“The Killing” is a curious show with almost nine lives. A major hit out of the gate for AMC that looked like it could replicate some of the success of “Breaking Bad” or other flagship shows on the network. Like we wrote at the beginning of season 2, “the pilot episode of the show—an eerie mix of David Fincher “Se7en” rain/gloom aesthetics and the “Twin Peaks”-like ominousness found in the Pacific Northwest—received near universal acclaim from critics.” But the show quickly went south, dragged everything out and went a little nuts with red herrings that lead into cul de sac after cul del sac. Ratings dropped and by the end of season two, the show was canceled. AMC then unkilled it, brought it back for season 3 and then canceled it again.
But clearly there is a loyal audience of some kind and it registered on the Netflix map where presumably millions of their subscribers were watching the show at their own pace and leisure. Digger deeper into their own original programming—TV doing gangbusters on Netflix as it is and creating their own shows means reaping all the rewards without splitting costs—the streaming network crunched some numbers and decided an original season on their own platform would be profitable. Hence, a 4th (and final) season of “The Killing” exclusively on Netflix, premiering on August 1st.
A first look image of the show has arrived and it features Joan Allen, playing a new character on the show (see it below). Here’s the fourth season finale synopsis:
- The fourth and final season of THE KILLING picks up right after the season 3 finale. As Detective Linden (Mireille Enos) and Detective Holder (Joel Kinnaman) struggle to manage the fallout from their rash actions at the end of last season, they are assigned a new case — a picture perfect family is murdered, survived only by the son, Kyle Stansbury (Tyler Ross), who was shot in the head during the massacre. Joan Allen guest stars this season as Colonel Margaret Rayne, the headmaster of the all-boys military academy where Kyle attends. The new season also stars Gregg Henry, Sterling Beaumon and Levi Meaden.
THE KILLING is created and executive-produced by Veena Sud. Mikkel Bondesen is executive producer for Fabrik Entertainment. Kristen Campo also serves as co-executive producer for Fabrik. “The Killing” is produced by Fox Television Studios for Netflix.
Netflix has also conveniently released a trailer summarizing seasons 1-3 if you don’t feel like catching up in real time. Will you be watching on August 1st? Weigh in below.
Amazing pilot followed by too many inane red herrings and boring as hell politics. Then a third season redeemed itself and showed what that show should have been from the start.
Funny too since the trailer advertises the best parts: the eerie early ness of season 1 and the third season. No seedy politic coampaigning.