So It Starts

[krickets]

→ First of all Holder, Holder, Holder. It looks like people on twitter (at least from seeing the AMC's dedicated Killing feed) have now nicknamed him "Smolder" and I cannot disagree at all. I love that he's not on board with his (let's say it) lazy partner's methods and that he's still following his nose. That's the Holder I have come to know and love. Holder who wants to do the right thing.

→ Holy actors/actresses from all the things, batman! Aaron Douglas, Hugh Dillon, Jewel Staite, Ben Cotton, Elias Koteas. I remembered vaguely hearing about the last one, but those others were surprises for me. I loved Jewel's comment about Holder's tatt. "Serenty. Sounds like a stripper's name." I seriously hope they put that in there purposely for the Firefly reference. Because how could they not?

→ Speaking of... Peter Sarsgaard was phenomenal and I can't wait to see what else they do with this character. I love how they have his hair cut in this and just the sort of serene look on his face. He obviously has been driven kind of mad stuck in prison for the past few years, but he's got such a kind face and lovely eyes. Given how volatile they've made his character, it's a really striking contrast - and it really worked in that scene with Aaron Douglas when he was playing him. Because who wouldn't take pity on a face that earnest? I want to say it was "obvious" he knew nothing about his wife's ring being missing and thus is innocent (of that crime at least) but then I legit don't want to make any assumptions right off the bat.

→ It totally slays me how Sarah's sweet little life that she had made for herself went to shit so quickly. While the delusional Sarah/Stephen shipper in me secretly rejoiced that at least one of them is single now, I am actually hoping that her new beau doesn't give up on her as quickly as Rick did back in season one. I want him to stick around just so that she's not alone. (Ugh, why do I love these characters so much?) Especially because Jack's gone again and Reggie has already written her off. (Which, by the way! Again? Geez,... with friends like these...)

→ I really enjoyed Bullet, but I knew I would from the pre-series stuff they released. I was baffled as to why they included her being attacked and raped though. The only reason I can imagine that it was done was to cast further suspicion on her assailant, who made the comment about Kallie having her throat slit. While we don't know anything has happened to Kallie for sure other than she's gone missing, we do have the poster with her trademark star earrings to give us a pretty big clue. (Not that it couldn't be misleading.) But then, why wouldn't he kill Bullet too? Maybe she's not his "type" so-to-speak.

→ Linden and Holder! Okay just for the record there was barely any of them together in both of these eps, which was just sad. I need them in the same room... or the same vehicle. Please and thank you. At least we know next week they're gonna jump right in it again. However, I got a weird kick out of the fact that they both lied to each other about smoking. And Holder's parting line to her about how he never thought she'd say not to care about his cases. OUCH. Angst. That's what I love about these two. One minute it's joking around and the next minute it's an angst-punch to the face.

→ Relatedly, I'm sorry, gross partner was gross with his comments about carpets and drapes and whatnot but why were there like three mentions (including that super inappropriate one) in this episode of Linden hooking up with her partner/co-workers? Plus we've got Rick the therapist and that "Tom-Waits-looking" mob cop. Linden has a history of getting together with people she works with/people she is supposed to be in a professional relationship with. I really really hope that Veena Sud is trying to tell us something with all this. Because, damn, I ship it so hard.

→ In other news. Is it next week yet?

Comments

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i knew nothing about this season except what i saw on the promos on amc, so all the guest stars i recognized were a HUGE surprise. i was all "oh my god it's hugh dillon!" and then "holy shit, aaron douglas!" and "holy shit, kaylee!" her crack about holder's tattoo made me giggle. they're cute. and i really liked that even tho time has passed and holder and linden's lives have changed (hers especially! she has a house! and a boyfriend! and she seemed happy! even tho her kid is living with his dad! and i hope the boyfriend sticks around too!) (and holder wears suits and ties!) (i admit i miss the hoodies), the two of them have not fundamentally changed. they both still give a shit about their cases. i don't like his partner either and can't wait for her to join him on this investigation. because you know she will.

and i have to say, it cracks me up that holder is all "i don't eat meat, i don't eat processed food", and yet he smokes. heh.

i've been assuming kallie is dead and just no one's found her body yet. and i agree they had bullet being raped (props to the ptb for cutting away from it) to cast suspicion on the dude who did it, which just makes me think he's not the murderer. altho it doesn't look like peter sarsgaard is either. he's pretty fascinating, tho. i can't figure him out, but i don't think we're supposed to be able to.

i had mixed feelings about s1 and s2, but i'm all into this one! i'm intrigued! and i want to watch all the supporting characters! and mostly i want to know what happens next!

