The Killing volume one

Danish crime drama The Killing (Forbrydelsen) has been compared to Twin Peaks, but sadly the comparison doesn't hold up: there's no cast of lovable eccentrics, no whimsical humour, no supernatural influence and sure as hell no cherry pie. It's also been compared to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, presumably on the grounds that both are Scandinavian, but by that logic it might as well be compared to an Ikea couch.

In fact, what The Killing better resembles is a grim take on the corny American cop movie. It's world-weary detective Sarah Lund's last day on the job, and she doesn't want anything delaying her retirement (well, her transfer to Sweden, which apparently is the same thing). Unfortunately, her well-honed instincts tell her to look into the case of a missing teenager, and soon her future is on hold as she reluctantly leads an investigation into the girl's rape and murder. The Mel Gibson to her Danny Glover is Jan Meyer, her macho, confrontational replacement who's a loose cannon (but he gets things done).

Originality isn't its strong suit, but two points set The Killing apart. One is its refreshing take on gender – the older, wiser detective is not only a woman, but a woman who seems ambivalent about starting a new, peaceful life with her family. The other is its unusually intense focus on the victim's parents, as they try and sometimes fail to deal with their tragedy. Chances are they're hiding something – everybody else is – but their struggles feel real and lend the series its heart.

More television, DVDs, games and gadgets in Sydney? Sign up to our weekly newsletter