The Road to Hamelin
Linden discovers Skinner is the killer and must ride with him.
"The Road to Hamelin" is the 38th episode of the American TV drama *The Killing*, airing on August 4, 2013, as the second part of a two-part season finale. It was co-written by executive producers Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin and directed by Dan Attias. The episode resolves the season's main storyline, revealing the serial killer's identity and what happened to the missing boy, Adrian.
In the episode, detectives Stephen Holder and Sarah Linden, desperate to find Adrian, share their suspicions about Carl Reddick with James Skinner. Later, Linden spots a ring belonging to the missing Kallie Leeds on Skinner's daughter's finger. Realizing Skinner is the killer, she is forced to ride with him to locate Adrian, while Holder races to save her after Adrian is found safe.
The plot follows Holder and Linden questioning Adrian's adoptive mother, Tess Clarke, who grows worried when his backpack is found inside and the back door is open. Skinner picks up his daughter Bethany from ballet, and she asks if he loves "the woman from work." He says he can't be someone he isn't but still loves her. At the Clarke house, Holder and Linden suggest they have the wrong man in jail and suspect Reddick. Skinner tells them to keep searching for Adrian while he handles Reddick. They speak with neighbor Cammy Ezer, who says Adrian came to her scared, claiming he was being followed, but she drove him home.
At the station, Linden mentions collecting security footage from the school to Adrian's house. Internal affairs agents arrive to speak with Holder, and Linden tries to contact Skinner for help. She receives photos of a car following Adrian. IA agents tell Holder they are investigating him for several reasons, including his assault on Reddick, and he surrenders his cell phone. Unable to reach Skinner, Linden goes to his house, where he is packing. She shows him the photo, and he acts complacent, telling her to be more thorough. As they head downstairs, his wife and daughter arrive. Linden sees Kallie's ring on Bethany's finger and deduces Skinner is the killer. Believing he has Adrian captive, she disarms him and forces him to take her to the boy.
At the station, Holder tells IA to call Skinner, but they inform him Skinner filed the complaint. Holder tricks the agents into thinking he rigged Reddick's car with a bomb, using his phone as a detonator. Reddick arrives upset, and Ho
- Episode number
- 38
- Series
- The Killing
- Air date
- August 4, 2013
- Writers
- Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin
- Director
- Dan Attias
- Season
- 3 (second of two-part finale)
Lore & Background
In the episode, detectives Stephen Holder and Sarah Linden search for the missing boy Adrian, voicing suspicions about Carl Reddick to James Skinner. Linden later sees a ring from the missing Kallie on Skinner's daughter's finger, deducing that her former partner and lover is the serial killer. She disarms him and forces him to take her to Adrian. Skinner admits to setting Holder up with internal affairs and confesses to multiple murders, including Bullet's, while claiming the first victim was an accident. He reveals Adrian has been in the car's trunk the whole time, but Reddick finds Adrian safe at Trisha Seward's grave. Linden shoots Skinner in the gut, then kills him despite Holder's pleas.
Reader's Guide
The episode serves as the climax of the third season's serial-killer storyline, resolving the mystery of who killed Kallie Leeds and other young victims. It is notable for the shocking revelation that Skinner, a respected detective and Linden's lover, is the murderer. The finale was reviewed positively for its compelling character focus and intense ending. Mireille Enos, who played Linden, noted in an interview that the script's twist—Linden killing Skinner—was surprising but felt inevitable given the character's ordeal. The two-part finale was watched by 1.48 million viewers, a slight increase from the previous season's finale.
Did You Know?
- The episode was co-written by series executive producers Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin.
- Mireille Enos said in an interview that the script's twist—Linden killing Skinner—was surprising but ultimately felt like the only choice for her character.
- The two-part season finale was watched by 1.48 million viewers.
- Skinner confesses to Bullet's murder and to making Joe Mills the suspect.
More in The Killing episodes 1-24
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