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The Showrunner’s Touch: The Killing Revisited

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Nordic Noir, Adaptation, Appropriation

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Adaptation and Visual Culture ((PSADVC))

Abstract

This chapter studies the ways in which the Nordic noir classic Forbrydelsen (DR 2007–2012) was remade in the USA as The Killing (AMC/Netflix 2011–2014). The chapter argues that looking to the production and especially the adapting showrunner on the remake provides perspectives that have been overlooked in existing research on this particular adaptation process, and that using such a strategy may be key in studying other television series’ remaking processes as well. Concretely looking to the adapting showrunner’s experiences and preferences may explain changes from character to plot level, including shedding new light on what has been read as “American” obsessions with psychological explanations and culturally based hostility toward bad motherhood.

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Correspondence to Lynge Stegger Gemzøe .

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Gemzøe, L.S. (2020). The Showrunner’s Touch: The Killing Revisited. In: Badley, L., Nestingen, A., Seppälä, J. (eds) Nordic Noir, Adaptation, Appropriation. Palgrave Studies in Adaptation and Visual Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38658-0_13

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