The WORST episodes of The Killing (US)

Every episode of The Killing (US) ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Killing (US)!

From writer, executive producer and series showrunner Veena Sud (Cold Case), The Killing is based on the wildly successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen and tells the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation. The Killing ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.

Last Updated: 9/25/2024Network: NetflixStatus: Ended
Missing
star
7.29
2022 votes

#1 - Missing

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/5/2011

Sarah and Holder discover more on Rosie, but the investigation gets stalled when they have to set out on a search for Jack.

Directors: Nicole Kassell
Writer: Veena Sud
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Off the Reservation
star
7.50
1962 votes

#2 - 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.

Directors: Veena Sud
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Vengeance
star
7.52
2030 votes

#3 - Vengeance

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/8/2011

Mitch questions the validity of the police investigation while Richmond has to deal with a negative ad. It's discovered that Rosie was at Bennett's apartment the night she died.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Super 8
star
7.56
2092 votes

#4 - Super 8

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/24/2011

Rosie's teacher provides Sarah and Holder with a new piece of evidence. Richmond's campaign team plans a new anti-crime television commercial. Mitch continues to struggle with the loss of her daughter, while Stan becomes more determined to find Rosie's killer, and asks his colleague Belko for help.

Directors: Phil Abraham
Writer: Jeremy Doner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Openings
star
7.61
1881 votes

#5 - Openings

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/29/2012

Sarah zeros in on a Larsen-family secret; Stan comes to grips with some past indiscretions; and Mitch takes in a runaway girl. Meanwhile, the Richmond campaign entertains a surprise visitor.

Directors: Kevin Bray
Writer: Aaron Zelman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Jungle
star
7.62
1645 votes

#6 - The Jungle

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/2/2013

Sarah makes a grim discovery in regards to her past; Holder catches an unsettling case; Seward shows his true colors.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Veena Sud
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Eminent Domain
star
7.62
1493 votes

#7 - Eminent Domain

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/30/2013

Linden and Holder catch up to the latest victim; Seward faces his past; Bullet struggles with the truth while in the jungle.

Directors: Keith Gordon
Writer: David Wiener
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ghosts of the Past
star
7.63
2006 votes

#8 - Ghosts of the Past

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/22/2012

Sarah receives a message from the dead that may shed light on the identity of Rosie's killer. Meanwhile, Mitch befriends a young runaway; and Richmond has grave doubts about his future in politics.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Wendy Riss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Numb
star
7.63
1997 votes

#9 - Numb

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/8/2012

Sarah hunts down Rosie's backpack as Holder falls from grace. Mitch re-emerges while Stan continues to entangle himself with the mob. Richmond faces up to his situation.

Directors: Brad Anderson
Writer: Eliza Clark
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blood in the Water
star
7.63
1372 votes

#10 - 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.

Directors: Nicole Kassell
Writer: Veena Sud
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Stonewalled
star
7.64
2081 votes

#11 - Stonewalled

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/15/2011

Sarah and Holder evade the FBI and unearth new evidence. Mitch endangers the boys, prompting Stan to take matters into his own hands. Richmond tries to climb back in the race.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
My Lucky Day
star
7.64
1457 votes

#12 - My Lucky Day

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/1/2012

An ominous discovery is made at the Larsen house while Sarah travels to Tacoma to learn Councilman Richmond's dark secret. Meanwhile, Richmond is forced to come to grips with the fallout from the attack at City Hall.

Directors: Daniel Attias
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ogi Jun
star
7.66
1868 votes

#13 - Ogi Jun

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/15/2012

Sarah and Holder identify the mystery man with the tattoo while Jamie attempts to enlist Gwen's help and Stan learns his past may have come back to haunt him.

Directors: Phil Abraham
Writer: Jeremy Doner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What You Have Left
star
7.66
2105 votes

#14 - What You Have Left

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/1/2011

Sarah and Holder intensify their investigation on a suspect's family and friends. Gwen and Richmond disagree over strategy for the next debate with the mayor. Meanwhile, Rosie's funeral takes place and Stan concentrates on his own investigation into her death.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I'll Let You Know When I Get There
star
7.66
1867 votes

#15 - 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.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Unraveling
star
7.68
1260 votes

#16 - Unraveling

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/1/2014

Questioning a neighbor leads to a revelation about one of the murder victims.

Directors: Lodge Kerrigan
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Reflections
star
7.68
1991 votes

#17 - 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.

Writer: Veena Sud
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Seventeen
star
7.69
1516 votes

#18 - Seventeen

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/9/2013

Sarah has her own reasons to join the task force; Holder finds a new street informant; Seward strokes an old rivalry.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Eliza Clark
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
That You Fear the Most
star
7.71
1082 votes

#19 - That You Fear the Most

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/2/2013

Directors: Lodge Kerrigan
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Head Shots
star
7.71
1460 votes

#20 - Head Shots

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/16/2013

The task force shuts down a business; Sarah and Holder unite in their pursuit of "the voice"; Seward is offered motivation to comply with orders.

Directors: Michael Rymer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Soundless Echo
star
7.72
2126 votes

#21 - A Soundless Echo

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/17/2011

The Larsens plan their daughter's funeral; Rosie's friend unveils surprises about her life.

Writer: Soo Hugh
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
El Diablo
star
7.73
2375 votes

#22 - El Diablo

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/10/2011

Councilman Richmond suspects a leak within his team; Sarah tracks down a witness and is led to a suspect.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Undertow
star
7.77
1939 votes

#23 - 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.

Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Cage
star
7.77
1993 votes

#24 - The Cage

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/3/2011

The investigation into Rosie’s killer begins as Sarah and Holder question the missing girl’s parents, Stan and Mitch, as well as Rosie’s friends and City Councilman Richmond. Rosie’s school becomes a potential murder site when Sarah and Holder uncover shocking evidence on campus. Heartbroken and grief-stricken, Mitch and Stan face the aftermath of losing their daughter.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
72 Hours
star
7.78
1731 votes

#25 - 72 Hours

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/27/2012

Sarah teeters on the edge. Stan attempts to make amends. Richmond receives an unexpected boost in the mayoral race.

Directors: Nicole Kassell
Writer: Eliza Clark
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV