The original Danish series Forbrydelsen also took two seasons to wrap up its main crime, and, according to Sud, it was always her intention to follow that established pattern. Some fans were upset when Season 1 ended on a twist, leaving the crime unsolved until the Season 2 finale. Over the course of the investigation, Linden and Holder discover the conspiracy and tragedy behind the crime. The Killing Season 2 wraps up the murder of Rosie Larsen. RELATED: The Best South Park Games, Ranked by Critics Season 2 – 67.5 While the reviews for the season are mostly negative, some felt that the series came to a satisfying conclusion. But David Hinckley wrote for Daily News that the series ended strongly with particular praise given to Enos and Kinnaman's performances throughout the entire series.
Mary McNamara wrote for the Los Angeles Times that the fourth season was just a shadow of its former glory, though she praised the performance from Joan Allen in her role as the military academy head. Metacritic gives the season a score of 53, which is actually higher than the 47 percent from Rotten Tomatoes, leaving the final season of the series with a critic score of just 50. After covering up the murder from the end of Season 3, Linden and Holder investigate the grizzly killing of a wealthy family whose oldest son, a student at the local military academy, is the lone survivor.
The series survived cancellation, thanks to Netflix allowing it to return and give closure to the lead characters' journeys. Season 4 is the lowest-rated season of The Killing and the shortest running with only six episodes.