Dramas like "Criminal Minds" have various criminal methods and psychological motives, and can be regarded as an American crime encyclopedia. Tie-beating agents (occasionally changes), criminals of running water, despite the screenwriter's best efforts, due to practical limitations and abilities, in a few seasons, it is inevitable that there will be more similar crime plots. Unlike "Murder", there is no need to worry about the lack of materials. The whole season revolves around a case, exhaustively describing the chain reaction caused by the case.
The plot unfolds from three intersecting narrative lines, the process of the detectives solving the case, the changes in the family of the murdered girl, and the dramatic development of the politician campaign. Thanks to the choreographer's meticulous arrangement, these three lines proceed in an orderly manner, solving the case as the main line, and the other two lines are not overwhelming. The more soothing rhythm does not bring about dull negative effects, because the details in the play basically serve as an indispensable narrative function, and there are few cumbersome idle pens. Although the main focus is on solving crimes, the main thrust of the entire series is not just about suspense and solving mysteries. From the murder of a young girl, various characters and social groups are drawn, and they are flesh and blood, showing a magnificent picture of the social landscape.
The tone of the play is undoubtedly cold, but it does not pursue the coolness of appearance; the characters can be said to be warm, not the iron blood of the tough guy and the cold blood of the abnormal type. A gloomy tone, a not-so-hard style, spinning people usually follow the camera into every corner of it. As the heroine of Detective Sarah Linden, to a certain extent, her appearance and character can be regarded as the spokesperson of the "murder" style. She is not tall, she is capable of doing things, and at the same time has been struggling with emotions and children. The lack of edges and corners and the character between cold and warm are just the portrayal of the style of the play.
The background of the story is set in Seattle, a city on the Pacific coast. It is rainy, and "Murder" is full of clouds and continuous rain from beginning to end. The plot length of each episode is one day, and the whole drama spans less than half a month. The case happened in rainy Seattle, with credible realistic conditions. The gloomy climate is endowed with cold tones, and style and content blend together. Under this veil, people of all colors related to the case are involved in their respective dark sides, with ulterior pasts, unspeakable secrets, and incidents of last resort. Also, the social structure of the character, such as improper competition and improper transactions in politicians' elections. All these together outline a social landscape, darker than night and colder than rain. This is even more chilling than the case itself in the play.
Normal crime movies, whether in movies or episodes, almost always use flashbacks. Flashbacks can create suspense, deduct the case, and clarify minor details. Surprisingly, "Murder" has no flashbacks from beginning to end. The whole play strictly abides by the linear narrative of time, and does not open the flashback valve, but it also creates a turbulent plot, and clearly and powerfully tears everyone's past. Like a doctor using his scalpel, focusing only on the wound underneath, he is resolving the current pain and at the same time, he can also diagnose the cracks in the past.
The constantly emerging truths and constantly added plots are prone to procrastination, and narrative ambitions may also make plots large and inappropriate. This is exactly the problem that the screenwriter needs to solve. As the plot of "Murder" is evolving, the necessary foreshadowings and hints have been buried before the new side branches are released. Therefore, the plot is coherent and not abrupt. The play is adapted from the Danish TV series "Forbrydelsen", which has been processed in the American style and is considered a success at all levels. But at the end of the first season, "Murder" left behind a major reversal. This kind of cheating style is also American, and it must force people to pay attention to its second season. The viewer is like me, so I can only listen to the decomposition next time.
♢ "Beijing Youth Daily"
View more about The Killing reviews
