Netflix released season 4 of "The Killing" on August 1st. SPOILERS AHEAD, stop reading if you're not done binge-watching! Then come back when you do!
If you're watching season 4 of
The Killing on Netflix, then you already know that this is not a show laden with happy endings. You've also already watched the first three seasons, so I won't spend a tremendous amount of time re-hashing plot points. Season 4 continues exploring the theme of second-chances, which is pervasive throughout this series (many examples to cite, probably best explored in a separate essay). The series, itself, has received two second chances after facing cancellation after seasons two and three, before Netflix afforded the show's creators and viewers 6 episodes to bring the series to a close.
I didn't share the anger that many fans expressed over needing seasons 1 and 2 to bring the Rose Larsen murder case to a close, but I understand it, when your poster for season 1 asks "Who killed Rose Larsen?" and the question remains unanswered. But in real life, homicide cases aren't solved because the sands of the hourglass have descended. They're solved because the art and science that go into the investigation have successfully converged and the detectives have "their man." My disappointment is with how it all comes to an end in S4:E6, "Eden."
Seasons 1-3 do not move forward with breakneck-paced plot progression nor Law and Order-esque sound effects to skip over the slower bits. The meat of the show is in the masterfully portrayed character development and growing friendship/partnership of Detectives Holder (Joel Kinnaman) and Linden (Mireille Enos). The homicide investigations are mostly intriguing, but even more interesting and rewarding than solving the case for this viewer, is how well the writers depict how everyone connected with each "Killing" story arc are affected in it's aftermath. We see the deconstruction of the Larsen family, the nearly-assassinated mayoral candidate and the Seattle political scene, the runaway teenagers and the families who lost them or forgot about them, Adrian, who witnessed things children should never see, the possibly wrongly-convicted yet still executed, Ray Seward, etc. Despite Linden's best efforts to catch the "bad guys," her intuition is often wrong and has led to many of the difficulties our "minor characters" encounter (Stan Larsen attacking Bennett Ahmed, Ray Seward's execution, Richmond's lower-body paralysis, to name a few).
For much of the 4th and final season, the show's strengths continue to carry the viewer's interest. We see more examples of drawing well-conceived parallels and establishing connections between Holder, Linden and the other players involved. An attitude of "what happens here, stays here" is tested both within the Seattle PD (cover-up of Skinner's murder) and St. George's Academy (Stansbury killings). Holder is terrified of failing in parenthood as Kallie's mother has. Linden and Col. Rayne were similarly cast in roles of authority and influence professionally, while they each struggled with their own roles in motherhood. Col. Rayne embraces an opportunity to connect with Kyle at the same time as Linden's mother attempts a reconciliation. My gripe is that too many of these parallels are explained to the viewer with little left of nuance. Additionally, while the teenage runaways of season 3 were very tangible characters, the boys of the Academy in season 4 come across as products of "let's have a bunch of bullies live together" and offer little in depth.
I enjoyed this series as a whole, and as the series finale neared, the show's creators did some things right, but got the ending, horribly, horribly wrong.
It could have ended like this..
Linden's intuition is a bit off again, and Reddick has made it very clear that he has been underestimated in investigating Linden and Holder's involvement in Skinner's death. Linden has just confessed her crime and attempted to absolve Holder of any connection to the event. She is resigned to her fate and she has had a sort of goodbye with her son, Jack. Linden ends up going to prison for murder, ironically becoming one of the "bad guys" she has hunted and giving more power to the message of "there are no bad guys," and the many sides there are to all humans. She and Kyle would both be guilty of separate murders, both done by characters abandoned by parents, and both done under varying levels of duress.
Mayor Richmond does not come in with a literal "get out of jail free card." Linden, who could never plant roots anywhere, or be the one who stays, is forced to do so in prison. Holder and Linden last "see each other" on the show through the two-way mirror...just as they will only have visitors through 2-inch glass after that expected trials as Holder is still held accountable for his role in Skinner's death and doesn't get the chance to find out how good of a father he can be...at least for some time.
After all, the Season 4 posters declare "The Past Can't be Washed Away"
Okay, very somber, but probably the most realistic ending to the narrative of Holder and Linden.
But let's say that Mayor Richmond does come in the interrogation room with yet another second-chance opportunity for our main characters...
Or, it could have ended like this...
Linden leaves the interrogation room, badge on the desk, as she does in the finale. We last see Holder play out the scene with Kallie's mother at the cemetery and the musical cue of "this episode is wrapping up" plays as it also does in the finale. We are left with an open-ended path for Holder. Will he ever be a fully reformed ex-junkie? Will he be the father that his father did not try to be?
Linden finds the shell casing, leaves her house, feeling remorseful over her final interaction with Holder and accusing him of betrayal, but true to character, leaves town anyway. Her path would also be open-ended. Does she follow Jack and take advantage of her new lease on life to be a better mother?
Certainly not a tidy ending, but why does it have to be so?
Or, how about this...?
We see the endearing scene with Holder and his sassy daughter, find out that Holder has redeemed himself and is leading an N.A. group of his own. Linden does not return to Seattle, but instead is seen with Jack, possibly, both characters reminding viewers that enjoying time with our children and families is the greatest blessing we have. Certainly both detectives have seen more than their share of families robbed of time by the murders they have investigated. This fits the narrative path, while still allowing the show to end on a "lighter" note.
Instead, we got this slap in the face...
Linden suddenly wears a colored-scarf and smiles a lot...so, she's happy? Not to wish ill will for Linden, but the only explanation for this evolution is "I've been on the road a lot," and "there is no bad guy, only life." It's a sudden leap to accept Linden as in charge of her emotions after seeing nothing but the contrary for four seasons. This may be the ending which the writers hoped to build towards if given more time to tell the story, say, season 6 or 7...? Or is this an ending to appease some amount of "shippers" amongst the Killing's fan base (hard to believe they'd still be along for the ride, though). Is it simply a way to not be seen as that dark and depressing show with the dark and depressing ending? Regardless of the reason, it betrays what made the show enjoyable in the first place and gave us a cliched send-off.