[mfirefly10.livejournal.com]

Bullet's rape was just...I love this show a lot so I'm going to give the writers the benefit of the doubt and assume there was some point to that because otherwise...


I knew about most of those guest stars but Jewel Staite was a big surprise and if Holder can't be with Linden right now anyway, Jewel is not a bad choice. And the Firefly reference was delightful, as was her teasing him.


Those references to Sarah's dating history NEED to have significance. Obviously I see it from biased shipper's POV but I don't see why they'd include it unless something is going to come of it later on.


Basically, I LOVED IT and I'm glad my bbs are back!!!

[aeliasnymph.livejournal.com]

I'm still just so thrilled that we even have this show back, so I'm just enjoying the ride and not looking at anything too critically yet. But I thought it was an AWESOME premiere.

My girl is Sarah and is always going to be Sarah so my emotions were on a ride with her for these two hours. I couldn't believe how giggly and laughy she was with her BF (who seemed really sweet and nice and I agree, I kinda want him to stick around for a bit), it was just so nice to finally see her happy and carefree for a change. And even when Holder was there she was still cracking jokes with him and hdsgkjhfkj it was all so cuuuute. But then it all went bad so quickly, and there were so many moments - the toast on Reggie's boat, "I break things", and tHE SHOOTING THE COW SCENE UGH FUCKING TRAGIC - where my heart was just breaking for her. I'm so glad she's going to get back with Holder next week, he's so good for her.

And HOLDER. He's going to take the sergeant's exam! He doesn't eat meat, bitch! He's working so hard for this case! I'm just so proud of him and how far he's come, and I feel like a lot of that is leftover influence that Linden had on him. And yeah, his partner is a total prick but I loved watching him just for how much of an asshole he was. I mean, in the very first scene he was getting all up on the cop's business for responding with "Yup" like chill the fuck out. It was such a nice contrast to the Holder/Linden relationship and how they worked, esp when Holder got pissed at him because he bought him food with meat in it (something I'm sure Linden never did/would do). Oh and also how he immediately shut down the line of gross commenting from the dick partner about his relations with Linden and he was just like "Yo it wasn't like that". Yeah, you tell 'im bb.

I must be one of the few people who wasn't all that familiar with the other actors and guest stars, but they were all phenomenal and I loved their characters. Peter Sarsgaard is so so good, and it was so hard to watch the scene between him and the guard when he was talking about his son but he played it SO WELL and everything is so gray and I love it. I really liked the street kids too, and I wonder if Lyric (???) is going to be the next victim, since it seems like she has to go "street picking" or whatever that guy said, or if the focus is going to be on Kallie (who I think is dead and missing, but she might stay missing and that will be what pulls them forward).

I'm just so happy to have my show back and my favorite duo are going to be fighting crime and having more lovely moments together and it looks like it's going to be an awesome ride. :)

[timidwildone.livejournal.com]

Couldn't wait to read your thoughts on the ep. I am with you on so many points.

Man, I was so zeroing in on the little Holden/Linden things that happened/were said throughout the ep. Like the "1-900-LINDEN" callback(!) + sundry other flirtiness in that scene, how Holder was straight up OFFENDED when Reddick basically called Linden a ho, how Holder's big silly boombox is still in the office they once shared. Their rapport upon meeting again was so easy and ahhhh...comfy like an old, favorite sweater.

On another note, I am pretty torn on the revelation that Linden had an affair with her old partner. My little shippy brain went off on tangents of her falling back into old, home-wrecky behaviors now that Holder has a girlfriend, but at the same time...H&L are just so much more than that, you know? It would be too cheap if it was just brushed off as "something she's done in the past." I know one thing, there will definitely be future tension there between Sarah and Holder's little miss ADA girlfriend. And speaking of little miss ADA - I was pretty much guaranteed to despise any character they put Holder in a relationship with, but forget it. I can't not love Jewel Staite..."cuz she's pretty." Good play, The Killing. I can't NOT give her a chance now.

