Saturday 9 February 2013

The Killing

I've been watching The Killing ( not the Danish version Forbrydelsen- translated "The Crime", on account of I don't understand or eat danish) but the US version developed by Veena Sud and produced by Fox Studios and Fuse Entertainment.

These are the two main characters- Sarah Linden lead detective -hazzah for the women leads- ( "Linden" is how she answers the phone cause she is a serious minded, no nonsense, heavy sweater wearing ( I'm thinking the heavy sweaters are borrowed from the Danish series) and Stephen Holder sidekick,( ex narc- sent to homicide, a hoodie wearing, sauntering, Big Lebowski type who can speak street & relate to the everyman  "ok every "cool" man" with his jive lingo).

It is a crime drama series set in Seattle that follows the murder investigation of Rosie Larsen a 17 year old "good girl" found...( well I won't say more ) - each one hour episode being one day of the investigation.  It is creepy  and compelling and there are many many scenes shot in the near dark ( like they were on a strict light budget ) and guess what -it is always and I mean always, raining- every single episode. Like it is hard enough to solve crimes when we're dry and now we have to be soggy ( and I'm guessing itchy and mouldy) all the time- do you mind! And do you think they have umbrellas- no way- it rains right on them, night and day.  Maybe detectives who can't figure out to buy umbrellas would be challenged solving a murder- or maybe they are just too into their jobs but hey the two are not mutually exclusive.
  
After one full season in which we also follow a race for mayor that pits the "corrupt" candidate against the "integrity" candidate- (yes, they are somehow involved), we know a lot more about the Larsens ( the victim's family), the detectives, and how often it rains in Seattle, but  sadly we still do not know who "dun it". There have been many twists and turns and false leads etc.

Mr. Lovely gave up 2 episodes from the season finale ( ya I don't get it)- decrying "I can't take it anymore- this murder investigation is going into Season 2"( he saw some still shots from Season 2- big mistake- NEVER look ahead!) but left on a cliff hanger and having committed to 13 episodes I am not about the abandon the hunt for the Killer- in the Killing even if I have to go it alone.
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28 comments:

  1. Pip9 February 2013 at 15:06

    B- Love it! I think Mr. Lovely has the right idea. I wouldn't have the patience either, but I'm glad you're watching to keep us in the loop... Please keep us updated!

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  2. b lovely9 February 2013 at 19:32

    Will do Philly- though you will need to watch some of it to care at all!

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  3. DaniBP10 February 2013 at 11:42

    hahahaha! Excellent review and that's the DOYOUMIND we know and love!
    I think this sounds like the most depressing show EVER so obviously I am never going to watch it but I'll read your reviews anytime.
    What will DOYOUMIND hone in on next I cannot wait!

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    1. b lovely10 February 2013 at 18:46

      Thanks Dani. But actually this series is a cakewalk compared with Durham County- now that was the most depressing show EVER! Thanks for your support though!-

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  4. Unknown10 February 2013 at 13:05

    I had to come see this blog all my friends were talking about... and gee am I glad I did. This b lovely character really has her finger on the pulse.
    I think Philly has the right idea. I didn't have the patience to read the whole review.

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  5. b lovely10 February 2013 at 18:48

    Really Thomas- you could not read to the end of the review? I think you are just joshing me. But thanks for your comment!

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  6. Patricia MacDonald11 February 2013 at 14:53

    wow - have you been thinking about writing this blog for awhile (i.e. before watching The Killing) or did it inspire you? As you know I have watched both seasons of this show - and I have to say that Mr Lovely bailed way too early. I know it's raining all the time, and sometimes you can hardly see the characters on the screen because of the gloom, and the crime is horrible, and the cops Linden and Holder are complex (and only slightly damaged), but the acting is great and the story takes interesting turns and detours - and I think you will find that in the end it is satisfying TV. But it is a bit of a haul. Good luck.

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  7. b lovely11 February 2013 at 15:49

    Oh I am totally entertained but then I love the dark side. Bring It! I will definitely be watching Season 2. BTW there is a Season3 involving a new case.

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  8. Anonymous12 February 2013 at 06:33

    I watched the Danish one and said 'tak" for the whole series. It was brilliant, really dark and very Nordic.

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    1. b lovely12 February 2013 at 06:46

      tak for that comment. Where did you get the Danish one- it would be great to compare the two series

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    2. Anonymous12 February 2013 at 07:12

      It was on TV here, it swept the nation!

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    3. GetFresh12 February 2013 at 07:31

      Not well labelled, unless you know to look for Forbrydelsen, but can get it on DVD over here. Will ask crew at Queen Video in T.O. this weekend. Maybe BBC Canada online shop, or someone like that, sells?

