Completely slayed by the cast of The Killing

They ought to be feeling pretty happy over at AMC this year, with The Killing wrapping up its first season this coming Sunday. If there’s a “Northwest Noir” crime genre, The Killing ought to have a pretty secure berth. As the tense and involving season has progressed, the cast has been truly superb, elevating their game as things grow increasingly dark and disturbing.

As grieving married couple Mitch and Stan Larsen, Michelle Forbes and Brent Sexton are the most realistic, compelling couple on television. They have created two remarkably effecting and wounded people who have had their world ripped to pieces around them. These two do incredibly nuanced work as a married couple who’ve lost everything, frantically trying to stay connected by a very frayed tether.

Anchoring the series as deeply committed and deeply flawed homicide detective Sarah Linden, actress Mireille Enos has taken no prisoners on this show. She has a phenomenal sense of command and projects a steely, doesn’t-suffer-fools-gladly tenacity that ranks with Sigourney Weaver. Linden doesn’t understand the word “No,” and she doesn’t understand her own limitations or needs, either. Enos may look like she’s about four feet tall, but she also looks like she’d be first one in the door of any room Clarice Starling would fear to tread.

As Linden’s partner Holder, Joel Kinnaman is a revelation. All posture at first, he’s the undercover guy who blurs the lines, all wigger bravado and attitude. As the season progresses and we learn more about what’s behind the persona, Kinnaman has controlled the character beautifully, keeping him real and unpredictable. His scenes with Enos are amazing.

If you haven't had the pleasure of discovering these characters yet, don't miss this dark slice of crime when it shows up on disc. This cast has done a phenomenal job and here's hoping they reap the awards they deserve.