the killing: please don't leave me here

[krickets]

So I spent the majority of the episode wanting Linden out, and then when she finally gets released, it's bittersweet because I know she was on the verge of a breakthrough and as much as the whole suicide watch thing was bogus, it's clear that Sarah could, in fact, use a breakthrough. While I do believe Holder is right, that this time it truly is different, I also think that Sarah would work herself into the ground for this case. (Totally shallow sidenote: That opening scene was gorgeous.)

Relevant Sidenote: Rick was her psychiatrist? Is that a real thing? Or am I reaching?
ETA: I mean not just "on paper?"

We saw Stan finally say goodbye to Rosie in this episode. I'm hoping that Linden will be able to let her go as well... eventually. (Look, I'm a reasonable person, but she's got to solve the case first!)

I am still unsure how I feel about the Gwen stoyline, but I liked her scene with Darren at the end. It felt like they made amends. (And since it hasn't yet come up, I'm doubting my whole "Gwen's pregnant" theory.) I also was really impressed with Darren's optimism despite everything. That viral video would 100% work on me and I would vote for him. Regardless of anything in his personal life, he's just a genuinely likable guy who obviously cares for his community. I don't think he's continuing his bid for mayor for himself. I mean, obviously it means a lot to him. But this is the same guy who just a handful of episodes ago was helplessly stuck in that hospital bathroom with nobody to help him because he was too ashamed to ask, to be seen in such a state, completely vulnerable and stripped of his dignity. I think if it weren't for his desire to do good for his town and the people in it, he would have given up the race. I mean, he's not Leslie Knope or anything, but they've pretty consistently shown him as a person who truly cares, and he proved that in the last episode by refusing to cooperate with the reservation unless they assisted on the Larsen case. It makes it hard not to ultimately root for him.

So let's talk about Holder for a minute? First of all I felt like there was too little of him in the episode, even though I am sure that's not the case. I guess I was expecting it to be the "all-Holder-all-the-time" episode. Which clearly, did not happen. Despite that disappointment, I was so proud of our boy, guys. And his belief in Sarah despite all evidence to the contrary. (Even from Regi? Geez. I mean I get that she cares but can't a girl get a little faith? Wow.) That speech in Carlson's car was right on the money. That scenario feels so true that it hurts. (Poor Rosie.) And his beat down of Janek's man just made me happy. (I guess I enjoy impassioned violence? IDK?)

And basically this next part was originally pretty much the only thing I was even going to comment on, but I figured I'd be less shippy and more thorough, so I didn't. (Mistake?)

HOLDER AND LINDEN, okay? Her begging him not to leave her in there? Him promising her that he wouldn't. Yelling at people to get her out? I don't even know how to explain how awesome that whole thing was. And then that last scene basically killed me with the parallels. Rick telling Holder "she's your responsibility now." And then when she comes out to meet him he's just gone and Holder is there in his stead. (Seriously? How is this a real thing that happened?) And they smile, and they wordlessly walk out together? Then, in the end, she's finally sleeping and Holder's there, "watching over her."

Show: Could you try to make me ship it a little less?

Also CAN I GET A FUCKING HUG? How many times do these crazy kids have to save each other's asses, literally and metaphorically, before they EMBRACE IN A COMPLETELY PLATONIC, THOUGH STILL SATISFYING WAY? I need a hug for crying out loud! (Or making out which leads to sex, ideally all of the above.)

So... there's that.


ETA: I totally thought Roberta was going to turn around and we were going to see that she had the key card in her hand.

ETA #5MIL: That scene watching Sarah eat? B-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t. I mean, have we ever seen her eat real food? She never did have one of those breakfast burritos. It was like she didn't even know she was hungry until she put those first few pieces of corn into her mouth. Brilliantly acted and executed. BRAVO.

Comments

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

I'm about two minutes away from being able to read this post!!! Stupid stream just cut out but the end is loading as I type. Actually, it's probably LESS than two minutes :)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

♥!!! I don't know what I am going to do with myself once this show is over.

