The Killing - Danish Version vs. US version?
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I don't mind subtitles, don't care about the original vs. remake issue, don't care about any US vs international debate - I just want to watch the best version!
So which version should I watch?
So which version should I watch?
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The Danish version!!!
Why!!!?
So while both are high quality drama the Danish one is superior
The acting is amazing from the whole cast, from the Sofie Grabol who portrays the main character Lund right down to the little boys playing Nanna Birk Larsen's brothers. It's written brilliantly, it's atmospheric, gripping and dark, the cinematography is excellent. I liked the way they built up the tension and took 20 episodes for the story to unfold. I wasn't bored once by it. It's just one of my favourite ever shows. I was bored by the US version. But some people liked that version. It's subjective though because different people have different tastes.
That's why:D
The Danish version was also originally in 2 halves, but the BBC chose to broadcast the whole thing in one go.
Much better to see it without the break, whichever version you choose.
Actually I think it was originally meant to be shown in two halves in Denmark but it became so popular that Danish TV decided to show it all in one go
The only comment I can make about the relative strength of the US version is I started to watch it but my heart wasn't in it and gave up about half an hour later.
It's probably a really good series but how can a remake improve on perfection?
Not true. In Denmark, Episode 10 aired in March 2007, and Episode 11 aired in September 2007 (you can see the exact airdates on Forbydelsen's IMDB page). The original plan was to show the second half of the season in early 2008, but Danish public outrage forced the show to go back into production months earlier than planned.
I think it was you that I had this discussion with before on DS. There is nothing wrong with the sound on the show itself (something I know from having watched the show on its American channel). What Channel 4's sound was like when they broadcast the programme may be another matter. I saw a clip somebody recorded from Channel 4 and uploaded to YouTube and the characters' voices sounded distorted.
Sorry. looks like that should be 2nd April.
I seem to remember that the first two or three episodes had very poor sound. I thought that was to do with poorly encoded dodgy downloads rather than the quality of the original US broadcasts.
April 1, actually.:)
2a.m. April 2nd GMT (double episode). It might be different in Scotland.:D
It was interesting to compare the similarities and differences but the US version, whilst no dud, does not better the original so if you really do not mind the subtitles it should be no contest.
The acting, setting (the Danish landscape IS a character in the original) and pace of plotting all work so well.
Have just watched Borgen from the same Danish company and that is equally fantastic TV. Rumour is that this is getting a US remake as well but I am really glad I watched the original of this one as it will not translate into US politics without compromising changes.
Given the quality of both The (original) Killing and Borgen then Danish TV is providing some of the best drama in the world right now....and just as the UK Wallander is not up to the quality of the Scandinavian original I would say there is no good reason not to watch the best version of The Killing. And that is Forbrydelsen
For a start off, there were more episodes in the Danish version so they could build the tension at a more leisurely pace.
That said, I enjoyed the American version and there were enough variations in the plot to make one almost feel as if one was watching two different stories.
This is what many people don't seem to understand. The American show has told only HALF its story so far. When the Larsen case is over in America, there will be 26 episodes, six more than the Danish show had. UK people only saw the full case in a short period of time because they were watching it FOUR YEARS after the Danes saw it. They also took a break at the half way point in Denmark. Instead of people comparing the full 20 episodes of the Danish show to what the Americans have made so far, they ought to be comparing the first season of the US show to the first ten episodes of the Danish show -- and episode 10 ended on just as much of a cliffhanger as the US show's first season finale.
I love modern American TV but I fail to see how they could possibly improve on what was a monumental piece of television.