‘The Killing’ a nail-biting puzzler

(Published Aug. 14, PDI-Entertainment)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

Inspired by a successful Danish TV show, the American murder mystery series “The Killing” dramatically follows the investigation of a horrific and puzzling crime. Like “Twin Peaks” and “Veronica Mars,” the show has a female victim whose demise brings attention to the various suspicious characters in her community.

The body of high school student Rosie Larson is found by homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos), whose impending retirement is delayed by the new investigation. Linden is joined by rookie detective Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman), who helps sniff out clues and possible suspects. Emerging details point to different angles, painting Rosie as someone with more complicated secrets than the average teenager.

“The Killing,” set in Seattle, Washington, is unlike typical police procedural programs with cleanly solved crime mysteries of the week. The show takes its time, elaborating on that single case while also focusing on the detective protagonists’ lives.

Initially, it does a good job of creating a paranoid atmosphere. At times, it seems that certain suspects are definitely and inescapably guilty, only to be cleared by incontrovertible evidence. That becomes routine for a few episodes and the intertwined stories of the seemingly unrelated characters intrigue.

Frustratingly, the identity of the killer won’t be revealed until season two, according to reports. Despite a finale that doesn’t answer important questions, and actually inspires new and tougher ones, season one still has cohesive elements.

The moody visuals enthrall and the layered characters present interesting conundrums. There are outstanding performances by Enos, Kinnaman, Billy Campbell (as a beleaguered politician) and Michelle Forbes (as Rosie’s grieving mother), as well.

Its macabre mystery isn’t as oddly engrossing as the ones in the aforementioned shows, but the puzzle-solving still becomes involving whenever sad or sordid details are revealed.

“The Killing,” previously on Jack TV, now airs on Fox, Sundays at 9:50 p.m.