“The Killing” (Netflix, streaming) in many ways set the standard for today’s modern detective yarn: Dour lead investigator and wry partner; skittering electronic music, all consuming atmosphere (in this case consisting largely of rain). It was the Americanization of a European TV ideal: grown-up, serious and exceedingly well-acted.
That it failed to name a killer precisely on the first season finale continues to be one of the silliest complaints in TV criticism: Why fault a show that broken the rules of case-of-the-week procedurals, for further upending your expectations? I kept watching into season two and season three was chilling as it took a different turn. In every season, there is always the underlying heartbreaking assertion (and challenge to society): Children, who have been the victims, are disposable here; or at least dismissible.
Veena Sud’s version of the Danish series which has about the best sense of place on TV in its depiction of the always crying Seattle, succeeded on the acting of Mireille Enos as the pained, enigmatic chief investigator and Joel Kinnaman as her lanky, disarming partner in a breakout role. The acting all around them has been exemplary.
Itself killed twice by its original network, AMC, initially after the second season and for good after the third, the fourth and announced final season exists starting today entirely on Netflix, where you can watch all six of its episodes today if you are so moved. Its story this time concerns a murder at an all boys’ military academy.
The career of rock’s most flamboyant figure is chronicled in “David Bowie: Five Years” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) a documentary that concentrates on a handful of non-consecutive years 1971 (“Hunky Dory”), 1975 (“Young Americans”), 1977 (“Low”), 1980 (“Scary Monsters”) and 1983 (“Let’s Dance”). What, no Ziggy Stardust? On the new “Redwood Kings” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.), they don’t honor the giant trees, they carve them up.
In its second new magic-related series premiere this week, The CW presents the showcase “Masters of Illusion” (Thce CW, 8 p.m., tonight featuring Michael Finney, Nathan Burton and Jane Rouven among others.
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Verdi’s Requiem Mass at the Hollywood Bowl in honor of the composer’s 200th anniversary of his birth last year on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). with soprano Julianna Di Giacomo, mexxo-soprano Michelle DeYoung, tenor Vittorio Grigolo, bass Ildebrando D’Arcangelo and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
A new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) includes Ralph Nader, Douglas Brinkley, Doug Heye and Rep. Barbara Lee.
“David Tutera’s Celebrations” (We, 9 p.m.) returns for its seventh season with some party planning for a former “Real Housewife of Beverly Hills.”
All three of this week’s episodes of “Big Brother” (TV Guide Network, 9 p.m.) precedes the usual “Big Brother After Dark” (TV Guide Network, midnight).
Instead of pirates tonight, there are kidnappers in the news special “Hannah Anderson: Anatomy of a Kidnapping” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Diane Kruger of “The Bridge” plays Marie Marie Antoinette in Benoit Jacquot’s film “Farewell, My Queen” (Starz, 10 p.m..).
Turner Classic Movies’ 12th annual “Summer Under the Stars” event, saluting a different star all day each day, begins with Jane Fonda, in “Tall Story” (6 a.m.), “Period of Adjustment” (7:45 a.m.), “Walk on the Wild Side” (9:45 a.m.), “In the Cool of the Day” (11:45 a.m.), “The Chapman” (1:15 p.m.), “Sunday in New York” (3:45 p.m.), “The China Syndrome” (5:45 p.m.) “Cat Ballou” (9:15 p.m.), “Klute” (12:15 a.m.), “Any Wednesday” (2:15 a.m.) and “Tout va bien” (4:15 a.m.). Also, there a couple of screening of the event from earlier this year, “AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jane Fonda” (8 p.m.).
Baseball today includes Yankees at Boston (MLB, 7 p.m.), as if that mattered.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Vin Diesel, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jean-Georges. The View: Annette Bening, Ana Navarro. The Talk: Liv Tyler, Rachelle Lefevre, Hans Rockenwagner. Ellen DeGeneres: Meryl Streep, Vanessa Hudgens (rerun). Wendy Williams: Wanda Sykes, Dr. Mike Dow (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder, American Authors (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Martin Lawrence, Jenny State, Aloe Blacc. Jimmy Kimmel: John Stamos, Todd Glass, OK Go (rerun). Seth Meyers: Keri Russell, Kevin Millar & Sean Casey, Michelle Wolf (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Cat Deeley, Marcia Clark. Carson Daly: Gareth Edwards, Jimmy Ouyang (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Itzhak Perlman. Arsenio Hall: Jada Pinkett Smith, Isaac Lufkin, Owen Benjamin, Geoff Brown, Jackie fabulous (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba, Jeff Wild, Arden Myrin, Ross Mathews (rerun).