The Killing

:

Season 4
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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Critic Reviews

  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Josh Modell
    Aug 1, 2014
    91
    It took a circuitous route, with two cancellations and a move to Netflix, but it sticks the landing with this affecting, impressive final season.
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Aug 1, 2014
    80
    It has woven well-crafted murder dramas and, beyond that, given us wonderfully complex lead characters who go way beyond the light banter, gruff exterior and “will they/won’t they” tease of most TV cop teams.
  3. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Aug 6, 2014
    67
    The Killing still has some pulling power, even if the initial thrill of Season 1 is long since gone.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jeff Jensen
    Jul 28, 2014
    67
    The Killing shines brightest when its stars aren't mired in gloom and their characters just do their jobs.
  6. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Chris Cabin
    Aug 1, 2014
    50
    Even in its tense, involving conclusion, the final season of The Killing conjures nothing so much as a more compact recitation of its mundane pessimism, still incapable of shaking the humdrum drama and redundant thrills that forced the series to find a new home in the first place.
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Jul 31, 2014
    50
    The entire season will be available on Friday morning, and, in one sitting, you can cruise through the so-so story and find out before lunch what the future holds for Linden and Holder.
  8. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Aug 15, 2014
    42
    Season 4 was a mess well before it got to the parts designed to wrap up the series for good.
  9. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Aug 4, 2014
    40
    The show's not horrible, like the seemingly indestructible Walking Dead, but I wish it had amounted to more.
  10. Zap2it (Inside the Box)
    Reviewed by: Sarah Huggins
    Aug 1, 2014
    40
    The Season 4 struggle starts somewhat intriguing, but gets repetitive quick.
  11. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Aug 1, 2014
    40
    Even the most forgiving fan will find The Killing a shadow of its former self.
  12. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Aug 1, 2014
    40
    Fans of this hit-or-miss crime serial--and of Linden and Holder, in particular--may want to stream these final episodes just to see what kind of miserable state the show leaves poor Linden in, but The Killing long ago ceased to be required viewing for cultural currency.
  13. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Jul 29, 2014
    40
    They’ve created something that is not just directly attached to the disappointing finale of the third season but grafted a mystery on to it that feels like an echo of what the show has done more interestingly in the past.
  14. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jul 28, 2014
    40
    Despite flashes of what initially made the Danish adaptation so intriguing, this stretch drive can’t escape the feeling of a show ready to be put out of its misery.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 82
  3. Negative: 6 out of 82
  1. NirvanicPanic
    Aug 2, 2014
    10
    Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman return for a fourth and final season, and their work in these 6 episodes is undoubtedly their best yet. TheMireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman return for a fourth and final season, and their work in these 6 episodes is undoubtedly their best yet. The supporting cast, Joan Allen and Tyler Ross churn out fine performances as well. As a season, separate from the rest of the series--Season 4 is a solid mystery-drama. As a conclusion to the series as a whole--it's astounding.… Full Review »
  2. roscoeswaffle
    Aug 7, 2014
    1
    Painful to behold. I slogged through to the end partly out of a sense of obligation, partly out of morbid curiosity (about how bad the seriesPainful to behold. I slogged through to the end partly out of a sense of obligation, partly out of morbid curiosity (about how bad the series could get--not about the plot). Well, it got very bad. The final episode may have been rock bottom in my recent television-viewing experience. I had to spend the whole next day watching Nicholas Ray noir to get rid of the bad taste.… Full Review »
  3. NikolayG
    Aug 4, 2014
    8
    Season 4 is worth watching but not as good as the other seasons. FYI you cannot watch season 4 until you watch season 3. A big part of theSeason 4 is worth watching but not as good as the other seasons. FYI you cannot watch season 4 until you watch season 3. A big part of the plot derives directly from season 3 so you won't get what's going on unless you watch season 3 first. Though the best seasons are 1 and 2, which together comprise a single story.

    There are a lot of reasons season 4 isn't as good as prior seasons. The main reason is that the detectives do not piece together clues and finally figure out who did it. The whole solution depends upon a kid who has amnesia and at the very end remembers what happened, conveniently. That is one of the worst kinds of plots there is. Right up there with the main character waking up at the end to discover everything has been a dream (as in that season of the original Dallas where the 'dead' Bobby Ewing suddenly appears in the shower).

    But the story is good despite this major flaw, largely because of the secondary plot the is the fallout from season 3, and ultimately because season 4 ends realistically and well. I was really worried there for awhile, but the part of the story that was following up on season 3 ended just as it would have in real life.    … Full Review »
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