The Killing - Series 1 and 2 [DVD]

These thirty hours of riveting film cover two exciting, pacy thrillers, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger which lures you straight on the next one.

It is easy to grasp the appeal of detective Sarah Lund, obsessively focused on solving the puzzle of brutal murders at the cost of her personal life, and wonderfully liberated in true Scandinavian style from any concerns about her appearance, or need to use any feminine wiles to achieve her ends. In typical small touches of humour, she knocks cartons of coffee over her colleague's desk, or misinterprets her mother's horror as she thoughtlessly waves around graphic photos of murder victims during one of the phone calls that always seem too urgent to be left to a more suitable time.

What sets the series apart is the gradual revelation of the main characters' personalities, and the development of their relationships. The best example of this for me was grieving of the couple who lose their teenage daughter in Series 1, as they move very convincingly through the various stages of stunned disbelief, anger and desire for revenge, sometimes blaming each other to the point of estrangement.

In both series, the murders soon develop a political angle. The political shenanigans are hugely entertaining in their own right. If Danish politics can be portrayed as so corrupt and devious, what hope for the rest of us?

My main reservations, which do not seem widely shared, are that Series 2, with "only" ten episodes is too condensed, which can make it hard to keep track of all the plot twists and leaves too little time for the in depth emotional development we see in Series 1. Perhaps the producers needed to take more account of the needs of viewers trying to read subtitles alongside observing every fine detail.

Although I admire the level of depth that leaves everyone damaged in some way by events and some questions unanswered, I think there are too many flaws - such as why a trained assassin would shoot someone several times in the torso, rather than once in the head? (Need to avoid spoilers precludes other better examples).

The nagging loose ends may be the "downside" of the author writing one step ahead of the filming, the plus side being the vitality and spontaneity of many scenes. Also, of course, the slight sense of "let down" at the end of Series 2 may be withdrawal symptoms after all that excitement. At least there is Series 3 to anticipate!

I didn't see the first series of 'The Killing' but was glued to every complicated twist in the beautifully constructed and appropriately lengthy second series, I don't know what it is with the Scandies but they sure know how to tell a detective tale, I watched all the sub-titled series of Wallander and thought this may be equally as good but was blown away by the intrigue, intensity and complication of a double set of police and governmental strategies to get to the truth of who or even what was behind the series of killings in this second series, believe me you don't want to miss this DVD.

The Killing is, quite simply, one of the best crime-thriller series to have ever been filmed. It sets the standard for intelligent and involving television; perfectly paced and beautifully presented. The original Danish programmes capture the stark subtlety of Scandinavian noir and deliver it to the viewer in hour-long episodes.
The first season runs to 20 episodes and follows an investigation into the sudden death of a young woman; churning through the intricacies of the lives of all those around her. No one in The Killing appears to be innocent; everyone is hiding something...

Unlike many sequels, the second series surpasses the first in many regards. It's faster paced and less frustrating; just as gripping and complex; beautifully acted, cleverly plotted, atmospheric, violent, tense and at times heartbreakingly poignant. The ten episodes grab you by the throat, beguile you, baffle you and keep you coming back for more. Don't watch more than a couple at a time: you'll be jittering all night.
If you did not watch the first season of The Killing (actually, the literal translation of the original Danish title is `The Crime'; rather more subtle), then you *can* watch the second series as a stand-alone, but you'll struggle somewhat to understand the central character, Sarah Lund. Her methods of investigation, her insight, her fixation and determination are pivotal to both seasons, as is her relationship with the two male detectives who partner her each time; Jan Meyer in the original series and Ulrik Strange in the second. Lund's family life is chaotic and her interactions with her boss, the wonderful Brix (who can deliver more with a raised eyebrow than most actors can with an entire soliloquy), are complex. So you can busk through it, but you'll enjoy the delicate emotional nuances all the more if you understand all the background. Lund is a neurotic mess, a danger to herself and her co-workers - but she's also the only person likely to be able to get through the tangled web of army intrigue and cabinet-level politics to reveal the truth.

Yet although the action follows Lund faithfully, all of the minor characters are drawn in intense detail, with the kind of back story that real, genuine, proper people have. The Killing excels in running half a dozen coherent and interlinked plot lines simultaneously - mystery upon tragedy, tangled in with the very relevant themes of the war on terror, corruption and cover-up in coalition governments, the treatment of soldiers returning to civil society, how democracy can be corrupted by the very people sworn to uphold it... all seasoned with the very real threat that any of the major characters could be killed. At any time. You've been warned!

Compelling, quality television crime drama. Definitely worth watching more than once - this is a series I will buy rather than rent.
And the third series, set against the back-drop of the economic crisis, is in the pipeline. But will any of the major characters reappear...?
10/10