I just discovered this all too late. I really enjoyed the first two seasons and was pleased to watch something with a decent plot and acting for once. Really gutted that I don't get to know where the story ends as the second series ended just as things were really beginning to escalate. Such a waste.

The story line is good, and there is enough action here and there to keep the show interesting. I'll keep watching.The biggest let down is blacks in key rolls, playing natives. It just doesn't work, very unbelievable, especially heard in pronouncing words. They do not look like, or sound like natives on reserves. There are just so many talented native actors that I don't understand why blacks were brought in to play lead rolls as natives. For me this has taken away from authenticity, and realism from the series.Other than the above noted weakness, the show is very enjoyable to watch, and I look forward to seeing how the writers go forward with development.

It's that slow moving. Almost nothing happened in the last 2 eps. What dialog there is is a rehash of what you already saw. "Slow Burn" has become a euphemism for "no writing so we'll just chick TV up the show and have women and girls cry and stare at things. This could easily have been done in 4 eps. The so called dark secrets and glacially slow moving plot points aren't that mysterious or earth shattering. But when most of the characters are angry unhappy women and teenage girls everything is a huge deal. But the biggest problem is that for a show where nothing happens there are too many characters and too many sub plots and side stories that sputter out and go nowhere. The daughter, her boyfriend, his mother, Mike, Phil's dad, the super rich father in law, the missing college boy, the long dead brother, the Albanians, and more. All of these side issues are plot devices to fill in gaps in why things happen so they're all wrapped up neatly in the last minutes leaving it open for a fifth season of the Killing.

The characters in this show are very layered and complex. Even Philip - as bad-a** as he is, manages to convey a troubled and vulnerable spirit. Jean wrestles with demons in her head all the while trying to keep herself - and her family together. Harold is tough as nails underneath his controlled demeanor. Junior has more on his plate than a young man his age ever should. These characters are emotional and vulnerable and it makes you care about them. The only reason I gave it 9 stars is it is sometimes hard to follow. This will not stop me. This series also contains a lot of different types of plots. Crime, love, dysfunctional families, small-town corruption, illness, losing ourselves, finding ourselves. I also find it to be unpredictable, which is refreshing.