Friday, June 19, 2015

To view or not to view...




I got Netflix because of House of cards.  I convinced myself that the subscription would be cancelled immediately after the show was over.
Then I started watching OINTB.
Then I started watching all 4 seasons of The Killing
It all went down hill from there. I

I love television. I really do! Aside from my unhealthy addiction for ratchet reality tv, I love the art of television, the ability of the writers to keep the viewer interested and engaged is a fascinating to me.  

I like to predict the story arcs, the twists and the characters actions.  I am good oh! The more I write the more I have convinced myself that television isn't bad. in fact it isn't bad, too much of tv like everything is bad.

Anyway I am going to review The Killing today. 
It was a show that was first on A and E and all four seasons are now on Netflix.

The Killing is an American crime drama television series that premiered on April 3, 2011, on AMC, based on the Danish television series Forbrydelsen (literally The Crime). The American version was developed by Veena Sud and produced by Fox Television Studios and Fuse Entertainment. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman).
Straight from my ever reliable source wikipedia

When a friend first recommended it to me,I rolled my eyes and said, “Great another procedural cop tv show”  

I also thought it was similar to The Following because of the similar titles. I watched the first few episodes of The Following and let me tell ya this was the first series to scare me enough that I was afraid to be alone in my own home.

I liked “The Killing” because its different from the formulaic law and order, CSI etc on surface value. I have an affinity for a small dose of dark in literary mediums and the feel of “The Killing” is definitely dark. From the extremely depressing and perpetually wet weather of Seattle and the mildly mentally off Detective Linden, its definitely on the higher end of the Richter scale for dark. The lighter moments are usually provided by Holder, Lindens male partner who is the detective version of Eminem an urban (euphemism for black) white dude formerly drug addict turned detective whose witty wise cracks reduces the darkness of the murder investigations.

The dichotomy provides a very interesting rich dynamic between both partners. Linden and Holden are Ying to Yang. Linden is extremely multifaceted and fascinating as a character. AKA she is a little cra cra. She  was a foster child who was bounced around homes and subsequently is a runner. Home gal runs from every situation that makes her uncomfortable. She absorbs herself so immensely into a case that she neglects herself and her son. I am trying to limit spoilers if you do decide to binge watch on Netflix, her attitude towards her son catches up with her in the first season. Like the rest of the world, her moral compass is also slightly off.

The Killing is not about a murder investigation per se. Its about the ripple effect a lost life has on a family, the community and even transcending to politics affecting the mayor. The writers and Sud did an excellent job of showing this to the viewers mostly in the first and second season.

The main criticism of the first season was a lack of resolution of the Rosie Larsen murder case. I didnt have t worry about that because I binge watched on Netflix. shrugs shoulders 
I cannot deal with the Nollywood inspired suspense. 
The third season was also strong but I felt the fourth season which was planned as the final season and was also shortened missed the mark. The murder mystery wasn't much of a mystery albeit being intriguing. The back story between Holder and Linden and their psychological break down from the aftermath of season three was more interesting to watch . Overall The Killing was a great season that I would highly recommend for binge watching.

Next up : Grand Hotel on Netflix .. updated poor man's version of Mr. Selfridge
Next Up OINTB ..a will write a dissertation on this. I was not pleased
Next next up The Fall.. another detective show with a hawt hawt hawt serial killer. Yeah those words should not be in the same sentence but you have to watch the show to understand


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