Six Minutes (The Killing)

Last updated
"Six Minutes"
The Killing episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 10
Directed by Nicole Kassell
Written by Veena Sud
Production codeBDH310/S310
Original air dateJuly 28, 2013 (2013-07-28)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Reckoning"		Next →
"From Up Here"
The Killing (season 3)
List of episodes

"Six Minutes" is the thirty-sixth episode of the American television drama series The Killing , which aired on July 28, 2013. The episode is written by series creator Veena Sud and directed by Nicole Kassell. In the episode, Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) spends Ray Seward's (Peter Sarsgaard) remaining twelve hours with him. He allows his son Adrian (Rowan Longworth) to visit, but Becker (Hugh Dillon) denies entry. Seward's execution occurs, despite Linden's belief that he is innocent of his wife's murder.

Contents

Plot

Twelve hours before the execution, Seward's execution team conducts a run-through of the hanging. Linden arrives to ask Seward if he recognizes any of four unidentified rings that were recently recovered. He identifies a fake silver wedding band that he gave Trisha by noting a scratch inside the band. In the prison waiting room, she calls the state attorney general to request a stay of execution for Seward. She thinks more evidence could be in the Seward file and calls Holder (Joel Kinnaman) to ask him to bring it to the prison.

At Seward's cell, Becker tells him about the unclaimed bodies in the prison cemetery. He asks Seward who is claiming him, then informs Henderson (Aaron Douglas) he's on watch until the 6 p.m. execution. Adrian and his adoptive mother (Ingrid Torrence) join Linden at the prison. Becker summons Linden to see Seward. She tells Seward she's waiting for photos which show Trisha wearing the wedding ring. He asks about Adrian and Becker ends the visit.

Linden threatens to call Becker's captain and notes that D.O.C. policy grants Seward a right to speak with visitors for another five hours. She joins Seward again and he tells her he fears a slow death, to which she urges him to see his son. He proclaims himself a "monster" who beat his wife. She replies she's trying to save him to correct her own mistake.

She meets an intoxicated Holder in the waiting room. He gives her the Seward file and comments that the scratched ring is a long shot. While taking a smoke break in the prison courtyard, he sees Adrian, who comments on his intoxication. Inside, Linden tells Seward the A.G. will soon have a photo of Trisha wearing the identified ring, then again urges him to see his son. She speaks with the A.G., who considers a stay. Adrian apologizes to her for lying about Joe Mills. He didn't want his dad to get in trouble again, but adds that Ray is the man he saw in the apartment the night of the murder.

Holder returns from a beer run and discovers the prison cemetery. Still upset, he begins to throw beer cans at the anonymous tombstones. Inside, Seward laughs when Linden says the AG is considering a stay. Becoming angry, she asks him why he was in the apartment on the night of the murder, why he played her. She marches into the prison parking lot, where Holder accuses her of always running away from situations. She then gets a call from the AG. Seward's stay has been denied.

Back inside, she tells Seward the news and he thanks her for trying. He says he returned to the apartment because he wanted to take Adrian away and give him a better life. He then agrees to see his son. Adrian checks his appearance in the men's room mirror and Holder fixes Adrian's hair using liquid soap as styling gel. While waiting for Adrian, Seward mentions building a treehouse for him in the park. Out in the hall, Becker blocks Adrian and his mother at a gate, then informs Seward and Linden that visiting hours are officially over. Seward screams at the guards, as Linden tells him to look out his window.

She calls the district attorney to remedy the situation. Holder takes her phone, telling her it's over. The guards dress Seward for the hanging, then escort him to the gallows. En route, he stops to look out a window and sees Linden standing with Adrian just outside the prison fence. His son waves to him. Linden sits in the viewing gallery as the warden reads his death sentence. Seward is given a chance to make a final statement. He comments on Salisbury steak being ground beef and asks to get on with the execution. Becker falters when the time comes to place the hood over Seward's head and Henderson takes his place. The trapdoor opens, and Seward's body falls through. As he feared, his neck does not snap. Linden watches in horror as Seward slowly chokes to death.

