THE KILLING DANISH OR AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL
Hewing to the original, Enos plays Sarah as uncommonly quiet, solidly professional and intuitive without being, like American crimefighters, some kind of savant.
THE KILLING DANISH OR AMERICAN SERIES
The key decision in adapting the series for American television was not tampering with the quiet, stoic demeanor of the main character, Seattle homicide detective Sarah Linden (played with riveting austerity by Mireille Enos). As visually arresting as the greens and yellows in the yawning expanse of Breaking Bad’s Albuquerque, N.M., setting - only the opposite - Killing makes Seattle/Vancouver an essential character in the story. AMC said there was an intentional “Nordic noir” feel to the location, and that’s as true as any description. Set in Seattle (but shot in Vancouver), there’s a dark, damp, gray-sheen visual style to the series that, like a rainy day, slows everything down. Even if Killing lures savvy viewers - as it should - there’s also the notion of stiff competition in the drama arena, a competitive reality that has felled some acclaimed series before.Īnd yet the investment in Killing is time well spent. There is certainly risk involved in AMC trying to pull off Killing on these shores, primarily based on our ADD viewing habits. Killing is scheduled for 13 episodes in Season 1. All of that means AMC has plenty of source material for executive producer Veena Sud ( Cold Case), who has adapted the series for the channel. Another successful season followed (10 episodes/days), and a third is planned for 2012. Her death affects numerous people on numerous emotional levels.Īfter that, it’s all mystery and fallout - told with compelling patience.Įach episode of the Danish original took place over the course of a day, and there were 20 episodes/days in Season 1. The premise is only simple in description: A teenage girl is murdered. (And if viewers know they should exhale before watching, that’s half the battle.) Based on the phenomenally popular Danish series Forbrydelsen, which became a hit in Britain and is being reworked in other countries, Killing upends so many elements of American television that it immediately comes across as unique. But put it next to the hyperpaced, action-packed, fast-talking American police procedurals, and it looks like Abe Vigoda in the 100-meter sprint.Īh, but the hook it sets goes impressively deep. In fairness, Rubicon was probably the poster series for Slow TV.