I have read that the correct meaning of the Danish word "Forbrydelsen" is "The Crime" not "The Killing". Well, I believe that the reason the makers of the movie chose to call it "The Killing" is because they knew that the real crime was the way this series drags on and on with one police blunder after another.I watch a lot of crime dramas, primarily of the European variety, and it pains me to accept the fact that I am one of the few persons reviewing on IMDb that doesn't think this is a great series.My wife and I have watched Series 1, Episodes 1-10 and we both now understand why Buchard, Sarah Lund's boss, is so king on having her lead the investigation into the death of Nanna Birk Larsen. Sarah Lund can't find her way out of a room full of doors let alone solve what turns out to be a major police case and political scandal. They, Sarah Lund and Jan Meyer, accuse or go after the wrong people due to their constantly drawing conclusions on either the wrong evidence, incomplete evidence or missing clues and evidence that they later, oops, find out from other peoples help outside of the police force.They are in such a rush to judgment that they rule out evidence that would go in favor of a suspect and then proceed to tell the victims mother that their suspect, Rama, did it based solely on circumstantial evidence. This stupidity almost gets Rama killed.Meanwhile their boss Buchard is too busy trying to kiss up to the politicians and buckling to pressure from the newspapers that he destroys / deletes crucial information form the victims phone and is constantly keeping Hartmann and his staff apprised of what his team is doing even though they hadn't at the time been ruled out as suspects.This show is aggravating to a significant point for those of us that enjoy the crime drama genre because of all the laws these cops break, actual and ethical, to do their work. Also for the lack of legal effort on charging people for hindering a police investigation (Hartmann, Pernille Birk Larsen, Rama, all the young men and women using or having in their possession Class 1 drugs, to name a few). Maybe in Copenhagen it's not against the law to lie or omit information in a felony investigation that impedes the detectives?On the positive side; this was the first time I have watched a movie that shows all the happenings of police trying to solve a crime, impact on the victims family, and impact on the suspects families. Bottom line; You want to get away with murder? Do it in Copenhagen.But 20 episodes? this is THE CRIME.

Just in the process of watching this having recorded the series from the BBC ages ago.I am on episode 15 so far.If you are OK with subtitles then give this a go and see what you think.Everything about this shouts quality: characterization; acting; plot; and, production.The only thing that I would say is that its a big commitment of time to watch this but I think that the commitment of the director, actors and the crew has certainly been worth mine. It is a stunning piece of television and I think that the day by day unfolding of the action is something that only TV can do.

Forbrydelsen ranks among the most outstanding creations in the modern age of path-breaking Television. Complex plots, superlative acting, brilliant cinematography, and the haunting music of Franz Bak. At a time when crime-drama has become a staple of modern "entertainment", this is one series which treats the viewer as an adult and refuses to give simple answers which can coddle him up at the end with a comfortable vision of God's grace.The writers of the series clearly have an astute understanding of the muddled ways of world of Politics, Military and any institution for which self-preservation comes above all else. Human Beings are not simple, that's a cliché but its in the ways they are complex which makes them unique. Motives are always murky but what exactly drives that ambivalence is at the heart of this brilliant work of art. Every character is brilliantly portrayed by actors who should really be given much more credit than they are usually accorded. Sofie Grabbel as Sarah Lund ranks as one of the most fascinating characters created. A detached, shy woman with an instinct for truth, her portrayal never comes off as forced. Right from the pilot till the last seconds of the ending episode, the superb script and the subtle twists keeps the viewer hooked on with a skill that's not matched by much other series. There is a natural flow to the plot which usually revolves around parallel happenings in two or three places which come together at the end to reveal a superstructure of knowledge which is extremely satisfying to an intelligent viewer. Season 2 for me is the best of the three but the others are no worse. Its a testament to the brilliance of Danish writers and actors that a country located in the far north without much worldwide access to markets creates such work which Hollywood then comes begging only so they can mutilate and dumb them down for their own audience. I hope this Golden period of Danish Television comes up with more Forbrydelsens and Borgens so that our age of stupidity can get some much needed manna to recover from the imperialistic domination of trash that Hollywood shoves down out throat with clinical precision every day. If for nothing else, watch Forbrydelsen for its profound insight into the nature of man and evil. Watch it to know that duality is at the heart of life and no one is without his or her faults but its ultimately choice that defines us.

I'm very disappointed. I was a great fan of the Killing, all three series - until the last few minutes of the final episode. It made no sense at all, in my opinion. Lund was not the type to kill a suspect, as she never got worked up over criminals. Obsessive, yes, but consumed with anger, no. There was certainly no sign that she was about to crack up in the episode concerned. Also, it had not been established at all that the man she kills is beyond being brought to justice by the normal procedures. Then, to cap all that, she lets herself be persuaded to try a harebrained scheme to fly off to pastures new in order to escape the consequences of her own crime. I don't think so. If Lund were to lose her wits sufficiently to kill a suspect, she would either turn herself in, or turn the gun on herself. Bad, bad, bad.