While we impatiently wait for our show to return, here are a few things we’ve learned about The Killing (and, let’s be honest, ourselves) over the past few years. Tune into Netflix August 1st for the exclusive release of Season 4.
1. Even if you don’t want to admit it, the show has made you a little suspicious of teachers. Not that you don’t trust them, you just might look at them a little differently now because even people in places of authority are human and have needs, desires, and pasts. Sometimes, they even screw up.
2. It’s important that you’re willing to accept that Seattle is a dark, depressing, rainy place full of crime, because it just sets a certain tone — even if you actually know that it’s often nice out and has some of the lowest crime rates in the country.
3. (And if you actually live in Seattle, you’re hopefully willing to forgive the show for this).
4. The fact that a death-row inmate is an empathetic character — and someone you are actually able to care about — is pretty crazy, when you think about it.
5. Every time someone complains about the lack of “strong female characters” on TV, it’s all you can do not to shake them and be like “But look at Linden!! Why aren’t you watching Linden?? She is all the ‘strong, complex female character’ anyone could ever ask for.”
6. There are no forms of loyalty and dedication quite like being a The Killing fan. You will follow your show like the most intricate of scent trails, because nothing else could be nearly as satisfying. (And you’re growing increasingly respectful of foreign television, and might consider learning Danish to watch the original in full.)
7. You’ve been sure about who the killer is at least 800 times, and had your mind blown at least 800 more times when you’ve found out that you were wrong. Which means you’re beginning to question yourself, but deep down you trust that you’re in on this journey for the long haul — and now, you get to binge on all of the episodes at once.