[catteo.livejournal.com]

UGH IT WAS SO GOOD. It was washout colours of blue and grey and everything that I wanted it to be. The sheer volume of supporting actors that I love was pretty overwhelming - I'd avoided pretty much all the things until now so Hugh Dillon and Aaron and Kaylee were total surprises. Also, I cannot be the only one who giggled when they were doing that whole bit about the 'Serenity' tattoo?

Holder looks like he's doing a great job of turning his life around and it was so great to see him put together and certain (right up to the point where Linden turned up because that's how they roll). I, too, loved the little differences between L/H and Holder with his new partner. This guy is much more as I imagine a normal cop to be - try and trade off your shitty cases and just get the job done. A direct contrast to Linden who lives for getting the job done.

The moment where Holden left Linden's new place with that remark about how she's nothing like she used to be was so poignant. And the way that it stirred Linden into action was perfect. Compounded by the speech that she gives at Reggie's wedding where she's talking about the person that knows you best and I was just SHE IS TALKING ABOUT HOLDEN GUYZ!!!!! So great.

Peter Sarsgaard was just as chilling as the previews indicated and he may not have killed his wife but he sure as hell has some sort of psychological damage going on. I mean, who bashes the Padre's head in? That's just uncalled for. And the "I don't have a son" moment. SO GREAT.

EVERYTHING WAS SO GREAT. I AM SO GLAD THAT IT'S BACK AND THANK YOU AMC.

[far-to-nowhere.livejournal.com]

"And Holder's parting line to her about how he never thought she'd say not to care about his cases."

Man, I know when Holder said that it bothered her. And you could just see her slowly spiraling back to her old ways after his visit. And then her speech at Regie's wedding and later Sarah said to her boyfriend, "you don't know me." I really thought she was reacting to Holder's comment. That Holder knew her more than her own boyfriend. It was glorious.

[twilightthief.livejournal.com]

Joel is Smolder. HOT DAMN.

Peter is fantastic! I have yet to see a performance of his and be disappointed.

Im eagerly anticapting more Holder/Linden moments too!

[hypertwink.livejournal.com]

It's so inappropriate but I kept laughing at Holder's joke about Cody being one of Jack's friends. And I totally think LInden/Holder is the endgame -- they showed her having relations with people she works with, and now we see her have relations with a co-worker and someone younger...yay,

Joel Kinnaman looks thin and gangly in clothes, which is why it's surprising to see how meaty he is underneath them.

I kinda like this new iteration of The Killing. I definitely think that they held onto the Rosie Larsen thing a season too long. And it's creepier now...It's not just me, right?

p.s. wow, Liam's so big now...I remember him being so tiny in Psych.

[timidwildone.livejournal.com]

I'm just going to point everyone HERE and borrow a phrase I saw on here a while back: *incoherent noises of squee*

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Holder cleaned UP GOOOOOOOD.

I think nearly every actor is Canada is on The Killing now. FACT. Wait, is it filmed in Canada?

I wasn't ready for Peter Sarsgaard. I had no idea he was going to be on and was taken aback for a moment, then verbalized a "shit yeah" and kept watching.

I agree about Bullet's rape. Just. I'll give it time, but the inclusion...

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

Belated comment is belated but DUDE THE KILLING IS BACK.

I am with you on the Jewel Staite/Serenity tattoo being a total reference to Firefly. It's just...I don't think Jewel Staite can say the word Serenity without it being a reference to Firefly anymore. It's just not possible.

I also think that the references to Sarah hooking up with partners/work colleagues is setting the ground for Linden/Holder. I think it would have been nice if her young beau had stuck around, and I am not entirely happy about Holder being ~unhappy about a breakup with Carolyn but based on the latest episode I'm not convinced everything is roses. Especially now that Carolyn is watching the Linden-Holder dynamic while being watched by Linden.

Bullet, my dear, my darling. She would hate me calling her that and that is why I love her. Among many reasons. She is just all sharp edges except not, and her interactions with both LInden and Holder have put me in mind of them sort of having this kid adopt them and bring them together.