I KNOW WHAT YOU DID.
The Killing has thoroughly regained its stride. I wonder if it isn’t too late. There are structural flaws that this show needs to address. These flaws were apparent even in the excellent first few episodes: How do we make a murder mystery interesting for 13 hours? Once we saw a bunch of bad and so-so episodes in the middle, those flaws became unforgivable. Now that we’re back to very fine episodes, will the audience, in fact, forgive? The structural issues still need to be addressed: One day per episode is confining and problematic, we need characters to stay with us, not just appear and disappear based upon whether or not they’re suspects, and we need enough character and background work so that we’re not just watching a game of Red Herring Of the Week. All of those problems were apparent in Beau Soleil, and yet it was excellent television, and if every episode was like this, the critics (including me) wouldn’t be bitching. Spoilers below the fold.
Despite the tossing about of red herrings, despite the number of suspects we’ve thought were IT who were not, there’s no way to turn off the TV after tonight’s episode without thinking “Holy shit, Richmond?” But I’m not convinced.
It’s not that there’s always a red herring; with only two more episodes, we could easily be moving in for the final race to the finish. It’s that there are too many unanswered questions. After last week’s episode I decided Drexler was my guy, and I haven’t changed my mind. The girl who got beat up fingered Drexler; Richmond cannot be mistaken for 5’8″; Drexler had Beau Soleil girls at his “party,” and, most importantly, Drexler told Jamie that he wants Darren Richmond to “owe” him, so that he’ll be around to get him out of the hot water he so much wants to get into. Drexler didn’t use the words “get away with murder,” but he might as well have. Somehow, despite the Orpheus clues, Drexler is setting Richmond up.
I still think Jasper’s father (Michael, for the record) is also involved. Now we know the probable connection to Terry that we saw after the funeral. I think it likely that these very rich men are somehow buying both teenage escorts and a politician, and connecting it up together.
Regardless of the truth, the closing shot is not a red herring. We see Darren in shadow, and a new kind of shadow is truly upon his character. Whoever killed Rosie Larsen, that shadow is a kind of truth.
The email thing was insanely sloppy, as in bad scripting, unless I’m very much mistaken. Linden should not have sent it from the police station; unless they’re so clever at the Seattle PD as to use some kind of cloud email service with a floating IP address, which, no they’re not, then they should know that an anonymous email can still be traced. Meanwhile, if Richmond is really Orpheus, he’s got campaign email in the same inbox as the email address he gave for his Beau Soleil account? No one is that stupid. On the other hand, maybe that’s more evidence of a setup.
The reveal of the Orpheus evidence was beautifully done; the parallel discoveries, Holder turning to the poster as Linden sees the email; this isn’t repetition so much as stylistic motif, and it works like gangbusters. The more I see Linden the more I like her; the sudden revelation of vulnerability and a smile just when you think she’s an impossible prick. That she seemed to like Richmond, and came to him to give a word to the wise, was actually touching and made the email all the more powerful. She wasn’t just realizing what she saw, she was rocked by it. And maybe afraid.
There were other terrific things in this episode, but mostly what was great centered on the investigation itself. I have mixed feelings about Stan and Mitch’s problems; Stan’s anger was not only valid but interesting and beautifully portrayed, whereas the way Mitch is hardening is turning me off. The confrontation between Mitch and Terry was problematic; there was something very stilted about both the dialogue and the way it was filmed. When the scene was over, all I could think was “That didn’t work.”
In case anyone cares about my opinion, Tahmoh Penikett is a terrible actor. He was bad in Dollhouse and he was awful as Linden’s ex. His body language, line reading, everything was just off, and I was glad she was cold to him just to get him out of there. And really, what was that about? You show up after 10 years of absence and take your minor child without telling the custodial parent? That is kidnapping. It’s very stupid to do that to a woman with a carry permit.
