The Killing :: First Thoughts :: Anticipating Night 13

When I watch AMC's The Killing, I identify with the cops, not the parents or the politician. I want to be the one whose interpretation of the evidence finally identifies Rosie's murderer. If I catch myself screaming at the TV, it is always advice for Detectives Linden [Mireille Enos] and Holder [Joel Kinnaman]. As I wait for this evening's new episode, I have only the new gallery shots to analyze. What do they reveal?

We can assume that Holder's "betrayal"—his fabrication of evidence that led to the arrest of mayoral candidate Darren Richmond [Billy Campbell]—gets explained in a manner that satisfies his partner. Their Season 2 photos do not reveal a big change in their attitudes toward one another or a tension that will jeopardize their working relationship. Their body language indicates that they are still a team, and those scowls reveal that they are ready to pursue the evidence wherever it takes them, even if they have to reach through the screen and drag a viewer back to Seattle for questioning.

Despite the assassination attempt, we don't see much of a shake up back at campaign headquarters, either. We can assume that Darren is sitting because a bullet through the abdomen would damage his core muscles enough that standing would be tiring and painful. Is he refusing to look us in the eye because he's ashamed that we know about his dalliances with the Beau Soleil girls? For his candidacy to have any chance at success, we must learn either that the "Orpheus" account is not his, or that the police will keep that information to themselves as their mistakes did get the poor guy shot in the first place. Jamie [Eric Ladin] can look us in the eye, but why won't Gwen [Kristen Lehman]? Should we keep her evasion in mind as Season 2 starts?

The most insight into the new season comes in the Larsen photos. We remember, of course, that mother Mitch [Michelle Forbes] abandoned Stan [Brent Sexton] and the boys in the Season 1 finale. The photo nicely communicates that separation—as well as the insinuation of Terry [Jamie Anne Allman] into the ready-made family. Why, though, is Mitch looking away? Will her distance from the day-to-day routine at home let her see something that everyone else is missing and thus solve the murder? Is she feeling guilty about abandoning her responsibilities and so cannot meet our eyes? Or is she feeling guilty about something far worse, like Rosie's death? [According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Rosie had a 20 percent chance of dying at a family member's hand.]

With the Larsen home is disarray, will Season 2 show us ...

1. Another dishwasher malfunction?
2. Cookie baking with Stan, Terry, and the boys?
3. An inappropriate kiss between Stan and Terry?
4. An inappropriate sexual encounter between Stan and Terry?

And what do we make of Mitch standing alone in a bog? Is the water—and whatever it's symbolizing—flooding or receding? Is the sky lightening or graying? Will we be happy with Mitch's development over Season 2, or did Producer/Writer Veena Sud sacrifice the mother in some shocking manner to quiet the raucous critics whose lack of patience and undeserved sense of entitlement tried to ruin show?

And did Ms. Forbes miss the Season 2 LA premiere because ...

1. the cat hacked up a hairball on the dress she planned to wear, and she found no seltzer in the fridge to clean it off?
2. unhappy with the turn her character took, she didn't want the cameras picking up the anger flashing in her eyes?
3. the negotiations with Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady to guest star as herself on next season's The Big Bang Theory ran way over?*
4. she couldn't endure another autograph collector hounding her to sign an Ensign Ro photo?

I guess we'll learn all the answers soon enough!

*How can I be the only one who has thought that Sheldon would finally have a worthy champion to defeat his nemesis Wil Wheaton in the actress who brought us Ensign Ro, Admiral Cain, and Maryann Forrester?