The Killing (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Killing is a BAFTA Award winning and Emmy nominated Danish crime TV series produced by Danmarks Radio
. Each series follows the police investigation of one specific case, day by day, with a one-hour episode covering 24 hours of the investigation. , there have been two series, with a third in production.
A US remake of the first series premiered on the American cable network AMC on 3 April 2011.
The first ten episodes were shown on DR1
each Sunday from early January to the middle of March 2007, and the intention was to show the remaining ten episodes in January-March 2008; however, the popularity was so great in Denmark that already in early March it was announced that the final ten episodes would be brought forward to the autumn of 2007; they were shown from late September to late November 2007.
The first series has also been shown in other countries, as follows:
Local politician Troels Hartmann is in the middle of a hard election campaign to become the new mayor of Copenhagen
when suddenly, evidence links him to the murder. At the same time, the girl's family and friends struggle to cope with their loss.
Over a span of twenty days, suspect upon suspect is sought out as violence and political pressures cast their shadows over the hunt for the killer.
series, The Killing became another Scandinavian crime hit with British viewers when it was shown on BBC Four
in the spring of 2011, Although subtitled, it attracted more viewers than Mad Men
, scored audience appreciation figures of 94%, and has been described as "the best series currently on TV". The success has created an interest in all things Danish, and the female detective's Faroese
jumper
has been the subject of newspaper articles as well as becoming a sought after online item.
The series won the 2011 BAFTA award in the "International" category. It was also nominated for the Audience award but lost to reality show The Only Way is Essex
.
for the American cable network AMC. It premiered on April 3, 2011.
and on Swedish SVT in the autumn of 2010. It was shown on BBC4 starting on 19 November 2011, following the success of the first series. The region 2 DVD with English subtitles will be released on 12 December, 2011.
in southern Denmark, isn't interested at first, but once she starts looking into the case she becomes just as engrossed as in the last case.
It turns out that the lawyer had learned about a killing of civilians in Afghanistan
, involving Danish soldiers, and someone killed her to stop her revealing something that mustn't be revealed. The tracks soon lead Lund into the corridors of power, and the truth turns out to be much more macabre than anyone could imagine.
and is due to be aired in Denmark late September 2012.
Danmarks Radio
DR – officially rendered into English as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation – is Denmark's national broadcasting corporation. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is today Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterprise...
. Each series follows the police investigation of one specific case, day by day, with a one-hour episode covering 24 hours of the investigation. , there have been two series, with a third in production.
A US remake of the first series premiered on the American cable network AMC on 3 April 2011.
Series 1
The first series, Forbrydelsen, which follows the police investigation into the murder of a young woman, consists of 20 one-hour episodes, starting on 3 November and finishing on 22 November.The first ten episodes were shown on DR1
DR1
DR1 is a Danish national television channel, produced by the public service broadcaster, DR. It was the first television station to be established in Denmark, and began broadcasting in 1951 – at first only for an hour a day three times a week....
each Sunday from early January to the middle of March 2007, and the intention was to show the remaining ten episodes in January-March 2008; however, the popularity was so great in Denmark that already in early March it was announced that the final ten episodes would be brought forward to the autumn of 2007; they were shown from late September to late November 2007.
The first series has also been shown in other countries, as follows:
- 2007: Norway on NRK1NRK1NRK1 is the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's main television channel. Test broadcasts started on 12 January 1954, regular test broadcasts started on 13 April 1958 and regular broadcasts started in 20 August 1960. It is Norway's oldest and largest television channel...
(as Forbrytelsen) - 2007: Finland on FST5 (as Rikos)
- 2007: Faroe Islands on SvF (as Brotsgerðin)
- 2008: Sweden on SVT1SVT1SVT1 is the primary television station of the Swedish public service broadcaster Sveriges Television in Sweden.-History:The channel began broadcasting in 1956 and was known as Radiotjänst TV, A year later, it was renamed Sveriges Radio TV. In 1969, the second television station TV2 was launched and...
(as Brottet) - 2008: Iceland on Stöð 2Stöð 2Stöð 2 is an Icelandic television channel, owned and operated by 365. Founded in 1986, It was the first privately owned television station in Iceland following the lifting of the state monopoly on television broadcasting...
- 2008: Germany on ZDFZDFZweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
(as Kommissarin Lund) - 2009: Austria on ORFORFORF may refer to:* ORF , the Austrian public service broadcaster.* Open reading frame, a portion of the genome.* The IATA airport code for Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk, Virginia.* ORF format , Olympus raw image file format....
- 2010: Belgium, France, Germany on ARTEArteArte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
- 2010: Australia on SBS One
- 2010: Belgium on Canvas
- 2011: United Kingdom on BBC FourBBC FourBBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
- 2011: Russia on Channel OneChannel OneChannel One and TV One, or variations thereof, may refer to:*Channel One , a satellite television channel from Bangladesh*BNT 1 , , a Bulgarian-language public television station...
- 2011: Italy on Fox Crime (as Essi uccidono)
- 2011: Spain on AXN (as The Killing: Crónica de un asesinato)
- 2011: Portugal on AXN Black (as The Killing: Crónica de um assassinato)
Plot
Detective Inspector Sarah Lund is looking forward to her last day with the Copenhagen Police department. She is supposed to move to Sweden with her fiancé and transfer to the Swedish Police, but everything changes when a 19-year-old woman, Nanna Birk Larsen, is found raped and brutally murdered. Along with Detective Inspector Jan Meyer, Sarah is forced to head the investigation, as it soon becomes clear that she and Meyer are chasing a very intelligent and dangerous murderer.Local politician Troels Hartmann is in the middle of a hard election campaign to become the new mayor of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
when suddenly, evidence links him to the murder. At the same time, the girl's family and friends struggle to cope with their loss.
Over a span of twenty days, suspect upon suspect is sought out as violence and political pressures cast their shadows over the hunt for the killer.
Main cast
- Detective Inspector Sarah Lund: Sofie Gråbøl
- Detective Inspector Jan Meyer: Søren MallingSøren MallingSøren Dyrberg Malling is a Danish actor.Raised in Kjellerup, Malling trained at Skuespillerskolen at Odense Teater in 1992...
- Mayoral candidate Troels Hartmann: Lars MikkelsenLars MikkelsenLars Dittman Mikkelsen is a Danish actor who graduated from the National Theatre School of Denmark in 1995. He is the brother of actor Mads Mikkelsen and is married to actor colleague Anette Støvelbæk.- Filmography :...
- Nanna's father, Theis Birk Larsen: Bjarne Henriksen
- Nanna's mother, Pernille Birk Larsen: Ann Eleonora JørgensenAnn Eleonora JørgensenAnn Eleonora Jørgensen is a Danish film, television and stage actor.She is best known for her television work in TAXA and Forbrydelsen , and for her film roles in Italian for Beginners , for which she won a Robert Award for Best Supporting Actress, and In Your Hands , for which she won...
- Hartman's political advisor and lover Rie Skovgaard: Marie Askehave
- Hartman's campaign manager Morten Weber: Michael Moritzen
- Theis Birk Larsen's long-time employee Vagn Skærbæk: Nicolaj Kopernikus
- Incumbent mayor Poul Bremer: Bent MejdingBent MejdingBent Mejding is a Danish actor. He won the Robert Award in 1985 and 2007. He is married to the actress Susse Wold.-References:* The Danish film institute....
- Rama, Nanna's teacher: Farshad Kholghi
UK success
In the wake of the successful WallanderWallander (Swedish TV series)
Wallander is a Swedish television series adapted from Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels and starring Krister Henriksson in the title role. The 1st series of 13 films were produced in 2005 and 2006, with one taken directly from a novel and the remainder with new storylines suggested by Mankell...
series, The Killing became another Scandinavian crime hit with British viewers when it was shown on BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
in the spring of 2011, Although subtitled, it attracted more viewers than Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, scored audience appreciation figures of 94%, and has been described as "the best series currently on TV". The success has created an interest in all things Danish, and the female detective's Faroese
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
jumper
Sweater
A sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. It is often worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but may also be worn alone as a top...
has been the subject of newspaper articles as well as becoming a sought after online item.
The series won the 2011 BAFTA award in the "International" category. It was also nominated for the Audience award but lost to reality show The Only Way is Essex
The Only Way Is Essex
The Only Way Is Essex, is a British BAFTA award-winning semi-reality show based in Essex, England. It shows "real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way."...
.
