The Killing, Part Two

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I talk alot. "The Killing" (AMC TV) makes me go quiet. Tonight the ninth out of thirteen episodes aired. More than ever, I'm glad I watch this Sunday night television treasure alone.  The investment in the characters goes down inside the viewer much further with every installment. The characters themselves continue to show us more of their countless inner paradoxes and contradictions -- and even why some of those contradictions are there. Tonight they seemed loaded with anger and sadness and old wounds still needing to heal. So I'm even more quiet -- inside and out -- than usual. This is one of those scripted series that feels infinitely more real than anything offered by reality television.

For those of you who aren't watching "The Killing", I hope you decide to watch the remaining chapters anyway. The AMC TV website tells you most of what you need to know to catch up, if you so desire. I'd be willing to bet, however, that you won't care about not knowing how the storylines got to where they are now. That's how strong all the fundamental components are here.

If I could give you one clue about this grade A murder mystery/character drama, it would be a quote from a minor character at her parole hearing. Facing the board, and the widower of the woman she killed while driving drunk, she says something like "I don't think it's in our nature to forgive each other."

One thing this series talks about -- without saying anything too directly -- is the damage done when we don't forgive each other.

I can't measure its expanse, either.