Mostly, the power of each revelation, and the way this episode peeled a layer of skin off of so many characters, was everything I’ve wanted this show to be, and I applaud it with a great big WOW.
10 Responses to “The Killing: Beau Soleil”
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Apropos of absolutely nothing, I just realized something that has been driving me crazy in this show. I was, as you (Deb) know, a huge fan of Once and Again, the Zwick/Herskovitz TV series starring Sela Ward and Billy Campbell as two divorced parents who fall in love.
Yeah. Her character’s name was Lily. So every time He refers to his murdered wife Lily on this show, it’s jarring to me.
I feel better now. Carry on. Excellent writeup.
(There was no reason in the known universe for Linden to have turned to Holder and say, “That’s the night Rosie was killed”. Really? Wouldn’t the guy working the case with you know that date like the back of his hand less than two weeks later?!! Sloppy shit.)
Holder would know it, but I think that reminder was for the viewers.
Do you think Rosie was killed on the anniversary of Lily’s death and is that significant? Can’t figure out the purpose of the exchange with the guy bringing up the anniversary of her death being last week and Richmond correcting him and saying “the week before.”
Things I’m not clear on: Was that Rosie with Richmond in the photos Adams delivered to Gwen? Was Rosie a Beau Soleil girl or just Aunt Terry? Did Rosie set up the bank account, or was she just using Aunt Terry’s account with her knowledge, despite her denial?
This viewer noted that October 5 at 4 a.m. was nearly 24 hours before Rosie died, not technically the night she was killed. She died in the early morning hours of October 6. Linden and Holder know she was still alive on 10/6/10 at 12:37 a.m.
Roberta, I too loved Once and Again. I was so glad to see Billy Campbell in a leading role here.
The confluence of the nights Rosie and Lily were killed is really interesting, Laura; I didn’t catch that.
Rosie was a Beau Soleil girl and was depositing money in an accout that Aunt Terri set up for her, or helped her set up, or allowed her to use her (Terri’s) ID in order to set up; that wasn’t made clear.
I liked parts of Once and Again, but Sela Ward irritated me, so I wandered off. OTOH, I was a big 4400 fan, and Billy Campbell was in that.
They seem to have completely forgotten that Bennet ever existed. This is a really odd TV show. (For “odd”, read “poor”.) I can’t help wanting to know who they’re going to come up with, so I keep watching, and I like Linden and (in a sort of off way, because he has the most peculiar accent such that I can’t understand what he’s saying half the time) Holden, but I don’t have a great deal of respect for it.
Presumably Richmond has his various email accounts redirecting to his home account but that would be a rather dumb thing to do too, unless the wjoile thing is a setup and misdirection.
Holder is played by a Swedish actor, hence the accent.
Most likely they’ll reference him in the last episode (hopefully to say that he’s making a good recovery).
Interesting, I didn’t know that. I thought he was just trying to sound kind of urban/ghetto (which he might be, as well)
Deborah, I agree with much of what you said in your review–the reasons why Drexler may be setting Richmond up, the contrivances of the email, etc. I also forwarded the link for the review to some friends who are fans of “The Killing” but don’t usually read BoK! (If they have good sense, they’ll start)
sk76, thanks, that explains the accent; the Holder actor lays it on too thick! Here’s his real voice in English:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fdQ-7Pe_Bs&feature=related
Mad Men would never cast a Swede to play an American! Even the Canadian actress played… a Canadian, duh.
Living in Seattle and speaking of accents, I cannot stand the ones that Stan and Mitch have, especially Mitch. TV and film-makers please take note: one of the reasons Muzak has recording offices in Seattle is due to our lack of accent.
Great write-up Deb, now that the show is finally getting good again I’m sad to see only one episode left.
Deb-Outstanding write up. The 1st paragraph was some of the best writing I have ever seen. Good for you.
Alan Sepinwall reports that “The Killing” has been picked up for a 2nd season.
I don’t think Richmond did it, either. LL, great catch on anniversary of death.