Eminent Domain (The Killing)
Linden and Holder revisit the Seward case.
"Eminent Domain" is the 32nd episode of the television drama *The Killing*, first broadcast on June 30, 2013. David Wiener wrote the episode, and Keith Gordon directed it. Detectives Holder and Linden look into the Seward case again, trying to link it to their current investigation. Meanwhile, Bullet brings Danette Leeds to places Kallie liked to visit.
At the police station, Danette demands to see Linden, claiming Joe Mills took her daughter, and is arrested after causing a disturbance. Linden and Holder question Angie Gower, the victim found at the vet’s office. Angie says she saw her attacker’s eyes in the rearview mirror but not his face. Linden shows her a photo lineup including Mills, but Angie cannot identify anyone, frustrating Linden. Holder scolds her for pushing too hard and questions whether Mills is the right suspect, given the lack of evidence linking him to Trisha Seward’s murder. Linden thinks fear might have prevented Angie from identifying Mills. Reddick tells Holder the vet tech didn’t see who dropped Angie off. Linden speaks to Danette at the station, informing her that Mills has left the hotel. Danette recalls Kallie’s childhood and begs Linden to find her.
That night in prison, Seward hears Alton tearing sheets to make a noose. Seward tries to talk him out of suicide but sees Alton is determined. Alton asks Seward not to call the guards, and Seward agrees, saying a few encouraging words as Alton hangs himself. Henderson arrives late to work, learns Becker has already left, and finds the cell block unmonitored. He discovers Alton’s body and calls for medical help.
At the station, Linden and Holder update Skinner on Gower and Mills. Adrian’s foster parents complain to Skinner about Linden visiting Adrian at the playground, saying he has started sleeping in the closet again. In her car, Linden shows Holder photos and a floor plan from the Seward file, which she has kept. Noticing Adrian’s bedroom has no closet, she realizes he might have slept in the closet where Trisha was murdered. They break into the vacant Seward apartment. Linden lies in the closet, finds glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, and peers through an air vent, seeing Holder standing where Trisha was killed. She concludes that if Adrian was in the closet that night, he must have seen the killer.
Linden tells Skinner her theory about Adrian and points out similarities
- series
- The Killing
- episode_number
- 32
- air_date
- June 30, 2013
- writer
- David Wiener
- director
- Keith Gordon
- viewers_millions
- 1.37
- rating_18_49
- 0.4
Lore & Background
In the episode, Danette Leeds demands to see Linden at the police station, claiming Joe Mills took her daughter, and is arrested after causing a commotion. Linden and Holder question Angie Gower, the victim found at the vet's office, but she cannot identify Mills from a photo lineup. Linden later breaks into the vacant Seward apartment and discovers glow-in-the-dark stars on the closet ceiling, leading her to believe Adrian may have seen his mother's killer through an air vent.
At the prison, Seward witnesses fellow inmate Alton hang himself after tearing sheets to make a noose, and Seward chooses not to call the guards. Seward later meets with his imprisoned father, who admits to arranging a razor blade for his son and takes credit for his toughness. Seward rejects his father's pride, reminding him he abandoned the family.
Danette approaches Bullet for help finding Kallie, and Bullet takes her to the riverfront. Later, Bullet finds Lyric upset about Twitch, and they kiss. Linden visits Seward to ask about Mills and reveals Adrian may have seen the killer, but Seward rages at her for realizing this only 12 days before his execution. Holder and Linden conclude the killer may be a "shepherd" hunting lost girls, and they wait in Pastor Mike's office at Beacon Home.
Reader's Guide
This episode deepens the central mystery of The Killing's third season by linking the current investigation to the earlier Seward case. The discovery of glow-in-the-dark stars in the closet and the air vent suggests that Adrian Seward may be a crucial witness, raising the stakes for Linden and Holder as they race to prevent Ray Seward's execution. The episode also explores themes of parental failure and abandonment through Seward's confrontation with his father and Danette's desperate search for Kallie. The critical reception highlighted Peter Sarsgaard's performance, earning him TVLine's "Performer of the Week." The episode's ratings of 1.37 million viewers marked a drop from the previous episode, reflecting the series' declining viewership in its third season.
Did You Know?
- Peter Sarsgaard was named TVLine's 'Performer of the Week' for his performance in this episode.
- The episode was watched by 1.37 million viewers and received a 0.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
- Actress Amy Seimetz described her emotional scenes as 'terrifying' and compared Danette's desperation to going to the hospital for a family member.
- Linden discovers glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling of the closet in the Seward apartment, leading her to believe Adrian may have seen the killer.
More in The Killing episodes 1-24
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