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

I was so proud of our boy, guys. THIS! I was also expecting a little more of Holder this episode, screentime-wise, but I'm so happy with what we got that I refuse to let it ruin the moment (especially because there wasn't really anything in this episode that I'd have wanted to see cut - except maybe that exchange with Gwen and the video-guy at the end, because I kinda liked the idea that the thing really had gone viral by accident and hadn't been a carefully executed plan all along - well, as much as you can plan a viral vid. of course).

As for Linden and the psychiatrist, while I also think Linden probably has some things to work through, I actually really didn't want the psychiatrist to 'win' here. And by 'win', I mean unravel all these 'clever' connections between Rosie and the previous case and all of Sarah's own personal history. I really wanted Rosie's case to be important to Sarah because it was her case, and not because it was intricately tied (in psychological ways) to happenings from the past. I wanted it to be 'different' as Holder put it. And now they've put the doubt in my mind about that. I mean, why does she have to have a reason beyond it's her job, and it's been a screwed up investigation from the start, and there's clearly cover-ups and what-not going on. Imo, if I were a dedicated cop, those things alone would be more than enough to keep me hounding at a case, without there having to be some deep psychological reasoning behind it all. It just felt all a little too like they were trying to be clever to me, instead of just telling the story.

ETA: Especially because the majority of the reasons why it looks like her reactions to this case have been inappropriate and over the top are actually the product of cover-ups and a complete lack of any and all support from her superiors. I mean, the only reason the psychiatrist had for why Linden's fervor with the case was problematic was because she no longer had a badge, and we (the viewers) all know the reasons behind why this is the case were mostly out of her control.

Re. Rick being her psychiatrist. Yikes. How long ago was her last hospitalisation? And when did their relationship start if they were at the engaged stage at the beginning of all this?! I call 'ethics violation', assuming it's as straight-forward as they just made it look (her move from patient to fiance, that is). Jack's thirteen now? Is that right? And was ten at the time? Here in Aus (and I assume it's the same in the US) there's a two year barrier. They'd have been pushing it fine :)

Do you have any theories on the "whodunnit" side of things??! Or the reasons? Do you think Holder's on the right track with his 'bigger and better pay-day' theory? THREE MORE EPISODES TO GO, ARGHHHHHH!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

No I totally agree that Sarah is not taking this case too far. If that's true, then it's also true for Holder. Who put him in a closet? No one. So it just doesn't jive with everything that we know. However, I do feel like they have a point about how far you're willing to let something like this get to you. There's a scene in one of the season one episodes where they've been working on the case for days without sleep and Holder finally just walks out. Sarah asks him where he's going and he says "Sleep, you should try it some time." And I think that's the subtle, but very real difference. She's willing to sacrifice everything, Her health, her love, her kid... and maybe given everything about this particular case it's understandable, but it's definitely a step away from the direction of healthy. And clearly there's something about Sarah that's broken. These are flawed, broken characters (and I love the pants off of them) -- so even if this case is indeed, as Holder said, special, and I do believe that it is, there was still something about what that shrink said in that room that resonated with Sarah. And I think that matters -- despite how wrong it was for them to put her in there and despite how happy I was to see her get up and put on her clothes and walk out.

Yeah I kind of doubt we'll ever get any elaboration on the situation with Rick being her psychiatrist. It almost doesn't surprise me, but rules aside, I think it's clear that he cared deeply for her and that their relationship was something that was good for her. I feel like he made her happy, which can't have been easy, knowing that three years ago she was completely broken down. I remember what she was like with Rick in the pilot and I'm just glad she was with someone who made her so clearly happy. (Even though that's over now.) So at least there's that, right?

I do have one theory that's been floating around that I thought was just "all in my head" until now. And the theory is that the person who drove the car into the water either A) Didn't know that Rosie was in that trunk, or B) Was trying to get Rosie out. Maybe they didn't put Rosie in that trunk, but they drove off in a hurry trying to get away and weren't able to get her out of the trunk ahead of time. The accident happened on accident and, they weren't able to save her and they have kept quiet about the truth all this time. When Sarah was talking in this episode how it just didn't make sense that the killer shoved her into a trunk, I felt so vindicated because I have been thinking that maybe the person who put that car in the water didn't want Rosie to die. Maybe they were trying to save her.

