What I’m Watching: The Killing

The Killing: Season 1, Episode 11 “Missing” (B)

This was quite a brave episode. For a show to completely ditch all but one of its recurring plotlines – and not the central one, at that – is extraordinarily risky, and it can lead to an enormous disconnect with the pacing of the rest of the show. This experiment paid off, I’d say, as we got to spend an entire hour with just Sarah and Holder, getting to know them much, much better and seeing how they make each other tick. Their interactions were at times rather powerful and at others quite entertaining. Perhaps the most affecting moment of the episode was Holder’s second call to an offscreen answering machine, explaining that he won’t be able to make it to the parade because a friend of his really needs him. Sarah storming out of the car and momentarily refusing to get back in also made for a powerful scene. Holder definitely does not have a way with words, evidenced by his accidental insulting of Sarah’s parenting skills, which elicited a response of “You’re kind of a dick” from her. It’s good to see that the investigation into Rosie’s murder has brought them closer, and bookending the episode with the casino visit and the casino footage reveal was smart. Jack himself has never been much of an interesting character, but it’s more for the worry that his disappearance caused his mother, especially when it came to that body discovery scene. Two more episodes to go, and I hope they’re like this one in terms of intrigue, focus, and tone.