Production

In an interview about the episode, series creator and writer Veena Sud spoke about how she decided to end Ray Seward's story this way: "We debated a little bit what should be the end of Ray's story, and very quickly realized: Let's tell the truth. And let the audience have their heart broken in the way the families of these prisoners have their hearts broken. It's a great credit to Peter [Sarsgaard] that over time we get to really understand that this man — and everybody — has humanity. Everybody has a reason for what they do, good and bad. It doesn't always end well." [1]

In the same interview, Peter Sarsgaard (Ray Seward) spoke about the episode: "I had lots of anxiety. It’s interesting playing Ray, because I so in my heart believe that I’m guilty — because I am guilty on some level — that it wasn’t like I was filled with self-righteous indignation. He’s not the right guy to be defending himself. He’s filled with a lot of self-loathing. In terms of acting it, I was really excited to act with Mireille. She was the first person to have told me that Episode 10 would be a lot of the two of us...I was really excited about that." [1]

Reception

Critical reception

"Six Minutes" received critical acclaim from most reviewers, with many naming the episode as one of the best in the series. Alan Sepinwall of HitFix thought "Six Minutes" was "largely an illustration of the things that The Killing can do very well, given both its structure and the personnel on-hand. But it was also at times a reminder of the limitations of this particular creative team." [2] Chris King of TVOvermind stated, "For a show as dark and gritty as The Killing, this may have been the show's bleakest episode to date, but the sad tone and difficult material did not take away from the astounding performances...and the expertly written drama that filled 'Six Minutes' from beginning to end." [3] The A.V. Club's Phil Dyess-Nugent gave the episode a perfect "A" grade, to become the best-reviewed episode of the entire series by that website. [4]

Ratings

The episode was watched by 1.47 million viewers with a rating of 0.4 in the 18-49 ages demographic, a slight rise from the previous episode. [5]

Related Research Articles

"Beau Soleil" is the twelfth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 12, 2011. The episode is co-written by Jeremy Doner and Soo Hugh and is directed by Keith Gordon. In the episode, the detectives investigate the link between Rosie Larsen and casino camera footage. Mitch Larsen learns that her jailed husband, Stan, has drained their bank account. The Richmond campaign gets new life as the Mayor's takes a hit.

"Ghosts of the Past" is the eighteenth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, and the fifth of its second season, which aired on April 22, 2012. The episode is written by Wendy Riss and is directed by Ed Bianchi. In the episode, Detectives Linden and Holder obtain a voicemail left by Rosie Larsen when she was alive; Mitch Larsen talks with a girl the same age as Rosie; and Darren Richmond learns who may have been behind his previous arrest.

"Keylela" is the twentieth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, and the seventh of its second season, which aired on May 6, 2012. The episode is written by Dan Nowak and directed by Nicole Kassell. In the episode, the detectives focus their investigation on the casino. Darren Richmond's renewed campaign holds a press conference with Stan Larsen as a surprise supporter.

"Off the Reservation" is the twenty-first episode of the American television drama series The Killing, and the eighth of its second season, and aired on May 13, 2012. The episode is written by Nathaniel Halpern and directed by showrunner Veena Sud. In the episode, Sarah Linden frantically searches for a missing Stephen Holder, Stan Larsen meets with several people regarding his reward to find his daughter's killer. and Darren Richmond returns to work.

"Sayonara, Hiawatha" is the twenty-second episode of the American television drama series The Killing, and the ninth of its second season, which aired on May 20, 2012. The episode is co-written by executive producers Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich and directed by Phil Abraham. In the episode, Sarah Linden obtains Rosie Larsen's keys, which allow access to the casino's tenth floor; Stan Larsen learns of son Tommy's bad behavior at school; Mitch Larsen meets David Ranier ; and Darren Richmond asks Nicole Jackson to assist the police.

"72 Hours" is the twenty-third episode of the American television drama series The Killing, and the tenth of its second season, which aired on the AMC channel in the United States on May 27, 2012. It is written by Eliza Clark and directed by Nicole Kassell. In the episode, Sarah Linden finds herself in a psychiatric ward, while Stephen Holder continues the investigation. Stan Larsen attempts to repair the damage that his past actions have caused. Darren Richmond returns to the Seattle All Stars basketball program.

"Bulldog" is the twenty-fourth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, and the eleventh of its second season, which aired on the AMC channel in the United States on June 3, 2012. It is written by Jeremy Doner and directed by Ed Bianchi. In the episode, the detectives gain access to the casino's tenth floor, which only causes them to elude the police; and both Stan Larsen and Darren Richmond make decisions that affect their futures.

<i>The Killing</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the AMC American crime drama television series The Killing premiered on June 2, 2013, concluded on August 4, 2013, and consisted of 12 episodes. The series was developed and produced by Veena Sud and based on the Danish series, Forbrydelsen . Set in Seattle, Washington, this season follows detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder as they investigate a string of murders that connect to a previous case of Linden's. AMC originally announced that they had canceled the series in July 2012, but, in January 2013, officially announced it would return for a third season, which would ultimately be the last to air on AMC. On November 15, 2013, Netflix announced it would produce a fourth and final season to consist of six episodes.

"The Jungle" is the twenty-seventh episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 2, 2013, as the third season's premiere. The episode is written by series developer Veena Sud and is directed by Ed Bianchi. In the episode, Detective Stephen Holder and his new partner Carl Reddick investigate a teenage girl's murder, which has similarities to a previous case of Sarah Linden. Meanwhile, Ray Seward, who had been convicted in that case, is sent to death row.

