, atmospheric, raw and edgy. Well-written (mostly) and well-acted, the expert direction from Hollywood veterans sets us into a place where almost anything (bad) can happen. But more than anything else, "The Killing" takes its time getting to places that a lot of suspense dramas wouldn’t. This bucks the current trend of frenetically paced and oft-times unsatisfying TV (think the pilot of "V".)
There’s an actioney opening that’s a bit cliched that propels us into the grey world of Seattle, WA - this is Rosie Larsen trying desperately to escape from someone who is chasing her with obvious ill-intent. This chase is oddly cut in with lead detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos from “Big Love”) jogging along a similar path. Rather ham-handed symbolism but perhaps this is also to give us conspiracy fans something to lock into. I found it distracting and unnecessary although, obviously, there is some ending symbolism here that has to be absorbed.
Since we see this chase of Rosie Larsen right up front - and since AMC in their marketing wisdom has already told us in their slugline “Who Killed Rosie Larsen” - we know she’s a goner. This has the effect of making the first 30-40 minutes a bit tedious while we go through a journey with the detectives and Rosie’s family that we already know the ending to. There’s enough human drama to keep it moving but just barely.
Because of the slugline and the setting in the Pacific Northwest (and certain
other revelations as we go along) this show has been compared to “Twin Peaks.” “The Killing” is as much “Twin Peaks” as I am Katy Perry - at least in the first two hours. It just isn’t and don’t tune in thinking it is. And I pray they don’t go down that path since this feels more like the amazing British police procedural “Prime Suspect” (Helen Mirrin) which matter-of-factly presented horrible murders or situations but took its time to unravel all the human drama behind these crimes.
Enos plays Sarah Linden, a detective who as the series opens is about to leave for the warmer climes of SoCal with a fiancé who adores her and a son who is teenaged-bitter and angry that they are moving away from his home and all his friends (topped off with the seemingly requisite cliche “he’s not my dad” line - ugh!) She has one day more to put in and her boss insists that she put in her full time. Of course she gets the case of the initially missing person then murder case of pretty teenager Rosie Larsen.
It gets a little comical in a non-funny way that Linden keeps getting pulled back to this crime. It certainly goes to her character that she is so focused on this crime and its impact that she really can’t walk away; I’m assuming that at some point she’ll just have to give up the marriage/moving idea and stick around. Hopefully sooner than later since there were at least four scenes dedicated to the idea that she has to put off the flight to SoCal and a little goes a long way in this case. By hour one this dance of denial has already overstayed its welcome.
What makes “The Killing” so watchable (it’s already on a Season Pass on my Tivo) is certainly the characters. The crime itself is horrific and you feel for the girl who was the victim but the characters moving around this orbit of pain are the real compelling storylines. The creators obviously understood this and make good use of it.
Enos is stunningly good - it’s as if she pulled this character out of her soul. Born to play this detective wouldn’t be an understatement. Her sorta/kinda/maybe partner, Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman “Snabba Cash”) is a polar opposite of her thoughtful manner. And he’s so good at times he steals the scenes as the Gen-X, slightly edgy former narc cop who is anxious to 
prove he’s got the stuff to do big-boy homicide. Kinnaman is a Swedish actor - and you'd never know it - who has been up for several high-profile film roles lately. This is a good place for him to land until he gets one of those roles. He’s equal parts bull-in-a-china shop and cagey investigator. Although he’s a bit outclassed by the bulldog who is chief investigator Linden, he does come up with unique and interesting ways to find answers - like pretending to party (with weed) with two high-school girls to get a lead on something called “The Cage” which is the intriguing bit that rolls you out of the 2hr pilot and into the next episode. It's also the title of this episode.
There’s a subplot, obviously a major one, that involves Billy Campbell “Once and Again” as Darren Richmond, Seattle's city council president who is now running for Mayor. Since there are many scenes devoted to this sub-story and one particular potentially damning piece of evidence, we know that this will dovetail into the investigation in a big-time manner.
The family of Rosie Larsen (mother played by Michelle Forbes “True Blood,” father played by Brent Sexton “Justified”) is a third subplot and it’s extremely challenging and painful watching them try to process the unthinkable - especially since Rosie’s aunt makes her sister feel guilty about not calling Rosie all weekend when the main part of the family was away camping. There’s obviously more to this story so stay tuned for the plot to thicken here.
The first hour of this pilot was directed by Patti Jenkins (“Monster”) and the second hour was Ed Bianchi, a TV veteran. Both segments were written by Veena Sud “Cold Case,” who adapted it from the (very successful) Danish series “Forbrydelsen” which is now filming its third season.
Although the story slips into the unbelievable, cliche and/or silly at times, on balance it is a terrific tonal, police procedural. This is series television done right. Real, imaginary and all shades of in-between, it leaves a mark on you that's not easily erased. It’s so much above the stuff we normally get that AMC, the parent production company, should be commended for stepping 
outside the batter's box of the mundane and comfortable and swinging for the skies.
I can see “The Killing” becoming a true cult classic - yes, all right, like “Twin Peaks” - and gathering a storm of Emmys for all involved.
One thing is certain, anything Enos is in I will watch in the future. I’m sorry I missed her in “Big Love” but I won’t make that mistake again.
“The Killing” pilot premiered on Wednesday night but takes its normal time/day slot on Sundays at 10:0 on AMC.
