Round Two: The Killing

The Killing: Season 1, Episode 3 “El Diablo” (C+)

Perhaps it’s unfair of me to continually compare this show to “Twin Peaks,” but it’s hard not to when the musical cues are almost identical to those of the classic David Lynch series. This show continues to proceed along at an extremely slow pace, which wouldn’t be a problem if there was more that could potentially be going on. Looking at the first two installments and this one, it seems that the format will be that things build very moderately throughout the episode, with a grand disturbing revelation made right at the end each week. I’m not sure that I can bear that since there isn’t much payoff in the lead-up to the last few minutes. “Twin Peaks” had plenty of curious characters who might not have had any ties to the major crime. Additionally, there was actually something besides the main plot going on, which doesn’t seem to be the case here. The duplicity of someone involved in the campaign doesn’t seem to be terribly layered, and this sure-to-be-postponed wedding isn’t headed anywhere original. The incorporation of the Larsen family into the season-long story also seems like it will simply create problems for the detectives. The one ounce of true intrigue is the apparent side mission of one Detective Stephen Holder, whose conversations seem to indicate some serious spying. I’m still not drawn in, but I know many (such as G1000) are enjoying this far more than I am, and with little else to watch on Sunday nights, I can afford to stick it out for at least a few more weeks.