The Killing (2007–2012)
"Forbrydelsen" (original title)

Police detective Sarah Lund investigates difficult cases with personal and political consequences.

Creator:

Søren Sveistrup

Stars:

Sofie Gråbøl, Morten Suurballe, Lars Mikkelsen

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Sofie Gråbøl	...	Sarah Lund (40 episodes, 2007-2012)
Morten Suurballe	...	Lennart Brix (30 episodes, 2007-2012)
Lars Mikkelsen	...	Troels Hartmann (20 episodes, 2007)
Bjarne Henriksen	...	Theis Birk Larsen (20 episodes, 2007)
Ann Eleonora Jørgensen	...	Pernille Birk Larsen (20 episodes, 2007)
Marie Askehave	...	Rie Skovgaard (20 episodes, 2007)
Michael Moritzen	...	Morten Weber (19 episodes, 2007)
Anne Marie Helger	...	Vibeke Lund (19 episodes, 2007-2012)
Søren Malling	...	Jan Meyer (18 episodes, 2007)
Nicolaj Kopernikus	...	Vagn (17 episodes, 2007)
Jonas Leth Hansen	...	Emil Birk Larsen (17 episodes, 2007)
Kasper Leth Hansen	...	Anton (17 episodes, 2007)

Storyline

The brutal murder of a young girl launches an extended police investigation. Detective Sarah Lund is supposed to leave for a new life in Sweden, but can't bring herself to leave the case behind. The girl's parents and friends struggle to cope with their loss. Troels Hartmann is campaigning to be mayor of Copenhagen, but struggles when links are revealed between city hall and the murder. Over a time span of twenty days, suspect upon suspect is sought out as violence and political pressures cast their shadows over the hunt for the killer. Two more seasons follow about a series of killings of soldiers and the abduction of an industrial magnate's daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | police | soldier | election | prime minister | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk] Official site [dk]

Country:

Denmark Norway Sweden Germany

Language:

Danish Norwegian Swedish

Release Date:

7 January 2007 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Forbrydelsen II

Filming Locations:

Politigården, Copenhagen, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danmarks Radio (DR), Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK), Sveriges Television (SVT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 57 min (40 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The series was a ratings success in Denmark with around 1.7 million viewers per week (one third of Danish viewers).

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Connections

Featured in TV!TV!TV!: Undersøgende journalistik (2011)

User Reviews

EXTRAORDINARY - TV writing at its most superior

This is the most incredible series - i am on ep 13 awaiting the rest, but the script is sensational. So clever and completely absorbing. The direction and acting is also sublime, as is the art direction. I don't believe you will get better TV than this series. I have watched so many box kits of Sopranos, Dexter, In Treatment, Mad Men etc.. yet this series tops them all. I am overwhelmed by the quality and as someone who works in theatre and film i can highly recommend this to anyone who just wants to see how it is done best!

The way the series covers both the police investigation and the victim's family's turmoil is unique in crime dramas, the nature of grief and its effects on families, the emerging information in its many guises, ie things the family discover that were kept secret, and the slow and intelligent police case, coupled with subtle insights into all of the relationships. A show that never falls into cliché or stereotypes, and is shot with such beautiful lighting and moodiness that it is visually arresting. You are completely taken on a journey, cannot live in the real world while this world unfolds, and i dare you to watch one ep and not watch another - i think that would be virtually impossible.