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The Best Episodes of The Killing

Every episode of The Killing ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Killing!

The Killing is a Danish police procedural set in the Copenhagen main police department and revolves around Detective Inspector Sarah Lund and her team, with...
Genres:CrimeMysteryDrama
Network:DR1

Best Episodes Summary

"Episode 10" is the best rated episode of "The Killing". It scored 8.5/10 based on 386 votes. Directed by Hans Fabian Wullenweber and written by Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup, it aired on 11/25/2012. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Episode 18".

  • Episode 10
    8.5/10386 votes
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    #1 - Episode 10

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 11/25/2012

    It's election day and the Prime Minister has everything to gain, as long as Emilie's fate remains uncertain. Kamper is still haunted by personal demons, and issues of loyalty from within his own ranks rear their ugly heads once again. Meanwhile, as Lund and Borch start to look ahead, police are led to an undisclosed location in a last ditch attempt to find Emilie before it's too late. They are followed by a now dangerously tense Robert Zeuthen. Will the operation succeed in bringing the girl to safety?

    Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 18
    8.3/10417 votes
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    #2 - Episode 18

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 11/11/2007

    Lund and Meyer get more than they bargained for when they visit an abandoned warehouse in their search for evidence. Meanwhile, a prime suspect disappears, and Hartmann struggles to get back into the political arena - but is contacted by a journalist whose efforts to dig up dirt have had some success. Theis and Pernille try to move on from the past 18 days' events and take their sons to see the new house.

    Director: Morten Køhlert

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe

  • Episode 19
    8.3/10407 votes
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    #3 - Episode 19

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 11/18/2007

    Lund finds the odds stacked against her as the search for a missing suspect takes an unexpected turn, and Hartmann and Bremer take part in a dramatic, live TV debate amid a stream of revelations. Meanwhile, it seems something is amiss as Theis and Pernille prepare to move into their new house.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 20
    8.3/10463 votes
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    #4 - Episode 20

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 11/25/2007

    Lund is determined to catch Nanna's killer despite being taken off the case, and Hartmann is on a downward spiral - until he receives crucial information. Meanwhile, Pernille and Theis invite friends and family to Anton's birthday party - but there is a sinister twist to the evening in store.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 15
    8.1/10392 votes
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    #5 - Episode 15

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 10/21/2007

    Sarah has walked into a life-threatening situation.

    Director: Morten Arnfred

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 10
    8.1/10332 votes
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    #6 - Episode 10

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 11/29/2009

    Lund and Strange return from Afghanistan with their findings, though Brix has become convinced of the guilt of officer Bilal, who has run away with Louise Raben as his hostage. Buch has been held overnight by the police, but returns determined to bring down the government he is part of. Secrets are uncovered at the ministry and in the military, revealing a conspiracy to conceal vital information. Lund puts together some pieces of her own, and it comes to a lethal confrontation with the killer.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 9
    8.0/10423 votes
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    #7 - Episode 9

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/4/2007

    Monday, November 10-Tuesday, November 11. Theis Birk Larsen's brutal punishment of Rama is interrupted by the police, and Theis is arrested. Lund and Meyer refocus their investigation on the car used by the murderer, knowing that if they do not make progress they might be taken off the case. As it becomes known that Rama is no longer a suspect, Hartmann shakes things up at city hall and relaunches his campaign.

    Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe

  • Episode 10
    8.0/10418 votes
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    #8 - Episode 10

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 3/11/2007

    Tuesday, November 11-Wednesday, November 12. Bengt leaves for Stockholm. Lund and Meyer are hindered in their investigation by a secretive boss, but Lund continues inquiries and is dismissed for her sins. Hartmann strikes a deal with higher powers in order to secure his bid for mayor, and a public debate is the scene of a change in political fortunes. Theis is released from prison, new secrets are uncovered about Nanna's last months, and in a last bid to forward the investigation, Lund unlocks the door to a new piece in the puzzle.

    Director: Charlotte Sieling

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 11
    8.0/10402 votes
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    #9 - Episode 11

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 9/23/2007

    Sarah and Jan know who they are looking for but are puzzled by their superiors' reactions.

    Director: Charlotte Sieling

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe, Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 13
    8.0/10393 votes
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    #10 - Episode 13

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 10/7/2007

    The spotlight of the police and media is now trained on Troels Hartmann, and he feels his political career is crumbling. Meanwhile strange things are going on at the town hall with fatal consequences.

    Director: Henrik Ruben Genz

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 14
    8.0/10393 votes
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    #11 - Episode 14

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 10/14/2007

    Troels's political opponent Bremer wastes no time in taking advantage of his discomfort.

    Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe

  • Episode 16
    8.0/10386 votes
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    #12 - Episode 16

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 10/28/2007

    Sarah won't get on board when her superiors insist that Nanna's murder has been solved.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe

  • Episode 17
    8.0/10389 votes
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    #13 - Episode 17

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 11/4/2007

    Lund and Meyer become convinced there is a link between Nanna's murder and a case that has remained unsolved for 15 years, and frantically try to find evidence. Meanwhile, Pernille and Theis are confused by the fact the case is far from closed, and Hartmann puts everything on the line in a bid to win the election.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 9
    8.0/10302 votes
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    #14 - Episode 9

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/22/2009

    Thomas Buch has refused to resign and calls a party meeting to challenge the authority of the prime minister. He finds an unexpected ally in the minister of defense. Lund and Strange head to Afghanistan to seek out Frederik Holst, a doctor with a grudge against Raben and his squad. They also decide to visit the house where a family was allegedly killed while the Danish soldiers were there. Back in Copenhagen, Brix organizes a search of the army barracks and finds a locker full of incriminating objects.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 8
    8.0/10280 votes
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    #15 - Episode 8

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/11/2012

    A suspect is taken in for examination as the police try to find out more about the notebook they discovered, but things go less than smoothly. The prime minister and his close aids become the focus of police attention, as Karen is also found to be hiding a dangerous secret which could prove fatal for the government. Borch and Lund's trip to Jutland begins to have consequences. Robert Zeuthen intensifies the hunt for his daughter, despite coming under heavy pressure from the Zeeland board. Maja takes sides. A witness turns up who may have important information about Emilie.

