AMC Network and Netflix Seeking to Resurrect The Killing Reports Deadline

In an exclusive report, Deadine.com uncovered news pointing to the resurrection of one-time critical darling The Killing, that aired for two seasons on the AMC Network. It would appear AMC would have first rights to air the third season should it come to fruition, with streaming rights then going to Netflix.

Based on a Danish series by the same name, The Killing was off to a rousing start in its first season, making stars of its leads Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman. However, whereas the Danish series wrapped up the death of the Rosie equivalent, Nanna Birk Larsen, by the end of the first series. In the United States, we seem keen on the idea that if a cliffhanger isn’t present on the last episode of the final episode of any given season, the viewers just won’t show up. Are we really so different from our worldwide counterparts?

It would appear not, as the strategy left season two of The Killing on AMC struggling for viewers. Perhaps the bone had been hanging out in front of their noses too long. Even a dog gets tired of the same old tricks. To put things in perspective, what if I missed the entire first season of The Killing and wanted to watch the second, giving into the hype and wanting to know what all the fuss was about? I’d have to do a marathon to catch up, whereas anyone watching Forbrydelsen, the Danish word for The Killing series, I could have tuned in knowing fully well Larsen was killed, her murder was solved and join in the “fun” of a new case out of the gates at the start of the second series (as they call them abroad, instead of seasons).

Is the resurrection of The Killing a good thing or a bad thing? It depends upon how they play the game. Take some chances. Let the seasons stand on their own. Display some faith in the viewers that they will return for a damn good murder mystery, and not just THE murder mystery. The AMC Network has been innovative and The Walking Dead has become the highest rating broadcast cable series. Period. Use that, draw on the power of Netflix and the resources they offer to bolster what could have been and make it better. Breaking Bad is in its last season and Mad Men won’t last forever. Market The Killing right, don’t make promises you can’t keep and deliver on those you do. The cast, the writing; it’s already in place. Just make it sing.