One of the best thrill rides on television this year was the breakout success (and eventual disappointment) 'The Killing' on AMC. The character-driven murder mystery aims for redemption as producers promise to answer the question posed by the show's tagline -- "Who Killed Rosie Larsen?"

#4. 'The Killing'

Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Billy Campbell

'The Killing' was adapted for American television after becoming a huge hit in Denmark, with many of the plot points being altered for an original twist. The show was believed to be a one season event by many -- those many (myself included) were disappointed when the murder mystery ended season one with an infuriating cliffhanger/twist ending combo. Producers have said that season two will not only solve the murder of Rosie Larsen, but will also have Detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) investigating a new case.

'The Killing' is a breath of fresh air amongst the impersonal one-episode at a time approach taken by popular procedurals like 'Law and Order' and 'C.S.I.' Most of those are self-contained hour-long mysteries -- think of 'The Killing' as the long-form, brilliantly-acted version of that. Despite it's unsatisfying ending and reliance on the use of Red herrings, the crime drama was easily one of the most entertaining shows of 2011.

Warning: Season 1 Spoilers Ahead

A lot of questions need to be answered in the new season -- does Darren Richmond (Billy Campbell) die from the gunshot wound he sustained in the finale, what role did Detective Holder (Joel Kinnaman) play in the framing of Richmond and how will that affect his future on the show, and of course -- who done it? My guess is that Richmond's girlfriend/campaign manger Gwen Eaton (Kristin Lehman) did it, but who knows with this show? It looks like we'll have those answers plus a whole new set of questions when 'The Killing' returns for it's 13-episode second season (believed to be set for the spring).

The Cast Discusses the First Season of 'The Killing'

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