Stan comes home. Sarah heads off to California. Stephen has done something we may regret. Belko cleans his gun. There are questions that can easily lead into Season 2. This bleak series really captured my attention, but I have to say they play fast and loose with plot and the narrative hooks are pretty contrived. I guess the question to ask is what precisely happened in the last ten seconds, because they cut out and made us wait, as they've done twelve times before. I wished that Sarah hadn't gone off on the councilman because she really tipped her hand. Are we in for three more years on the same case? I guess, as they hoped, we will hang in there for the next season. Got hooked on something I didn't even know existed a few days ago.
6 Reviews
My Favorite Episode of Season One
jeffrey-utley23 July 2013
'The Killing' season one ends with 'Orpheus Descending', the thirteenth and final episode of season one. This episode was very interesting, intense, and suspenseful. Through the whole thing, there is very much trauma building up that kept me on the edge of my seat.
It even started out interesting. With the episode before this one ending in a cliffhanger, this episode fills it in, but in a weird way. This is explained quickly, though. As it goes on, they have to do different things of which they did have to do in past episodes, but I always found that aspect of the situations interesting. This one was about as good as it had been in past episodes, though. It wasn't anything special. Then, the episode took a different turn that started to make it more interesting. The turn turned from something they had done in past situations into something new. It also started to show the detective's emotions, which seemed strange, and it didn't last that long. It wasn't written into the episode story line well.
As the episode went on, different things started happening that affected the detectives' work, which put them in a situation. In that situation, it became intense, and I really went for the detectives to be able to do this. It starts to get big and I knew that this episode was going to be a big one, and it became a big one. Something very unexpected happens, which did work very well, but I really didn't expect it. Next, there was a big turn that I loved. The episode was almost over, so it worked well.
At the end of the episode there is a big twist that puts characters in very bad situations and worked nearly perfectly for the episode. I was a very good even for the finale. There was intensity in this part, and it doesn't seem like there should have been. After that, there is an even bigger twist that brings massive intensity and suspension. It leaves the end of season one with a huge cliffhanger that just made me want to watch the next episode. When a T.V. show is able to do that, then props to that T.V. show. The whole ending of this episode wasn't even suspenseful, but it still brought huge intensity.
This was a great episode and great ending to season one. The reason it didn't get an excellent is because it had a few very small problems and I didn't think it was as good as other things I've rating 10/10 - excellent. Anyway, my 9/10 rating means that 'Orpheus Descends', episode thirteen of season one of 'The Killing' is great. I highly recommend watching the first season of 'The Killing' and especially recommend this episode.
It even started out interesting. With the episode before this one ending in a cliffhanger, this episode fills it in, but in a weird way. This is explained quickly, though. As it goes on, they have to do different things of which they did have to do in past episodes, but I always found that aspect of the situations interesting. This one was about as good as it had been in past episodes, though. It wasn't anything special. Then, the episode took a different turn that started to make it more interesting. The turn turned from something they had done in past situations into something new. It also started to show the detective's emotions, which seemed strange, and it didn't last that long. It wasn't written into the episode story line well.
As the episode went on, different things started happening that affected the detectives' work, which put them in a situation. In that situation, it became intense, and I really went for the detectives to be able to do this. It starts to get big and I knew that this episode was going to be a big one, and it became a big one. Something very unexpected happens, which did work very well, but I really didn't expect it. Next, there was a big turn that I loved. The episode was almost over, so it worked well.
At the end of the episode there is a big twist that puts characters in very bad situations and worked nearly perfectly for the episode. I was a very good even for the finale. There was intensity in this part, and it doesn't seem like there should have been. After that, there is an even bigger twist that brings massive intensity and suspension. It leaves the end of season one with a huge cliffhanger that just made me want to watch the next episode. When a T.V. show is able to do that, then props to that T.V. show. The whole ending of this episode wasn't even suspenseful, but it still brought huge intensity.
This was a great episode and great ending to season one. The reason it didn't get an excellent is because it had a few very small problems and I didn't think it was as good as other things I've rating 10/10 - excellent. Anyway, my 9/10 rating means that 'Orpheus Descends', episode thirteen of season one of 'The Killing' is great. I highly recommend watching the first season of 'The Killing' and especially recommend this episode.
Season 1
IPyaarCinema9 November 2021
Review By Kamal K
The central character, homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos), is called to a crime scene on what's supposed to be her last day of work. Her best-laid plans include a move to Sonoma, CA and marriage to fiance Rick Felder (Chad Willett). Sarah's less than thrilled son, Jack (Liam James), is supposed to be accompanying her.
But you can't plan for murder. Nor for a new partner named Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman). He's a former narcotics detective with a dour sense of humor and novel ideas on how to advance an investigation. So they're an odd couple from the start, which is nothing new in the grand TV scheme of things. Yet The Killing makes it all seem fresh and inviting, even if we could make do with fewer close-ups of Sarah in deep ponder.