Series 1 UK airdates and ratings
| Episode | Originally aired UK | Official ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 January 2011 21.00 | 472,000 |
| 2 | 22 January 2011 21.55 | 421,000 |
| 3 | 29 January 2011 21.00 | 424,000 |
| 4 | 29 January 2011 22.00 | 388,000 |
| 5 | 5 February 2011 21.00 | 524,000 |
| 6 | 5 February 2011 21.55 | 443,000 |
| 7 | 12 February 2011 21.00 | 524,000 |
| 8 | 12 February 2011 22.00 | 466,000 |
| 9 | 19 February 2011 21.00 | 536,000 |
| 10 | 19 February 2011 21.55 | 480,000 |
| 11 | 26 February 2011 21.00 | 509,000 |
| 12 | 26 February 2011 21.55 | 474,000 |
| 13 | 5 March 2011 21.00 | 563,000 |
| 14 | 5 March 2011 21.55 | 511,000 |
| 15 | 12 March 2011 21.00 | 597,000 |
| 16 | 12 March 2011 22.00 | 535,000 |
| 17 | 19 March 2011 21.00 | 613,000 |
| 18 | 19 March 2011 22.00 | 551,000 |
| 19 | 26 March 2011 21.00 | 603,000 |
| 20 | 26 March 2011 22.00 | 599,000 |
US remake
An American remake was produced by Fox Television StudiosFox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios, Inc. is the TV production arm of the News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, as well as being the production arm of Fox and a production arm of 20th Century Fox Television, Inc., itself a division of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation...
for the American cable network AMC. It premiered on April 3, 2011.
Series 2
The second series, Forbrydelsen II, takes place two years after the first and consists of ten episodes. It first aired in Denmark between 27 September and 29 November 2009. It was shown on German TV channel ZDFZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
and on Swedish SVT in the autumn of 2010. It was shown on BBC4 starting on 19 November 2011, following the success of the first series. The region 2 DVD with English subtitles will be released on 12 December, 2011.
Plot
Ten days after a female lawyer has been found murdered, the head of the homicide department in Copenhagen, Lennart Brix, realises that his group is faced with a case much more complicated than it seemed at first. So, desperate for a breakthrough, he contacts former DI Sarah Lund and asks her to have a look at the case, a decision that isn't popular with everybody. She, who was demoted after the Nanna Birk Larsen case in the first series and currently works as a passport controller in GedserGedser
Gedser is a town at the southern tip of the Danish island of Falster in the Guldborgsund Municipality in Sjælland region. It is the southernmost town in Denmark. The town has a population of 809...
in southern Denmark, isn't interested at first, but once she starts looking into the case she becomes just as engrossed as in the last case.
It turns out that the lawyer had learned about a killing of civilians in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, involving Danish soldiers, and someone killed her to stop her revealing something that mustn't be revealed. The tracks soon lead Lund into the corridors of power, and the truth turns out to be much more macabre than anyone could imagine.
Main cast
- Former Detective Inspector Sarah Lund: Sofie Gråbøl
- Detective Chief Inspector Lennart Brix: Morten Suurballe
- Detective Inspector Ulrik Strange: Mikael BirkkjærMikael BirkkjærMikael Birkkjær is a Danish actor.Raised in Copenhagen, Birkkjær trained at Skuespillerskolen at Odense Teater in 1985...
- Justice Minister Thomas Buch: Nicolas BroNicolas BroNicolas Bro is a Danish actor born in Copenhagen, Denmark.He has grown up in the family of actors – mother is Danish actress Helle Hertz and father is an actor Christoffer Bro....
- Prime Minister Gert Grue Eriksen: Kurt Ravn
- Staff Sergeant Jens Peter Raben: Ken VedsegaardKen VedsegaardKen Vedsegaard is a Danish actor.Son to a restauranteur and raised in Copenhagen, Vedsegaard trained at the Skuespillerskolen at Aarhus Teater between 1996 and 2000...
Series 2 UK airdates and ratings
| Episode | Originally aired UK | Official ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 2011 21.00 | 1,206,000 |
| 2 | 19 November 2011 22.00 | 883,000 |
| 3 | 26 November 2011 21.00 | |
| 4 | 26 November 2011 22.00 | |
| 5 | 3 December 2011 21.00 | |
| 6 | 3 December 2011 22.00 | |
| 7 | 10 December 2011 21.00 | |
| 8 | 10 December 2011 22.00 | |
| 9 | 17 December 2011 21.00 | |
| 10 | 17 December 2011 22.00 | |
Series 3
The third series, Forbrydelsen III, is currently in production, will co-star Nikolaj Lie KaasNikolaj Lie Kaas
Nikolaj Lie Kaas is a prominent Danish actor whose career rose in the 1990s and who is still actively working today. He is also the host of the annual Zulu Comedy Galla on Danish TV....
and is due to be aired in Denmark late September 2012.
External links
Retrieved 2011-02-28 Retrieved 2011-04-02 Retrieved 2011-04-02- The Killing on the BBC website Retrieved 2011-02-28
- Official Danish website of Forbrydelsen II Retrieved 2011-02-28