chrissnuggs Sofie Gråbøl is mesmeric onscreen. Hard to say why exactly - nothing to do with pure beauty a la Bergman; some actors just have this gift. You can't help identifying with her obsession with justice while empathising with her inner demons. In a way her role and impact reminds me of Claire Danes in "Homeland", and she is just as good and central to the whole thing. And of course Sarah Lund is fighting (on our behalf) a vast and powerful government machine that eventually crushes her. I was mortified that it came to an end - and rather sadly, but what a performance. OK, it is melodramatic. As she said in an interview on the DVDs, detective work is hardly ever that dramatic that, but who cares. And being Danish, the series had to weave into the crimes a political dimension. Sometimes I felt I was back in "Borgen", trying not to feel simultaneously angry and depressed at how easily so many powerful people lie.Though I absolutely love Sarah Lund and was totally entertained by this, I knocked it down a star because the departures from police protocol were sometimes overdone. There is a reason why Starsky had Hutch, Cagney had Lacy and Barnaby has Troy: you can't just wander off on your own looking for a murderer as Sarah often does - and sometimes without a gun. Sometimes you want to scream at her: "CALL FOR BACKUP!" and/or "PHONE IT IN!". But if communication was her thing she wouldn't be so adorable.What happened to Sarah? Will we ever know?

lathe-of-heaven Since others here have gone into detail about the basic story, I thought I'd just leave a few brief comments comparing this original Danish version to the one that was remade here in the states as 'The Killing'The primary thing for me personally, and this may just be my own sensitivities or personal preference, but I REALLY liked the characters in this version a LOT better than in the U.S. one. I've not completed either of the series, but I have come away with a definite impression comparing the two.The U.S. one I tried to watch first (Netflix - a 'free trial' and I chose this show to watch first :) I got through several episodes, and the overall atmosphere and basic production was pretty good and similar to this one, even down to the nifty drums in the soundtrack when a particularly dramatic moment was coming up. BUT... in my lowly and wretched opinion, I just didn't care for the actual characters in the American version. The main detective was good, but I just got so bloody tired of her same bland, blank expression all the time. And, I know this probably is just me, but the frigg'n CONSTANT gum chewing in each and EVERY bloody scene! GEEZ... okay, cute little plot device, but did it need to completely dominate EVERY scene with her chomping away. I honestly found that quite annoying (as if you couldn't tell) And her partner in the U.S version just came across as such a COMPLETE @sshole, to me anyway it just went beyond, WAY beyond what was necessary to convey the contrast with her business like manner and methods. So, as you can see, the TWO MAIN characters of the show I wasn't very impressed with; so not a great beginning, that's for sure...In this Danish version, the characters come across as MUCH more real and believable instead of artificial constructs. I will say though, I did think that the politician in the American version was a pretty cool guy; I really liked him a lot (doesn't he kind of remind you of a young Anthony Perkins) Very slick and likable guy. The Danish guy is very good too, but the politician guy was about the ONLY character that I actually liked in the U.S. version.The U.S. version seems to throw a number of deliberately manufactured red herrings at you right at the first. It's not that I mind that approach at all; most of your very best Mysteries do that, but I guess I just don't really care for the rather superficial way they really build up the suspense in the very last few minutes of an episode REALLY making it look like someone is guilty, and then almost immediately in the next episode basically throw cold water all over it, making you go, 'Oh, okay...' To me, it comes across as sort of gimmicky and 'artificial' rather than a more naturally occurring development of the story.So, I will leave this brief comparison with you, basically just my lowly impressions of the differences between the two series. Hopefully that will give you at least a little something to go on if you are trying to decide which version to watch. FWIW, primarily the main difference to me is that I like the characters here in this original Danish version a LOT better, so I will be much more likely to enjoy and continue watching the rest of the 3 seasons...

Steve B This is an excellent crime series. I'm not sure it would work in the US because US crime series are often one or 2 crimes covered in a one hour show. This series is one big crime with subplots covered over a whole season of shows. This show has kept us on edge for each season and we can't wait for the next season. It is amazing how the Dane's can crank out so many great series of really high caliber.It keeps us on edge but we're able to watch shows as we want rather than when they're aired. The lead detective is always resistive in the beginning, but goes all in pretty quick. She is great. They do kill off major characters which is disappointing but keeps things exciting too, I guess. Being a policeman in Scandinavia appears to be very subjective employment with politics related to anything an officer does. Police here aren't in jeopardy of losing their jobs so easily unless they commit brutality, a crime, or fail to support a criminals basic rights. Even then I just don't thing they'd be demoted or removed from position as easily in this show. It seems the job is on the line, political collapse is looming, and everyone wants a solution so quick they're willing to allow false imprisonment or a criminal free. I think these jolting and shocking plot lines are what drives this show and others from this region.I recommend you watch this and if you can get past the blatant violence and pitiful sorrow of the victims portrayed in the first few episodes, then you'll be hooked. I have yet to check out the US version.

pawebster 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.