"That You Fear the Most" is the twenty-eighth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 2, 2013, after the season opener. The episode is written by Dan Nowak and is directed by Lodge Kerrigan. In the episode, Detective Holder and Detective Reddick continue the investigation and enter the world of the runaways, one of which is now missing. Meanwhile, death row inmate Ray Seward continues to impose his will on the prison and the detectives who arrested him, James Skinner and Sarah Linden.

"Seventeen" is the twenty-ninth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 9, 2013. The episode is written by Eliza Clark and is directed by Kari Skogland. In the episode, James Skinner creates a task force after Sarah Linden discovers 17 dead bodies in a pond. Bullet points Detectives Holder and Reddick to a new suspect. Ray Seward is slipped a hidden razor blade in prison.

"Head Shots" is the thirtieth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 16, 2013. The episode was written by series co-executive producers Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin and is directed by Michael Rymer. In the episode, the 7 Stars Motel and its proprietor are investigated as the site for the DVD production. Detective Holder attempts to mediate between Linden and Reddick. Bullet helps Twitch when he gets into trouble. Seward rejects his medicine and his guards must persuade him.

"Scared and Running" is the thirty-first episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 23, 2013. The episode is written by Coleman Herbert and is directed by Dan Attias. In the episode, Detective Holder and Sarah Linden learn a potential victim has escaped the killer. Bullet assists them to retrace the victim's steps, while also hoping to find Kallie, her missing friend. Kallie's mother, Danette, grows worried and discovers something about her boyfriend Joe. Seward gets a visit from his son's adoptive mother.

"Eminent Domain" is the 32nd episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on June 30, 2013. The episode is written by David Wiener and is directed by Keith Gordon. In the episode, Detective Holder and Sarah Linden revisit the Seward case in hopes of finding a connection with the current one. Bullet takes Danette Leeds to Kallie's favorite hangouts. Seward asks to speak to his imprisoned father.

"Hope Kills" is the thirty-third episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on July 7, 2013. The episode is written by Brett Conrad and is directed by Tricia Brock. In the episode, Detective Holder and Sarah Linden learn Pastor Mike is not who he claims to be. Bullet and Lyric get closer. Seward becomes more disturbed, while the gallows is being prepared for his execution.

"Try" is the thirty-fourth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on July 14, 2013. The episode is written by Nic Sheff and Aaron Slavick; directed by Lodge Kerrigan. In the episode, Pastor Mike kidnaps Sarah Linden. Stephen Holder and the police must listen to the Linden/Pastor conversation via her two-way radio, which she has activated unbeknownst to Pastor Mike. Ray Seward panics as his execution is two days away. Bullet roams the streets looking for Lyric and learns about Angie Gower.

"Reckoning" is the thirty-fifth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on July 21, 2013. The episode is written by Dan Nowak and directed by Jonathan Demme. In the episode, Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder seek out Joe Mills after he attacks Danette Leeds. Their pursuit proves costly to everyone. With Ray Seward's execution scheduled the next day, he desperately accepts Dale Shannon's suggestion to pray, only to learn his cellblock mate's true nature.

"From Up Here" is the thirty-seventh episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on August 4, 2013, as the first of a two-part season finale. The episode is written by Eliza Clark and directed by Phil Abraham. In the episode, Stephen Holder and Sarah Linden are called to another case, which has similarities to the recently solved one. Holder suspects a cop has committed all the murders. They find clues which cause Linden to deduce that Adrian Seward was the target in 2009 and not his mother, as Adrian is followed home by a car whose driver he recognizes.

"The Road to Hamelin" is the thirty-eighth episode of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on August 4, 2013, as the second of a two-part season finale. The episode is co-written by series executive producers Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin and directed by Dan Attias. In the episode, frantic to find Adrian, Stephen Holder and Sarah Linden voice their suspicions about Carl Reddick to James Skinner. Linden later sees a ring from the missing Kallie on Skinner's daughter's finger. She knows Skinner is the killer and must ride with him to find Adrian. Holder must race to save Linden when Adrian is found safe.

References

  1. 1 2 Aurthur, Kate (July 29, 2013). "The Amazing And Unexpected Comeback Of "The Killing"". buzzfeed.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  2. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (July 28, 2013). "Review: 'The Killing' - 'Six Minutes': Dead man walking". HitFix. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  3. ↑ King, Chris (July 29, 2013). "The Killing 3.10 "Six Minutes" Review: The Ticking Clock". TVOvermind. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  4. ↑ Dyess-Nugent, Phil (July 29, 2013). "Six Minutes". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 30, 2013). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Wins Night + 'Naked and Afraid', 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', NASCAR, 'Dexter' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.