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The Autopsy of The Killing: Part 7 – “Vengeance”

The original main cast of The Killing

New Evidence:

Stan and a petrified Bennet arrive at an empty dock, and Stan tells him to get out of the vehicle. After numerous knocks on her front door, Amber eventually opens to Linden and says she hasn’t heard from Bennet. Holder questions the Larsen family about Bennet, then reveals his knowledge about Stan’s past. Holder also threatens Belko, in an effort to try to get information about Stan and Bennet’s whereabouts. Amber tells Linden that Bennet would never hurt someone like Rosie. Bennet tells Stan that he didn’t hurt Rosie and that he too is going to be a father. Stan decides to leave Bennet outside in the rain. After Linden questions Amber’s whereabouts on the night of Rosie’s death, Bennet’s wife says she sat outside of the school on the night of the dance, before she eventually drove to stay with her sister. Amber informs Linden that because of a previous miscarriage, she cannot lift anything and should be resting as much as possible.

Linden tells Amber that Bennet lied about letting Rosie into their home, and Amber mentions a guy called Muhammed, who studies the Koran with Bennet and has a key to their house. A distressed Bennet arrives home and tells Linden to leave. Linden then tells Holder about the potential new accomplice. Gwen and Jamie tell Richmond to use his influence to get Bennet removed from his teaching position, but he once again refuses. Holder explains to Linden that their witness dropped out, so they can’t get a warrant to search Bennet’s house. Linden tells Lieutenant Oakes about Bennet’s friend, Muhammed, and mentions Stan’s previous ties to the mob. Mitch asks Belko about his knowledge of Bennet, and he tells her about his friend at the school from whom he got the information. At Bennet’s mosque, Linden and Holder are greeted by its religious leader, Imam Gelabi (Peter Bryant), who tells them that Bennet is relatively new to the place of worship.

Linden and Holder ask about Muhammed, and Imam informs them about another missing girl, before saying there are over 40 men named Muhammed who attend this particular mosque. Linden finds a written note featuring an address in her shoes. Mayor Adams uses Richmond’s connection to Bennet to stop funding going to the Seattle All Stars program. Linden and Holder go in search of the address, “106 R.” They happen upon the entrance in a back alley. Holder illegally kicks in the door, and they enter the building. Inside, Linden finds another locked door, so once again, Holder breaks through. The final montage features Mitch parked outside the Ahmed household, watching from a distance. The episode ends with the sudden arrival of the FBI, who apprehend Linden and Holder by throwing them to the ground.

The Suspects:

Bennet is still very much the main suspect after Episode 7. Though, his wife Amber can be crossed off the list, when her condition is revealed to Linden. Amber is basically confirmed to not be the accomplice when she tells Linden, “I had a miscarriage last year, so now I’m…I’m not supposed to be on my feet or carry anything. I can’t even buy groceries.” Later, Linden confirms this to be true, so Amber is definitely not a suspect anymore. Amber does, however, tell Linden about Muhammed. Now, not much, if anything, is learned about Muhammed during this episode, but the person who left Linden the address/note clearly knows something. Hopefully, we’ll find out more in the coming episodes. During this episode, Bennet is seen from a different angle, due, in part, to his experience with Stan. A visibly shaken Bennet tells Stan, “I didn’t hurt Rosie. Whatever you think, this is all some terrible misunderstanding. I’m gonna be a father.”

It’s certainly possible that Bennet is lying (something he’s clearly capable of) and is using his pending fatherhood to provoke a different reaction from Stan. Though, it’s still very possible that he and an accomplice (Muhammed?) were responsible for Rosie’s death. Or, quite simply, he could be telling the truth. Maybe he is innocent, after all. But if he is telling the truth, on whom should Linden and Holder focus their investigation next? After the disastrous TV debate, the Richmond campaign is still reeling, but unfortunately for Richmond, it’s only going to get worse. First, the news about Bennet has spread citywide, then he receives a letter about a parole hearing for the drunk driver who killed his wife. And to top it off, funding for his Seattle All Stars program has been frozen thanks to an emergency City Council meeting called by Mayor Adams. Things are going from bad to worse for Richmond, and something tells me his luck isn’t going to change anytime soon.

What Year Is This?

Despite Stan’s past, I think this episode of The Killing, more than any, shows him to be very different to Leland Palmer. After all, we know of Stan’s previous ties to the mob, so his restraint regarding his actions with Bennet must be taken into consideration. At the end of the day, Leland did kill Jacques Renault (regardless of his reasoning), which makes Stan’s self-control all the more significant. Whilst in bed with Mitch, a heartbroken Stan tells her, “I don’t know what to do. I didn’t keep her [Rosie] safe.” Later, after his two young sons want to know the truth about Rosie’s death, he tells them what really happened. “No one’s ever gonna hurt you, you hear me? No one,” Stan later tells his two young boys. Stan and Mitch are both emotionally devastated, not unlike Leland and Sarah Palmer in Twin Peaks, but there’s something different about the Larsen family’s pain. One could argue the hysterical reactions from Sarah Palmer in Twin Peaks are maybe too over-the-top, whereas Leland’s personality gets weirder and more manic, ending with the devastating reveal.

Mitch and Stan Larsen, Rosies grieving parents in The Killing

Stan and Mitch, however, are just broken. They are raw, emotional and are struggling beyond comprehension to come to terms with losing their daughter, Rosie. It’s heartbreaking stuff. The atmosphere of The Killing feels realistic—if somewhat cold and melancholic—in contrast to the tone of Twin Peaks, which is purposefully and wonderfully exaggerated. Though, the difference in tone established by the two respective shows is perfect for the story they each want to tell. And interestingly, the lady responsible for playing Sarah Palmer, Grace Zabriskie, does have a minor supporting role in Season 3 of The Killing, which has to be more than coincidental casting, right? By now, Twin Peaks’ influence on The Killing has become more than obvious, so casting an actress like Zabriskie in a recurring role is a nice little nod to the fans.


The next article in “The Autopsy of The Killing” will focus on the eighth episode of The Killing, written by Aaron Zelman and directed by Dan Attias, respectively. And, if you’re enjoying this series, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below, and/or give me a follow on Twitter (@JonSheasby), and we’ll continue the conversation over there.

Written by Jon Sheasby

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