The Killing Episode Ratings Heatmap
2007 · 3 Seasons · 40 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.9/10 (20 rated)
Season 1 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 1 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.37), maintaining an average of 7.9.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 7.9 | – | – |
| Ep 2 | 7.2 | – | – |
| Ep 3 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 4 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 5 | 6.5 | – | – |
| Ep 6 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 7 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 8 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 9 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 10 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 11 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 12 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 13 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 14 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 15 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 16 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 17 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 18 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 19 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Ep 20 | 8.0 | – | – |
| Season Avg | 7.9 | – | – |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 3 seasons and 40 episodes, The Killing has earned an overall series rating of 7.9 out of 10. The series displays remarkable consistency across its narrative arc, maintaining reliable ratings from premiere to conclusion.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 1, Episode 20 ("Episode 20"), rated at an extraordinary 8.0/10 with 5 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 1, Episode 5 ("Episode 5"), landing at 6.5/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 4 ("Episode 4", 8) and Episode 5 ("Episode 5", 6.5), a swing of 1.5 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of The Killing
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 1, Ep 20 | Episode 20 | 8.0 | 5 | Nov 25, 2007 |
| #2 | Season 1, Ep 3 | Episode 3 | 8.0 | 4 | Jan 21, 2007 |
| #3 | Season 1, Ep 4 | Episode 4 | 8.0 | 4 | Jan 28, 2007 |
| #4 | Season 1, Ep 6 | Episode 6 | 8.0 | 4 | Feb 11, 2007 |
| #5 | Season 1, Ep 7 | Episode 7 | 8.0 | 4 | Feb 18, 2007 |
| #6 | Season 1, Ep 8 | Episode 8 | 8.0 | 4 | Feb 25, 2007 |
| #7 | Season 1, Ep 9 | Episode 9 | 8.0 | 4 | Mar 4, 2007 |
| #8 | Season 1, Ep 10 | Episode 10 | 8.0 | 4 | Mar 11, 2007 |
| #9 | Season 1, Ep 11 | Episode 11 | 8.0 | 4 | Sep 23, 2007 |
| #10 | Season 1, Ep 12 | Episode 12 | 8.0 | 4 | Sep 30, 2007 |