By djariya at 2012-03-07

Synopsis:



Episode 3 of 13

Looking forward to all the insightful commentary. Opinions were kind of mixed in last week's thread.

Is it too early to assume that Season 2 will be the last season? The ratings last week were NOT good. But I DID like the episode(s).

I enjoyed last weeks episodes and am looking forward to the episode tonight.

I'm also wondering if this is going to be the last season. I'm thinking it will be.

I, personally, think this will be the last season. Unless it gets ratings that AMC can't ignore, I actually think this is the reason they decided to not solve the case until the end of the season, instead of during the season and starting a new case with another cliffhanger.

I think AMC execs probably told them it could be the last season, so they decided to end things at the end of the season, so everything would be resolved in case they don't get renewed.

Personally, I hope the ratings get better and it comes back.

I told my mom, who knew nothing about the show or the controversy, to try and watch the show and she dvr'd episode 1 and after watching it myself, I thought with it being so long and even slow, even by The Killing's standards, that she'd hate it.

Turned out she loved it, she asked me to give her a little bit of info from season 1 and she's excited to watch it again after Mad Men tonight.

The original Danish show this was based on is currently shooting a 3rd and final season. If this ends up being the final season, I'll be satisfied that this got 26 episodes.

I enjoyed last week's 2 hour premiere, but this episode was a dud. Pretty dull throughout and nothing really important happened.

1st of all, why did Lt. Oakes, who was removed as commander, illegally take evidence in an active murder investigation? Didn't understand the point of that and then Sarah came back to reclaim the backpack with no explanation from him on his motive.

Nice way to bring back Mitch to the show. Apparently she's so distraught with grief, she needs to have a 1 night stand with some random guy in a bar.

But, we do get evidence from a security video of mystery guy with the Manga tattoo who may have torched the shoe store.

And now Holder is tempted by his past demons. And how did Sarah figure out that he swapped the backpacks? Did Oakes tell her?

Darren's subplot in this episode was pretty insignificant other than his phantom pains/feelings in his legs.

To recap:

Oakes takes evidence with no apparent reason

Mitch gets laid

Stan is still angry and turns to the Polish Mob for help

Mystery man with the tattoo is introduced

Holder is tempted and gets laid

Sarah's investigation is going around in circles.

Darren is still paralyzed.

Until next Sunday.

Yeah, pretty 'meh' episode this week.

I've got to say 'numb' is how I felt watching this episode. I'll stick with it 'til the end (I watched Persons Unknown so definitely a sucker)...but this episode felt like total filler. Did anything important happen? I'll admit I was working on computer while I played it and immediately deleted it - but it was a series of lame vignettes IMHO.

If the girlfriend is ditching the politico, why bother to show her anymore? We're introducing a new employee now with the tat that somehow wasn't ID'd or questioned earlier in the investigation? And my only interest in the Polish mob is pastry related (except I've always wondered if the big boss is Stan's dad maybe?).

I REALLY hope this is the last season, because I'm afraid this can be my next "Heroes".

Yeah, I didn't like the Heroes first season finale, although I disliked The Killing more, and then kept watching season after season. In my defense I can say that I found some entertainment values in each episode.

But anyway, Linden continues her work as the worst detective in the history of TV.

“I can’t open the attachment.”

“Click on the button that says ‘Download Attachment'.”

*Shot of computer screen with massive "Download Attachment" button.*

Our lead detective, ladies and gentlemen!

I was going to post that.

It's like the show is in the joke, let's show how dumb she is.

Dumb, negligent (as someone mentioned in a previous thread, she's pretty much responsible for the death of the teacher and Darren's paralysis), and TV's shittiest mother.

Also rolled our eyes at the scene of Holder "acting crazy" in the middle of the street, and the best Sarah could do to coax him back was, "I know about the backpack!"

Why are we supposed to care about this show again?

I wanted to post that too. WTF?!