My other theory involves Lesley's campaign manager. I think his name is Ben or something? Anyway, he kind of strikes me as muscle. Like the campaign manager equivalent of Chief Jackson's Roberta. He's meeting Gil in the middle of the night to discuss the doctored photo from the bridge and he would likely have one of those key cards. I think this option would disappoint me, not only because of the "The black guy did it!" racial problem, but because having the truth be that some lackey is the one to have killed Rosie would be a little disappointing. I think I would also feel this way if it were Gil.

So here's my OFFICIAL theory. Either Ames or Mayor Adams is the one who attacked and chased Rosie down. They stuff her in the trunk, and call Ben to take care of her. Ben decides he's going to help her? Or, at least not fucking kill her, and then there's an accident and he gets free from the car but Rosie's still stuck inside. And this way, it makes total sense that he wouldn't say anything to the authorities. Because there's no way they would believe that he didn't mean her harm so why draw attention to himself?

Yeah, that's my theory.


ETA: I could easily place Roberta in this theory, and then their failure to cooperate with the police at all makes even more sense. (One more edit!) Except that Roberta has been shown to have a heart of steel so it would be harder to buy her in this sympathetic light.

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

I think it's clear that he cared deeply for her Yeah, I agree, however... if this is what happened (he went from being her shrink to her lover in under three years) then it does completely alter the power differential in their relationship and make me question (in a literal sense, not in a dubious, side-eye kind of sense) the motivations behind their relationship. Which is probably why these things are frowned upon to start with. Though, full disclosure, I'm a clinical psych in the last year of my doctorate and this probably skews my view because I've been threatened three quarters to terrified by my ethics professor on why TWO YEARS IS NEVER ENOUGH YEARS when contemplating relationships with patients!!

Back to my initial point though; did he care for her because he loved her like an equal? Like a wife? Like a person? Or because he fixed her? And because she needed him? Maybe none of these are true. Maybe all of them are. But these are the questions I now have... if that makes sense. But I also agree that it's unlikely it'll be further explained, which makes me wonder why they went there to start with. I guess they wanted a reason why Holder was the one to take her from the hospital. If she'd been released to a 'real' (as in, not her ex-fiance!) psychiatrist who only had a professional relationship with her, then there'd surely have been more procedure involved.

Anyhoo, I'm sure we're probably not meant to think about that tiny scene quite as much as I have been since I finished watching so... moving on!

THEORIES! I like yours a lot!! I've had several over the course of this show, my most 'certain' (ha!) was that Gwen was involved, but I don't believe it anymore. I like your 'the accident really was an accident' theory. Do we think maybe it could have been Jasper that was driving? Rosie calls him, all scared, and he comes to her rescue, only it doesn't go down as planned and he can't get her out of the trunk? And I'm literally making this up as I type right now, so there's probably a gazillion things you could tell me from canon that would make this impossible!!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I'm not sure I thought it through that thoroughly. And admittedly I don't know what the rules are in the states about psychiatry specifically. I feel like it's natural to assume that Rick is the doctor that treated her the last time she was in, but we don't necessarily know that's the case. But without any other evidence I guess we have to believe that's true. Either way, Sarah seems to have a history of inappropriate relationships. I feel like her relationship with Regi kind of borders on that. Despite the fact that she's a grown woman now. She never had any family and so the person who was connecting with her in a professional setting throughout her childhood, was the most consistent relationship in her life. It makes sense that that would carry over to other aspects of her life.

It's so funny because I've heard a lot of people peg Gwen as the killer and/or somehow being involved and I just never saw it. I mean, technically, she's got no alibi. So it's possible!

I think Jasper presumably has an alibi for that night. To be honest, if we're getting flashbacks (I really want flashbacks!), and it does turn out that the person driving the car was a friend, I am hoping for Alexi. I can't remember if he had an alibi or not. I really love his and Rosie's story. (And have seriously considered writing fic for them.)

