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

[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?