Hulu's Gritty Crime Thriller 'The Killing' Is a Must-Watch for 'For All Mankind' Fans

Joel Kinnaman's intense performance as a troubled detective makes this Nordic noir adaptation a perfect companion piece to his role as astronaut Ed Baldwin.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:10pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of shattered glass reflecting a dim, moody light, conveying the dark, brooding tone of a Nordic noir crime thriller.The Killing's gritty, atmospheric crime drama delivers a captivating companion piece to Joel Kinnaman's work in For All Mankind.Seattle Today

The Killing, a four-season crime drama starring Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos, is a must-watch for fans of the space series For All Mankind. Kinnaman plays a bold, stubborn detective named Holder who shares many similarities with his For All Mankind character Ed Baldwin, including an impulsive nature and a desire to do things his own way. Enos co-stars as Holder's partner Linden, providing a perfect counterbalance with her restrained and intuitive approach. Together, the two navigate the gloomy, morally complex world of Seattle's criminal underbelly, delivering a gripping Nordic noir-inspired mystery full of twists and turns.

Why it matters

For All Mankind fans who have grown to love Joel Kinnaman's captivating performance as the aging astronaut Ed Baldwin will find his work in The Killing to be a natural extension of that role. Kinnaman's ability to portray complex, flawed characters with an intense, charismatic presence is on full display in this crime drama, making it a must-watch for those seeking more of the actor's compelling work.

The details

In The Killing, Kinnaman plays Detective Stephen Holder, a volatile and sometimes violent cop who has just transferred from the Narcotics division to Homicide. He is paired with the empathetic but impassive Detective Sarah Linden, played by Mireille Enos, as they investigate the brutal murder of a 17-year-old girl. The series adapts the acclaimed Danish crime drama Forbrydelsen, transplanting the action from Copenhagen to the gloomy streets of Seattle and adding its own unique twists to the Nordic noir formula.

  • The Killing premiered on AMC in 2011 and ran for four seasons, concluding in 2014.

The players

Joel Kinnaman

An acclaimed Swedish-American actor best known for his roles in For All Mankind and The Killing.

Mireille Enos

An American actress who co-stars with Kinnaman in both The Killing and For All Mankind.

The Killing

A crime drama series that adapted the acclaimed Danish show Forbrydelsen for American audiences.

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What they’re saying

“It may be strange to recommend a crime show to fans of a sci-fi drama, but Kinnaman's performance in The Killing is truly the perfect extension of that in For All Mankind.”

— Therese Lacson, Writer

The takeaway

The Killing provides a gritty, atmospheric crime drama that allows Joel Kinnaman to showcase his impressive range as an actor, delivering a performance that will resonate with fans of his work in the sci-fi series For All Mankind.