I feel like there are two versions of this show. The version that gets the small moments and character interactions right, and then there's the part where character motivations and plots make no sense. I liked this better than the first two hours because the balance was not as one sided although that's not much of a compliment. I did like Mitch's story. If I had my way, I would have followed her for the full hour. Her grief and acting out makes sense to me. I've seen parents grieving for their children and Forbes and the writers get it right.

I also liked the scene between Richmond and the nurse because it wasn't about plot. It was about the characters, and they were not saying something just for the service of the plot.

What is the point of stealing a backpack if you're only going to give it back? Such lazy storytelling. Do they need not even care?

I don't give a damn about Sarah's kid. Enough already.

Didn't the parents know that Rosie did not die the way the cops told them? Thought there was a scene about this. And the guy only now shows up with the file? UGH.

While some of Holder's meltdown was compelling, I still don't see why I should care about him although there were two good Holder scenes: the scene with his nephew and the way Linden and Holden walked off the bridge. These are the moments I wade through the nonsense to get to.

Shook my head at this too. Only thing I can think of is that they're trying to make Linden so utterly obsessed with the case that she misses simple, in-your-face obvious details.

Either way, I think the biggest mistake was not necessarily not solving the Larsen case last season, but dragging it out all the way to season 2's finale. The show would be more interesting--to me, at least--if we found out who killed Rosie by episode 3 or 4, and then moved onto another case.

So, how are the rating numbers?

About the show, the main issue I have is that the lows in quality are too low. The highs are good, top notch TV, almost every episode has at least one scene, but there too many lows that are really low.

One of the highs that came to my mind was the scene from last season, when the dad was assaulting the teacher. All the desperation, the anxiety, the grief, violence. The scene was almost perfect.

Ratings were steady.

1.8M viewers 0.6 in demos. Demos were 1/10 higher than premiere.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...h-more/128221/

The acting on this show is top notch. Noone has ever questioned it. The directors are getting solid performances from everyone.

I don't know how some of you are missing the plot points. Or are you just bashing for the sake of bashing?

The LT is suppressing evidence because someone higher up than him told him to. That's why he took the backpack. Now, that doesn't explain why he didn't get rid of it and then turned it over to Linden. I'll agree that was sloppy writing.

The guy with the tattoo works for the Polish Mob. He's not an employee of Stan's. When Stan asked for the Mob Boss, Janek's help, he probably had to agree to let them use his van for their activities. As soon as I saw the surveillance video, I knew the guy worked for the Polish Mob. I also guessed the Janek was behind Beau Soleil. As confirmed in the final scene of the guy deleting the files in the back room of the Janek's restaurant.

Janek just now handed over that file to Stan because Stan just recently asked for Janek's help. Based on how Stan originally didn't want to have anything to do with his past life, Janek probably wasn't in any hurry to help Stan.

Linden figured out Holder switched the backpacks when she looked at the one Lt Oakes gave her. It didn't have anything a high school girl would have in her bag. Also, I believe it was after Stan had yelled at her about the backpack having blood on it and the fake bag didn't. I could be wrong about that part. She also probably figured out that is what Holder was trying to reach her about.

I care about the show and will watch as long as it's on the air.

Thank you Joe. You pointed out alot of details I missed and overlooked. The episode still wasn't that good IMO, but your comments helped alot of it make more sense.

Really? This episode was WAY more interesting than the 2 hour premiere. Although, I did find it tiresome that we're being led down a whole new rabbit hole with the Manga tattoo guy. And I despise every character on the show - except maybe Mitch's sister.

You need to do this summary on every episode going forward.

Really? The only characters I enjoy watching consistently are Linden and Holder.

Been watching up to this point but I just couldn't get through this episode. About halfway through I realized I was bored outta my mind. Done with this show. I'm betting it's the sister who did it, I'll check in after the season finale to see if I'm right, but I'm done otherwise...

They could pick up the pace a bit.
The slow storytelling and the backlash aren't helping this show.