The Killing

[aenemaTron]

There are things I like but there's a lot I don't like. For one thing, the cops aren't good at their jobs - which is fine, but it should be addressed a little more directly if it's intentional.

I did like the way they made us hate that teacher and then right as they pull the rug out from under those feelings, they have him beaten within an inch of his life.

Just once I'd like to see criminals or "reformed" or "ex-" criminals say "yeah, the cops suspect that this guys did it, but since when do we respect them or think they're so great? They're probably wrong, so let's not just act like dumb animals."

[nathansmart]

I know it's probably the boring part but for some reason I'm wrapped up more in the political battle than anything else.

[AnnE]

I know it's probably the boring part but for some reason I'm wrapped up more in the political battle than anything else.

I find this part the most intriguing, too. I want to know more, damn it.

[kevin]

I think the political parts are the most interesting because I like the basketball parts of any show the best.

[Weinerslave]

I find the political parts dull for three reasons. 1. Billy Campbell's ridiculous, whispery moping 2. The fact that his two principle aides have exactly one character attribute between them and 3. the actual political contest lacks nuance at every level. The strategic conflict is flat and uni-dimensional, while Campbell is cartoonishly righteous and the Mayor is cartoonishly villainous. It really just makes me wishing I was watching Carcetti versus Royce again.

And what kind of politician signs off on political posters with a BLACK background? That shit looks like the author photo for a Stephen King book.

[Adult Ed]

Before we knew the series was going to be on AMC, my wife and I torrented the Danish version (BBC subtitles) and loved it. My wife watched about half of the first episode of the American version and told me not to bother.

[nathansmart]

this thread is even worse than the walking dead thread

[nathansmart]

Well, not even I like this show enough to defend this week's episode.

[AnnE]

I haven't seen it yet. That bad? (Of course, I have to watch at this point but at least I've been warned.)

[nathansmart]

It just depends - do you care about the relationship between Linden and her son? If not, then you better get ready for 95% that story.

[AnnE]

Holy cow. Nothing could have prepared me for that episode. I had to remind myself what show I was watching. That was really weird.

[Weinerslave]

I was willing to go along with this episode until the fake-out dead kid. Redonkulous.

[nathansmart]

Wow, so you hate all the good episodes but you were into the bad one? This one stunk from the start!

[Weinerslave]

Well, I was more willing to go along with the idea of a detour episode that filled in Linden's backstory, even though doing that w/ three episodes left and nothing but dead end red herrings w/r/t the actual murder case is just perverse. It reminded me, in spirit at least, of "The Fly" from last season's Breaking Bad, and I love that epsiode. The actual execution was crummy, but I'm sort of inured to the Killing's particular brand of crummy at this point.

The main problem I've been having w/ this show's characters and the way they're dealt with is all on display in the scenes of Holder leaving messages on his sister's machine. It's presented as a crucial moment of emotional revelation about Holder, but the problem is that the viewer HAS NEVER MET THESE OTHER CHARACTERS! I have no connection to his sister or her kid at all. Expecting the audience to give a shit about these relationships at this point in the series is nuts.

[nathansmart]

I don't care about his relationship either but it's just another piece of his lifestyle that is (somewhat) interesting. I don't think we are supposed to be all up in his business except to know that he's just another mope married to his job just like Linden. I think you are expecting too much from your television shows. We have been spoiled by amazing stuff like Breaking Bad and Mad Men but that doesn't mean that every show has to have the amount of attention to detail and care that those do. Sometimes you have flawed television that works for different reasons.

[Weinerslave]

Hey, I can overlook plenty of flaws in a tv show if there's other stuff I enjoy. I just don't think ANYTHING works on this show. Shit, at least the Walking Dead has flesh-eating zombies. I'm strictly in it for the "what stupid red herring will they pull out of their asses this week?" curiosity at this point.

[nathansmart]

I wish I had that amount of time in my life to watch shows I hate. Isn't there enough good stuff out there?

[RegularKarate]

I think last week's episode was terrible. This week's made up for it. I have been waiting for a chance to get more into her personal life... the chase was getting boring and I don't care as much about who killed the girl as I used to so I was glad for a break.

I get why people would be mad at the episode, but last week's was really the worst one. I know the show uses cliches, but that one really signed the check.

[Weinerslave]

I wish I had that amount of time in my life to watch shows I hate. Isn't there enough good stuff out there?

It's one hour a week. I'm not curing AIDS or anything.

[nathansmart]

There's at least 168 hours worth of good shows to watch though and that's if you only watched TV in your life.