The Killing :: First Thoughts :: Night 17

Oh, Writers!

Terry's breakup with Michael Ames was lame. So was her explanation of their deep and meaningful "connection" when Linden and Holder interviewed her yet again. Plus, for us to buy Jasper's confrontation with his father, we first needed a scene showing what Mrs. Ames or Rosie meant to this self-absorbed young man. Otherwise, Jasper doesn't really have a reason to leave his champagne-soaked skip day to track down Dad, a man not afraid to use his fists.

But I do want to compliment you for a couple of zingers that made this episode bearable. I loved when Holder announces, "Yo, you're, like, becoming A Beautiful Mind with that board, Linden," and when Gwen tells Darren, "Well, call me if [Jamie] tries to breastfeed you."

Thanks, Jasper!

Despite their interview with you, I think the cops still believe that Rosie was a prostitute—or at least sleeping with someone too old and too powerful for her. Oh, well. They'll come around eventually. I do want to thank you, though, for inspiring my new favorite catchphrase, virgin dork, a descriptor for unsophisticated teenage bling. You know, pink, rhinestones, butterflies. "Oh, I can't wear that shirt. The color is too virgin dork" or "Oh, that print won't work with your décor! It's virgin dork!" I have a feeling I'll be using the expression all summer.

Hey, Linden!

When you asked Stan if he had had any problems with Rosie the months before her murder, and he answered, "Me and Rosie were always good," your next question should have been, "What kind of problems was she having with Mitch?" Come on, let's get this thing solved! Even I am losing patience!

And another thing, I assume that even cheap motels have a cleaning staff, so before you get all spooked about a picture on the refrigerator, consider for just a moment that housekeeping might have innocently stuck it on the freezer door, thinking that you wouldn't want your kid's artwork lost under the bed or ruined by a bucket of melting ice. The poor maid wouldn't have known the significance of that crayon drawing!

You know, I was so disappointed in the contents of Mitch's box, that I don't really care what's in your personnel file. But I'll bet we get a whole episode about your past meltdown before this season is over!

Yo, Mitch!

Rosie was a good kid. She was smart. She had good priorities for a teenager. She was an artist who could see things differently. If she had lived, her palette would have expanded beyond pink. You're not going to find answers or forgiveness from Little Red Riding Pants, who obviously did not grow up in the relatively sane and stable Larsen home and probably has good reason—an abusive step-father or an alcoholic mother—not to call home.

A girl who threatens teachers with lies about sexual harassment, who believes one poorly executed pirouette qualifies her for the Cincinnati ballet, and who robs you blind is severely damaged. She is not your Rosie!

I'm sorry that your youth as an environmental activist metamorphosed into wife and mother, but your letter to Rosie's father indicates that you made a conscious decision to follow the homemaker path. So call Stan. He can settle the motel bill and gas up the station wagon. Get on home. We need that big confrontation with Terry that has been brewing since last season.

Word Count

How many words of dialog has Mitch spoken in Season 2?

"Reflections" = 0 words
"My Lucky Day" = 0 words
"Numb" = 22 words
"Ogi Jun" = 0 words
"Ghosts of the Past" = 108 words
"Opening" = 137 words

Grand total = 267 words, not enough for even a freshman composition!