The Killing is based on the wildly successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen and tells the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation. Season one consists of thirteen one-hour episodes, each representing one day in the investigation. The Killing ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.

Richmond rises in the polls; a surprising individual turns himself in.... 

Police efforts to make an arrest hit a roadblock; Richmond reconsiders his place in the race; and the Larsens tire of the police's inability to collar a suspect and decide to take matters into their own hands.