    Director: Kathrine Windfeld

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 9
    8.0/10275 votes
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    #16 - Episode 9

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 11/18/2012

    Sarah Lund is held back in her attempts to make headway with the investigation, but at least the perpetrator finally has a face. Will he lead police and the Zeuthens to Emilie? Prime Minister Kamper is trying to clean up his circle as he attempts to find out what happened to his son. Suspicions arise about a trusted Zeeland figure as Robert Zeuthen considers drastic action.

    Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 8
    7.9/10425 votes
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    #17 - Episode 8

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 2/25/2007

    Sunday, November 9-Monday, November 10. The police locate the place where Nanna was killed, and Rama is charged with the crime. Hartmann is fighting for his political life, but ends up making a tough choice. Meanwhile, Bengt is in a car accident on his way to Sweden, but tries to help Lund from his hospital bed. When the evidence is cast into doubt, Rama is released, but someone has other ideas.

    Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 12
    7.9/10405 votes
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    #18 - Episode 12

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/30/2007

    Sarah and Jan interrogate Troels, whose private information opens a new can of worms.

    Director: Henrik Ruben Genz

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe

  • Episode 5
    7.9/10295 votes
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    #19 - Episode 5

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/2012

    The kidnapper continues to insist that he's seeking to recover a debt. If Lund is to save Emilie's life, it will be up to her to find out what the debt is and how it should be repaid. Following a request for Robert Zeuthen's life in exchange for Emile's, police set out to organise the exchange. Meanwhile, the integrity of a few high-ranking politicians is called into question, as Prime Minister Kamper takes a dramatic decision.

    Director: Natasha Arthy

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 1
    7.8/10630 votes
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    #20 - Episode 1

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/2007

    Monday, November 3. Police detective Sarah Lund is about to leave her job in Copenhagen to move to Sweden. Troels Hartmann is gaining ground in his efforts to lead his party to power at city hall. Theis and Pernille Birk Larsen are the happy parents of three children. The discovery of the blood-stained belongings of a young girl prompts a police investigation that will change the lives of all involved.

    Director: Birger Larsen

    Writer: Per Daumiller, Torleif Hoppe, Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 6
    7.8/10436 votes
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    #21 - Episode 6

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/11/2007

    Friday, November 7-Saturday, November 8: Lund and Meyer investigate teacher Raman al Kemal's actions on the night of the murder. Hartmann learns of foul play at city hall, and his campaign is put under pressure when his opponent reveals Hartmann's ties with the suspect in a TV debate. On the day of Nanna's funeral, Lund is finally on her way to Sweden, and the appearance of one particular guest makes Nanna's father offer him a ride home.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 7
    7.8/10431 votes
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    #22 - Episode 7

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 2/18/2007

    Saturday, November 8-Sunday, November 9. Lund decides to stay in town to continue the investigation even though it puts her relationship with Bengt under strain. Rama is questioned as the main suspect. When Hartmann chooses not to suspend him, it puts his political position under threat.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Per Daumiller, Torleif Hoppe, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 4
    7.8/10314 votes
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    #23 - Episode 4

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2009

    The murder of another former soldier, David Grüner, prompts inquiries into his and Raben's army squad and a particular event during the group's Afghanistan mission a few years before. Lund and Strange track down one of the remaining members in a remote Swedish island. Buch is under pressure from above to cave to the right wing's demands about banning Islamic organisations, but new information about former minister Monberg's relationship with one of the victims makes him weary of acting too hastily.

    Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten, Søren Sveistrup

  • Episode 6
    7.8/10313 votes
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    #24 - Episode 6

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/1/2009

    Lund demands that the grave of the dead soldier Per K. Møller be dug up, but her theory that the coffin is empty is proven wrong. She is suspended from the investigation and takes time to attend her mother's wedding until developments bring her back into action. Buch brings his assistant Karina Munk back after she resigned, despite permanent secretary Plough's objections. They pay a visit to former minister Monberg, who has gained consciousness at the hospital, to find out what he knows about the ongoing case.

    Director: Kristoffer Nyholm

    Writer: Michael W. Horsten

  • Episode 7
    7.8/10305 votes
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    #25 - Episode 7

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/8/2009

    After finding the chaplain assaulted in his church Sarah Lund chases the offender, but ends up battered in an alley. She is brought back in charge of the investigation. Monberg has taken his own life shortly after his confrontation with Buch. Buch comes about a previously unknown medical report and decides to challenge his colleague the minister of defense over his secrecy. Raben continues his rogue investigation and tracks down a former soldier who he believes to be responsible for the Afghanistan incident.

    Director: Charlotte Sieling

    Writer: Torleif Hoppe