[timidwildone.livejournal.com]

If anything in all the world has ever deserved an "I know, RIGHT?!" it's this:

"Also CAN I GET A FUCKING HUG? How many times do these crazy kids have to save each other's asses, literally and metaphorically, before they EMBRACE IN A COMPLETELY PLATONIC, THOUGH STILL SATISFYING WAY?"

I was just about going crazy gaaaaah their restraint is killing me!!!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Their restraint is killing me! <---- THAT SHOULD BE ON A T-SHIRT.

Or maybe just "THE restraint..."

Either way, yes. Yes yes yes.

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

MIREILLE ENOS DESERVES ALL THE AWARDS. When Claire Danes wins the Emmy this year I'm going to be secretly hoping Joel storms the stage all, IMMA LET YOU FINISH, BUT...to stan for Mireille because she is an acting god. Just, MY GIRL, okay? (Forgive the incoherency, I just finished the ep and I made a beeline for the internet.)

All right, let's do this. Rick was totally her psychiatrist, which is a twist I love. Not only because of the dynamic it adds to their relationship, but because it makes it clear he wasn't this perfect dude who Sarah blew it with. He's a dude who fell in love with his patient which gives him his own set of issues and retroactively makes me ship them despite my fear of Callum. I don't think it was an on paper only thing at all. I think they met when she was admitted to the psych ward the first time around, or possibly shortly there after.

Everything that happened in the psych ward was compelling and soul crushing at the same time. That opening shot left me feeling so unsettled, it was composed with this beautiful eeriness that really set the tone for everything that followed. Did you read the AV Club review? The author made some interesting points about the feminist undertones of this outing, both in relation to Sarah and Gwen, how they were both forced to submit to a kind of emotional violation. As much as I wanted Sarah to have that breakthrough, I want it to be on her terms, not when she's being held against her will. I was eager to find out the specifics of her last case, but actually hearing them left me...almost queasy, which sounds insane, but it was such an emotionally charged and raw situation for Sarah that I did feel it was a violation, a forced examination of her past that she didn't want to look at. It's not that I think talking it through was a bad thing, it's just that seeing her cornered was almost too painful for me to witness.

That please don't leave me here killed me dead. And Holder! He came back for her! He was about to smackdown a security guard for her! Then those beautiful parallels happened that you noted happened at the end and I'm sorry, but if they don't want us to ship it they are doing it wrong.

You know what else killed me dead? Stan. His phone call to Rosie left me gross sobbing all over myself. I'm not even exaggerating. I had to stop the ep and get tissues.

This ep might be my new favorite just because it gave us so much insight into Sarah. IDK, for the past three weeks every ep I've seen I've dubbed my new favorite. It was emotionally draining, but also excellent.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hey, Imma let you finish, but you need to go to AMCTV right now and watch the "inside this episode" thingie and watch Veena Sud get KIND OF FANGIRLY talking about how Rick is no longer in Sarah's life but Holder is! If she doesn't ship them then she's doing a great job at faking it. ETA: I mean, she giggles. Like, what?

[crickets.livejournal.com]

PS: I made this.

There's more here: http://krickets.tumblr.com/post/23948125491

PPS: I did read the AV club review and they're totally right about them having to divulge personal information in order to be "free." And I think it's worth pointing out how great of Richmond it was to tell Gwen she didn't have to tell him anything she didn't want to.

Post Post Post Script:
Regarding Callum. Yes. Except I mean Yes. Sure he's scary but he's also really attractive in that "I could probably kill you" kind of way. Other than Leoben, Rick is probably my favorite character he's ever played. Except maybe Duck in Wilby Wonderful. Rick is so the opposite of anything he's ever done. I mean, there's still the off-chance that he DEFINITELY KILLED ROSIE simply because he's played by Callum, haha. But still.

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

That gif set is amazing, dude. <333

I just watched the inside the ep thing, and yep, that settles it: she's a shipper. Which is awesome.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I know! She totally is! ♥!

By the way, I'm like 2 seconds away from posting another set of icons. (I'm obsessed okay?)

And I just found this:

Quite possibly the first (and only?) non-multifandom The Killing fanvid. And it's Linden/Holder and it's glorious. Okay?