There are parallel stories. Rosie's parents, Stanley and Mitch (Brent Sexton, Michelle Forbes), are sledgehammered by their daughter's disappearance and murder. The Killing delves deeply into their grief, and how they comport themselves in front of their two young sons.
Also in the mix is city councilman Darren Richmond (Billy Campbell), a widower who's in the closing stages of his bid to become Seattle's mayor. A car rented by his campaign becomes part of the murder investigation, with Richmond both cooperating with police and fully aware that this could be a death blow to his election hopes. His principal campaign advisor, Gwen Eaton (Kristen Lehman), has been sleeping with him. Another key aide, Jamie Dempsey (Eric Ladin), may not be what he seems.
This all makes for a slowly stirring pot amid weather that should be a capital crime in itself.
The disparate detectives of The Killing may have their own means and methods of getting to the bottom of this. But the overall air of believability is palpable from the start. All the better for taking a deep breath and diving right in.
The central character, homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos), is called to a crime scene on what's supposed to be her last day of work. Her best-laid plans include a move to Sonoma, CA and marriage to fiance Rick Felder (Chad Willett). Sarah's less than thrilled son, Jack (Liam James), is supposed to be accompanying her.
But you can't plan for murder. Nor for a new partner named Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman). He's a former narcotics detective with a dour sense of humor and novel ideas on how to advance an investigation. So they're an odd couple from the start, which is nothing new in the grand TV scheme of things. Yet The Killing makes it all seem fresh and inviting, even if we could make do with fewer close-ups of Sarah in deep ponder.
There are parallel stories. Rosie's parents, Stanley and Mitch (Brent Sexton, Michelle Forbes), are sledgehammered by their daughter's disappearance and murder. The Killing delves deeply into their grief, and how they comport themselves in front of their two young sons.
Also in the mix is city councilman Darren Richmond (Billy Campbell), a widower who's in the closing stages of his bid to become Seattle's mayor. A car rented by his campaign becomes part of the murder investigation, with Richmond both cooperating with police and fully aware that this could be a death blow to his election hopes. His principal campaign advisor, Gwen Eaton (Kristen Lehman), has been sleeping with him. Another key aide, Jamie Dempsey (Eric Ladin), may not be what he seems.
This all makes for a slowly stirring pot amid weather that should be a capital crime in itself.
The disparate detectives of The Killing may have their own means and methods of getting to the bottom of this. But the overall air of believability is palpable from the start. All the better for taking a deep breath and diving right in.
Suspenseful and eagerly awaited...
Red_Identity20 June 2011
The season finale of The Killing is finally here, and since we were told we will get answers we cannot wait to see how it all unravels...
Without giving away any spoilers I can say that the final scenes of the finale are really shocking. In fact, so shocking that it infuriated me. It shows that the writers, for all of their flawed writing, really have a heads up to what they want to do and what type of story they want to make. It shows that they had the balls to end the finale the way they did. If anything, the finale makes the viewers want to come back. I for sure will, even though the season hit a lot of rough spots. Also, a shout out to Mireille Enos who was brilliant.
Without giving away any spoilers I can say that the final scenes of the finale are really shocking. In fact, so shocking that it infuriated me. It shows that the writers, for all of their flawed writing, really have a heads up to what they want to do and what type of story they want to make. It shows that they had the balls to end the finale the way they did. If anything, the finale makes the viewers want to come back. I for sure will, even though the season hit a lot of rough spots. Also, a shout out to Mireille Enos who was brilliant.
Keneman was an acting Find.
breadman814 June 2018
Since 2011, Kenneman has gotten plenty of work. He was the Star of this film despite (IMHO) the dreadful Enos and others. Rosie's grief stricken father was exceptional all through series.
But the two guys who were so good couldn't make this series worth the effort.
Particularly The writer/producers have No ear nor eye for street kids behavior or speech. Dreadfully bad here..
gripping but lost focus
hoblet15 October 2011
The opening and middle episodes of The Killing are excellent. The way the relationship between Linden and Holder slowly thaws is very well acted and convincing. I found that the whole show was based on relationships. How fragile they are,how easily they can be destroyed by hastily made and incorrect assumptions.
The plot slowly simmers meanders along and does complete U turns but keeps you hooked as more and more details are revealed and unravelled. I would have thoroughly enjoyed this show except for the last episode the writers seem to have thought "How do we outdo 24 et al and keep them begging for more" They failed, I just felt let down! What would have been a 9 or 10 Score tumbled to 7.
The plot slowly simmers meanders along and does complete U turns but keeps you hooked as more and more details are revealed and unravelled. I would have thoroughly enjoyed this show except for the last episode the writers seem to have thought "How do we outdo 24 et al and keep them begging for more" They failed, I just felt let down! What would have been a 9 or 10 Score tumbled to 7.
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