As implied by the episodes title, we open with a dream.
Kyle is overjoyed to see his 6-year-old sister Nadine in his dorm room.
As if her night terrors have abated, she asks, Are the monsters gone?
Credit: Carole Segal/Netflix
And then a trickle of blood slowly inches its way down her forehead.
Its nopublic stoning, but its pretty unnerving to behold.
It remains unclear why the writers have chosen to layer Rayne with these frilly adornments: She bakes cakes!
She will judge your office decor!
Shes a foxtrot aficionado!
He jumps out of the car and visits a church.
After a few rounds, Kyle is bawling, his right cheek welted from Knopfs smacks.
Humor me for a minute here: Is Kyle almosttooinnocent?
Does it strike you asPrimal Fear-level passivity.
Is he just rearing back before the strike (whether its unintentional or not)?
The rub: Everyone assumed Linden would flake like she has so many times before.
Youve never known me.
Reggie replies tersely, Thats the problem.
Add in the barking of his teacher, and 3…2…1, commence panic attack.
Elsewhere, its a new day for sobered-up Holder.
He apologizes to Linden and asks for her guidance on how to not f up his kid.
She looks to her most recent learning moment and says, Youre here, thats what matters.
Its kind of the only thing that mattersthat you show up.
She adds, Youll be all right.
Linden smiles maternally, Youre 1-900-ROCK-STAR.
The understated revelations continue as the partners search a gas-station bathroom.
She adds wryly: Only 49 more bathrooms to go.
Outside one of those bathrooms the detectives run across a homeless man wearing a discarded St. George pendant.
Linden isnt prepared to release 30 years of abandonment and bitterness, though.
A tense, terse back-and-forth reveals that Linden was a happy little girl who loved parades.
She promises nothing will happen.
Two things: 1.)
Impossible promise and 2.)
Doesanyonereally have anybody on this show?
In the world ofThe Killing, families tend to be more of a liability than a boon.
But I digress…
Linden and Holder head to the hospital to follow up on an injury Linda suffered.
The doctor makes it clear that Kyle was at fault, even though charges were never pressed.
Before Holder can goad him into confessing more, Rayne arrives and kicks them out.
He sneaks into Raynes office to call Linden, only to be intercepted by Knopf.
Kyle frantically brings Rayne to his room, but the gun, floor plan, and note are gone.
As night falls, Linden calls Holder, who flatly tells her to come to the lake.
Now, Skinner and his car are also in that water gravy… though not for long.
This is her war, and she is steeling herself.
Did it need to take four episodes to get to this point?
Probably not, but now were in the home stretch, and it ison.
