The Killing

American crime scene series, follows police investigation of a young girl being murdered.

Produced by FOX Television Series, Fuse Entertainment.

Genres: Serial, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Drama.

Rotten Tomatoes gave Series 1 a 94% approval rating and an average rating of 8.5/10.

The pilot premiere drew 2.7 million viewers and a 2 household rating.

Channel 4’s premiere in UK received 2.2 million viewers

AWARDS:

• Won 2 awards: Best supporting actress in television by Saturn Awards, Outstanding directorial achievement in dramatic series by 64th directors guild of America awards.

Mark Scheme Notes:

• Co-production of Danish and German PSB companies (DK and ZDF) creates a more powerful transnational base, able to negotiate international deals.
• The Killing was designed to exploit the economic possibilities offered by an international/ global market (e.g. success of Wallander). The appeal of the series was extended through the production of American and Turkish versions.
• Themes and setting are constructed to appeal to an international
  audience by integrating conventions of a successful US long form
  drama and the crime drama but providing difference through the
  Nordic Noir brand.
• The values of Scandinavian society, which focus on equality, are
  appealing to a national audience but also cosmopolitan, transnational audience.
• Although unknown to the international audience, the series uses the promotion of the star (Sophie Grabol) to market the series.
• The character of Sarah Lund is a familiar detective stereotype and
  conforms to the concept of the celebrity detective.
• Marketing of the series to the audience beyond the national was
  evident but had limited official social network presence (a Facebook page but no twitter account), but many fan blogs and forums engaged with the series. The Killing was promoted by the Danish tourist board and a great many unofficial tie-ins with fashion and lifestyle products.