Written by: Kevin Berge
It's all right, Holder. You'll go on to bigger and better things soon. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Quick Take: The Killing Season 4 is a rushed, botched final act to a series that needed an ending. While still engaging, the nuance and realism have been thrown out, and they take some of the main characters' charm with them. This is not the closing arc the series needed though the ultimate conclusion is well told.
The Killing Reviews: Season 1 | 2 | 3
***This is an in-depth review of the final season of The Killing with heavy spoilers. Do not read ahead if you have not seen the series and wish to remain unspoiled on events.***
Where did it all go wrong?
The Killing was never the greatest show on television, and it wasn't even consistent at all times. However, it held up through a few simple promises: a dark realism (sometimes flexible), damaged characters that are relatable and grow through their experiences, and honest storytelling.
For whatever reason, the fourth season forgets these tenants. The central protagonists return to a state pre-season one, more unlikable than they have ever been, especially in their interactions with one another. Meanwhile, the story warps to suit the central narrative around the two.
The last season ended with a huge cliffhanger as Skinner goaded Linden into killing him. It was a fascinating way to set up the final story of the show, the detectives trying to deal with a death on their hands. While Linden was the perpetrator, Holder is there to help her cover it up, trying to protect her.
Unfortunately, instead of putting full effort into that story, the season opens up a new case that hardly goes anywhere while the two try to wrestle with their fear and guilt. This new case ultimately amounts to a violent mess that looks at family abuse in a fairly blunt fashion.
While it ties into Linden's fears about motherhood (a story the show awkwardly returns to), the mystery does not serve much to the story. The killer is the first suspect with the ultimate reveal that he had a psychotic break. It feels so lazy and brutal for the sake of being brutal.
It's a diversion because the season does not have a grasp on how to tell the story of Linden and Holder falling apart from guilt for too long. They are sloppy in their cover up and make repeated mistakes that make them both look stupid before lashing out at each other.
***This is an in-depth review of the final season of The Killing with heavy spoilers. Do not read ahead if you have not seen the series and wish to remain unspoiled on events.***
Where did it all go wrong?
The Killing was never the greatest show on television, and it wasn't even consistent at all times. However, it held up through a few simple promises: a dark realism (sometimes flexible), damaged characters that are relatable and grow through their experiences, and honest storytelling.
For whatever reason, the fourth season forgets these tenants. The central protagonists return to a state pre-season one, more unlikable than they have ever been, especially in their interactions with one another. Meanwhile, the story warps to suit the central narrative around the two.
The last season ended with a huge cliffhanger as Skinner goaded Linden into killing him. It was a fascinating way to set up the final story of the show, the detectives trying to deal with a death on their hands. While Linden was the perpetrator, Holder is there to help her cover it up, trying to protect her.
Unfortunately, instead of putting full effort into that story, the season opens up a new case that hardly goes anywhere while the two try to wrestle with their fear and guilt. This new case ultimately amounts to a violent mess that looks at family abuse in a fairly blunt fashion.
While it ties into Linden's fears about motherhood (a story the show awkwardly returns to), the mystery does not serve much to the story. The killer is the first suspect with the ultimate reveal that he had a psychotic break. It feels so lazy and brutal for the sake of being brutal.
It's a diversion because the season does not have a grasp on how to tell the story of Linden and Holder falling apart from guilt for too long. They are sloppy in their cover up and make repeated mistakes that make them both look stupid before lashing out at each other.
This is exactly what this final season needed, a murder case surrounding bullying. (Image Courtesy of: hellomagazine.com)
Holder ever so briefly falls back into his addiction while Linden falls back into her defensive paranoid state. This unfortunately distracts from more interesting plot threads particularly Holder becoming a father and stressing over the concept.
That idea is the only one that feels like it genuinely fits in the world of The Killing. The realism here is almost entirely gone, and there's little time spent developing anyone but the regressing Holder and Linden. The only time the story moves away from them is to focus on Kyle Stansbury, the eventually revealed killer.
What made the show work was that it had three central characters: Linden, Holder, and Seattle. The city was an integral part of the story. The city barely feels like it matters in this final season. This season could have happened anywhere.
Only in the final episode of the season does the city return to focus. After an embarrassingly sloppy cover up of Skinner's death, the show finally moves past its threads and focuses on how everything has affected Linden and Holder. The final fifteen minutes are almost exactly what the show needed as a conclusion.
Holder gets to say goodbye to Bullet one last time, and Linden leaves her job and Seattle behind. However, Linden is pulled back five years down the line because she needs to apologize to Holder one last time. Finally, back to who they are and who they have become, Linden can admit just how much it meant to her that Holder always stood up for her.
While it has a romantic edge that feels a bit unnecessary, ending the show by acknowledging how important these two were to each other is perfect. These two damaged people, trying their best to combat a world of death and injustice, accept that they cannot change the world but they were able to help one another.
The whole season is not terrible. The pacing is still as deliberate and engaging as ever, making it an easy watch through its final six longer episodes. Plus there are some great moments, living with these characters for a few more hours. It just feels like this season was rushed and poorly delivered to get to the well executed final moments.
That idea is the only one that feels like it genuinely fits in the world of The Killing. The realism here is almost entirely gone, and there's little time spent developing anyone but the regressing Holder and Linden. The only time the story moves away from them is to focus on Kyle Stansbury, the eventually revealed killer.
What made the show work was that it had three central characters: Linden, Holder, and Seattle. The city was an integral part of the story. The city barely feels like it matters in this final season. This season could have happened anywhere.
Only in the final episode of the season does the city return to focus. After an embarrassingly sloppy cover up of Skinner's death, the show finally moves past its threads and focuses on how everything has affected Linden and Holder. The final fifteen minutes are almost exactly what the show needed as a conclusion.
Holder gets to say goodbye to Bullet one last time, and Linden leaves her job and Seattle behind. However, Linden is pulled back five years down the line because she needs to apologize to Holder one last time. Finally, back to who they are and who they have become, Linden can admit just how much it meant to her that Holder always stood up for her.
While it has a romantic edge that feels a bit unnecessary, ending the show by acknowledging how important these two were to each other is perfect. These two damaged people, trying their best to combat a world of death and injustice, accept that they cannot change the world but they were able to help one another.
The whole season is not terrible. The pacing is still as deliberate and engaging as ever, making it an easy watch through its final six longer episodes. Plus there are some great moments, living with these characters for a few more hours. It just feels like this season was rushed and poorly delivered to get to the well executed final moments.
