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 an American crime drama television series based upon the Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Killing" is "Six Minutes", rated 9.2/10 from 1845 user votes. It was directed by Nicole Kassell and written by Veena Sud. "Six Minutes" aired on 7/28/2013 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "What I Know".
9.2/10 1,845 votes#1 - Six Minutes
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 7/28/2013
Sarah copes with the consequences of past mistakes; Holder wrestles personal demons; Seward is truthful.
Director: Nicole Kassell
Writer: Veena Sud
9.1/10 2,044 votes#2 - What I Know
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 6/17/2012
Sarah and Holder's investigation comes to a close. Meanwhile, Richmond sets out on a bold new course; and a surprise source helps bring closure to the Larsens.
Director: Patty Jenkins
9.0/10 1,893 votes#3 - Eden
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 8/1/2014
Linden and Holder are confronted with the shocking truth behind the Stansbury murders.
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Veena Sud
8.7/10 1,221 votes#4 - Reckoning
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 7/21/2013
The hunt for a pornographer leads to a shocking revelation; Holder looks for a scapegoat; Twitch and Lyric find their dream home.
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Dan Nowak
8.6/10 1,489 votes#5 - Beau Soleil
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 6/12/2011
The police connect Rosie to a suspicious website. Stan faces his demons while Mitch learns secrets she never knew about Rosie.
Director: Keith Gordon
Writer: Jeremy Doner, Soo Hugh
8.6/10 1,205 votes#6 - Donnie or Marie
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 6/10/2012
Sarah and Holder close in on the murderer. Meanwhile, the Richmond campaign preps for the election; and the Larsens seek to get their lives back in order.
Director: Keith Gordon
Writer: Aaron Zelman, Wendy Riss
8.6/10 1,359 votes#7 - The Road to Hamelin
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 8/4/2013
In the Season 3 finale, Sarah risks her life when someone dear to her goes missing; and Holder's past is used against him.
Director: Daniel Attias
Writer: Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin
8.5/10 1,071 votes#8 - From Up Here
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 8/4/2013
Sarah seeks peace in the case's aftermath; the detectives pick up an unnerving new assignment; Lyric is tempted by her old life; Danette says good-bye.
Director: Phil Abraham
Writer: Eliza Clark
8.5/10 1,077 votes#9 - Dream Baby Dream
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 8/1/2014
Linden and Holder focus their investigation on a new suspect, and a tip from an informant leads Reddick to a shocking discovery.
Director: Gregory Middleton
Writer: Sean Whitesell
8.4/10 1,587 votes#10 - Orpheus Descending
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 6/19/2011
The identification of the mysterious Orpheus provides a vital connection to the case. Mitch and Stan reflect on the past while contemplating their family's future.
Director: Brad Anderson
Writer: Nic Pizzolatto, Veena Sud
8.4/10 1,158 votes#11 - Bulldog
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 6/3/2012
A return to the casino winds up sending Sarah and Holder on the run, while Stan and Richmond face life-altering decisions.
Director: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Jeremy Doner
8.4/10 1,087 votes#12 - Try
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 7/14/2013
Sarah goes missing; Bullet makes a choice to save Lyric; a dark secret is learned.
Director: Lodge Kerrigan
Writer: Nic Sheff, Aaron Slavik
8.4/10 1,080 votes#13 - Truth Asunder
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 8/1/2014
New information about the family murders surfaces. Meanwhile, Holder's loyalty is put to the test.
Director: Coky Giedroyc
Writer: Dan Nowak
8.2/10 1,131 votes#14 - Sayonara Hiawatha
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 5/20/2012
Richmond lends support to the investigation; Sarah tries to track down Rosie's key; and Stan deals with his troubled son.
Director: Phil Abraham
Writer: Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin
8.2/10 1,202 votes#15 - That You Fear the Most
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 6/2/2013
Sarah makes a grim discovery in regards to her past; Holder catches an unsettling case; Seward shows his true colors.
Director: Lodge Kerrigan
Writer: Dan Nowak
8.2/10 1,228 votes#16 - Blood in the Water
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 8/1/2014
While covering up Lt. Skinner's sudden disappearance, Linden and Holder are assigned a new case: the brutal murder of an entire family with ties to a military academy.
Director: Nicole Kassell
Writer: Veena Sud
8.2/10 1,105 votes#17 - Unraveling
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 8/1/2014
Questioning a neighbor leads to a revelation about one of the murder victims.
Director: Lodge Kerrigan
Writer: Dan Nowak
8.2/10 1,052 votes#18 - The Good Soldier
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 8/1/2014
Reddick digs deeper as Linden and Holder struggle to keep their investigation from going cold.
Director: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin
8.1/10 2,214 votes#19 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/3/2011
On her last day of work, homicide detective Sarah Linden is drawn into a new case about the disappearance of a teenage girl, Rosie Larsen. Mitch and Stan Larsen frantically try to track down their daughter when they learn she did not show up at school. City Councilman Darren Richmond prepares for an important forum with the Mayor as the election nears.
Director: Patty Jenkins
Writer: N/A
8.1/10 1,359 votes#20 - Undertow
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 5/22/2011
The police are thwarted in their efforts to arrest Bennet. Richmond thinks long and hard about removing himself from the Mayor's race. Mitch and Stan have had it with the police.
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Writer: Dan Nowak
8.1/10 1,037 votes#21 - Scared and Running
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 6/23/2013
Bullet races to find a victim on the run before someone else does; Seward is discourteous to surprise visitors.
Director: Daniel Attias
Writer: Herbert Coleman
8.0/10 1,351 votes#22 - I'll Let You Know When I Get There
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 5/29/2011
Richmond rises in the polls; a surprising individual turns himself in.
Director: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin
8.0/10 1,300 votes#23 - Reflections
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 4/1/2012
In the aftermath of the shooting at City Hall and Linden's discovery that the photo leading to Councilman Darren Richmond's arrest was forged, Sarah returns to Seattle to investigate a possible cover up and wonders if she can trust her partner.
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Writer: Veena Sud
8.0/10 1,124 votes#24 - Keylela
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 5/6/2012
The investigation refocuses on the casino; Stan has an uneasy face-to-face with Richmond; tension grips the Larsen house.
Director: Nicole Kassell
Writer: Dan Nowak
8.0/10 1,126 votes#25 - Off the Reservation
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 5/13/2012
Holder disappears and a desperate Sarah goes looking for him; Stan decides to take matters into his own hands; and Richmond returns to City Hall.
Director: Veena Sud
Writer: Nathaniel Halpern