I know I've mentioned this before in these weekly Killing recaps, but I've never got around to watching the Danish Forbrydelsen. However, the outrage and sneering that has greeted this US AMC adaptation would suggest that I must be missing one of the most groundbreaking and sumptuous shows in recent memory. Because this AMC version is good. Not always great and definitely not perfect, but consistently very good. If the Danish original is far superior, I can't wait to get stuck into it.
The Killing (the US version) has faults for sure. The political trials and tribulations of Richmond's mayoral campaign is bulging at the seams with clichés and occasional clunky lines that could stink out the whole of Seattle. Last night, Richmond continued to play the furrowed-brow 'I'm an honest politician' card. His weasely spin doctors have watched on with despair and it's only a matter of time before he relents and shifts to the dark side.
Richmond's hardly been whiter than white in his campaign, despite his proud statements about not hanging Bennet out to dry, so with his rivals kicking him down the poll ratings, he will surely start playing dirty soon enough. We also got a slightly strange glimpse of Richmond's past as he met up with his late wife's mother. She thinks that he's not forgiven himself for something and that he doesn't have the self-belief to be mayor. She's a smart cookie. There's a big old skeleton lurking in Richmond's closet.
Where The Killing really excels is when the focus is on the Larsen family. Whether it's Stan on the brink of unleashing an old-fashioned Mafia beatdown on Bennet, or Mitch, unhinged and on the edge as she stalks Rosie's ex-teacher and starts issuing out boggle-eyed threats, the pair are compelling viewing.
As Stan and Bennet stood alone in the pouring (pouring is definitely an understatement) Seattle rain, chatting about fatherhood (impending in the case of Bennet and the loss-of in the case of Stan), it was a seriously bleak scene. But within the bleakness, Mitch and Stan still feel very real, as a couple, as a family, and they make this series must-watch viewing.
Elsewhere, Linden's failure to make it to California is starting to feel a little bit like a weekly comedy sketch as she missed the plane yet again (following a slapstick dash through the airport). However, her failure to reunite with her future husband did allow her the opportunity to spend some much needed bonding time with her soon. OK, the bonding may have been over a paintball gun, but it was still strangely touching the way she watched her son pummel his rivals after some trigger finger training.
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As for the mystery of who killed Rosie, we learnt two key things this week. Bennet's partner, last week's prime suspect, has been ruled out because she can't lift things while heavily pregnant. However, a new suspect has been ruled in - Mohammed. A pal of Bennet's, we've yet to meet him, but he may well have been at the house when Rosie called in on the evening of her death. He apparently doesn't talk much and we haven't seen him on screen yet. All very suspicious, we're sure you'll agree.
Are you still loving The Killing? Who killed Rosie? Share your views below.
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