Took many of the best features of season one and expertly expanded on those themes. for those who dont know, the killing hinges mostly on the determination of a pint sized female detective, on her way, repeatedly, out of town to get married before she commits and recommits to solving rosie larsens murder. turns out our heroine has somewhat of a checkered background, herself, not entirely related to an investigation of a similar crime years earlier. linden is partnered up with an (ex) meth head, street wise, kind of punked out, and thoroughly imperfect detective holder. he makes plenty of mistakes in trying to hold up his end of the investigation. Ultimately, what makes the killing so effective is not simply the twists and turns youd expect of a conventional whodunit, in this case expertly served up in a virtually perfect seattle; in the end, its the drama that does it. a culmination of the acting, direction, narrative progression, and music that sets the killing apart from many pretenders to the throne of first class televesion serial drama. Each episode ends in a vignette, punctuated by variations in the musical score and including close up shots on the actors in various poses, that literally spell out the thinking and emotional processes that must lead to the resolution of the drama. Really well thought out from top to bottom, and expertly executed in a way you have never quite seen before. In many ways, as good as many other serial dramas on cable, including dexter, breaking bad, walking dead, lost, etc. great casting, the two lead detectives, again, are as flawed as their investigation, joel kinnerman and mirielle enos, both excellent, dimensions revealed in both that were only hinted at in season one. Brent sexton continues with a series of superb performances, billy Campbell not as significant role as season one, but still, plenty to say.
Good thing, on the one hand, the riddle is answered in season two. Bad news is, catching the killer means the season must come to end. Which it does, emotionally, in a riveting closing sequence that places many of the broader emotional issues underlying the mystery in itself most clearly into focus. Not for the kids. But dramatically, nearly as good as anything on television the past several years. Vital, seminal, visceral first rate drama. Two thumbs way up, hated that it had to end