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    4. b lovely12 February 2013 at 11:00

      Do you live in the States, Bourbon? You guys get everything. My sister was recommending sons of anarchy which she said she got on Netflix but here- nada!
      Thanks GetFresh- I looked on Amazon.ca which is the go to place for any consumer good in the world and yes they have it under Forbrydelsen starting at $62.38!! do you mind-that is a big chunck o'change. I might have to wait for it to come down in price.

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  9. KSL12 February 2013 at 06:33

    Sent over by Dani, and I'm glad she did. Very entertaining post and now I'm intrigued by The Killing.
    Is it on TV, cable, how do you watch it?

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  10. b lovely12 February 2013 at 06:54

    You can watch it on AMC. I watched it in the dark for the extra gloom but you can turn the lights on if you get too down. Hope you like it.

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  11. Sulky Kitten12 February 2013 at 07:09

    Came over from Dani's! I watched and loved the Danish series and like Tabs, I was saying Tak in my sleep.The sun never shone in the Danish version either.

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    1. b lovely12 February 2013 at 11:01

      I want to say Tak in my sleep too. You can only imagine what I was saying night and day after watching Al in Deadwood.

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  12. Patricia12 February 2013 at 07:09

    Hi b, also over from Dani, I'm sure I won't be the last! I have heard of the Danish series and didn't realise it had been re-made for the US. It sounds like my kind of thing - I do like a good mystery.

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  13. GetFresh12 February 2013 at 07:24

    Also arriving from DBP, who has made me smile for a while with your "doyamind!" Lovelyb have you also tried the new Purefoy-Bacon series "The Following" (Monday CTV)? Think you might enjoy its dark side - pushes the envelope for network at least. Do appreciate anyone who starts to blogs (dedication) and adds their inside observations in parentheses (personal writing habit).

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  14. David12 February 2013 at 09:05

    Hi Miss B-One of Dani's readers here, it is an honor to read you. I love your analysis! DH and I have watched around this show in its first or second season. I believe in the show's infancy it was strategically(?) placed around Mad Men(wonder who did that market analysis?Were they on drugs?) The Killing looks like it would be right up my alley, but it seems we were always too exhausted from trying to keep our train of thought going after being buffeted by the endless storm surge of d*^#ed Mad Men commercials(rot gut scotch no less!) to slosh through the rain with the Seattle detectives. I have a question though-are you all watching it by episode on network or taking the fast lane and doing the boxed set? I highly recommend boxed set viewing if you are deciding whether to invest your lives in a televised series, but I'm sure you are aware. DH and I were late to the 24 party several years ago, so we made strides by watching the boxed sets on the weekends(and staying up till 4am to do so.) Anyway, we got so addicted(putting ourselves on the waiting list for a detox clinic) that it was impossible not to watch when we caught up to the currently aired episodes. These days we are knee deep into Justified-it is not every day that you run across a silver tongued, practical villian with such nice manners as Boyd Crowder. Sorry I waxed long on the subject.

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  15. Louise @ INGREDIENTS12 February 2013 at 11:05

    Also sent over by Dani and very much looking forward to your future posts!

    This series sounds very interesting. My husband and I are fans of Scandinavian noir. Have you seen the Wallander series with Kenneth Brannagh? In case you haven't, this series was produced by the BBC, based on the Swedish books and TV series. It is excellent but very scary at times, I definitely don't recommend watching it alone!

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    1. b lovely12 February 2013 at 13:24

      Thanks Louise. Re the Wallender series no I haven't seen it but now plan to look it up. I say the noirer the better and I'm not ascared- I may have to watch it alone but I do prefer it if Mr. Lovely will watch with me. On va noir.

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  16. b lovely12 February 2013 at 11:06

    Thanks David. You are so right about Boyd Crowder- I love him too. In fact all of the characters on Justified are pretty great and the writing keeps on getting better and better!

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  17. WendyMcLeodMacKnight12 February 2013 at 12:14

    Hi B lovely!

    I am completely unaware of this show, so thanks muchly for bringing it to my attention in such a great way!

    Welcome to blogging B! I can't wait to read more!

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  18. b lovely12 February 2013 at 13:25

    Thanks for your supportive comment WMM.

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  19. Coulda shoulda woulda27 February 2013 at 12:06

    hello - i am a huge Killing fan but the Danish version - they didn't show the US version to my knowledge in the UK - i have as did most of the nation just finished the three seasons a couple of months ago - i am forlorn - now I am really wanting to watch the US version - I would love to see if they are comparable - there are subtle cultural difference and would like to see if they do affect dynamics somewhat. also it is a chance to go back to sarah lund's mind.

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  20. b lovely1 March 2013 at 14:11

    I bet you can buy the US one on Amazon.com. I want to watch the Danish one just to compare as well.I bet even with the all the rain in the US one, the Danish one has more angst!

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