In the early 2010s, if you were watching AMC, you were likely obsessed with a rainy, grey version of Seattle and a girl in a pink sweater. But while the "Who Killed Rosie Larsen?" mystery drove the plot, it was the lanky, hoodie-wearing detective standing in the background that actually stole the show.
Joel Kinnaman in The Killing wasn't just another casting choice. It was a cultural reset for the "cop partner" trope.
Most people didn't know who he was back then. He was just this Swedish guy with a confusingly perfect "street" accent and a gait that made him look like he was constantly recovering from a mild car accident. Honestly, at first, he felt like a secondary character. But by the time the first season wrapped, Stephen Holder became the emotional heartbeat of the entire series.
The Holder Magic: More Than Just a Hoodie
Kinnaman played Stephen Holder with a specific kind of twitchy, empathetic energy that felt dangerous and vulnerable at the same time. You’ve probably seen the "bad boy" cop before. Usually, they're just jerks with a badge.
Holder was different. He was a recovering addict. He talked like a guy who had spent too much time in the wrong parts of town because, well, he had.
Basically, Joel Kinnaman took a character that could have been a walking cliché and turned him into someone you actually cared about. He wasn't just "the partner." He was the guy eating vegan "fake meat" in a dingy car while trying to solve a murder in the pouring rain.
Breaking Down the Style
- The Slang: It wasn't just what he said; it was the rhythm. Kinnaman famously improvised a lot of Holder's "Holder-isms."
- The Chemistry: His partnership with Mireille Enos (Sarah Linden) is legendary. They were total opposites—she was cold and focused; he was chaotic and intuitive.
- The Vulnerability: There’s a scene in a Narcotics Anonymous meeting where Holder finally breaks. It’s arguably one of the best pieces of acting in modern television history.
Why Joel Kinnaman in The Killing Almost Didn’t Happen
It's wild to think about, but Joel Kinnaman wasn't exactly hunting for a US television gig. He was already a massive star in Sweden, coming off the success of Snabba Cash (Easy Money).
When he first auditioned for The Killing, he reportedly did it on a whim. He sent in a tape without much expectation. He was actually more interested in doing theater back home. But the showrunners saw something in his "unpolished" energy that fit the gritty, overcast vibe of the show perfectly.
The production was famously miserable in terms of weather. They filmed in Vancouver to mimic Seattle, and it rained. Constantly. Kinnaman has joked in interviews about wanting to "drop-kick" the rain machine operators because he’d be trying to deliver a heartfelt monologue while getting blasted in the face with a hose.
The Evolution of Stephen Holder
- Season 1: The Sketchy New Guy. Nobody—including the audience—quite trusted him.
- Season 2: The Fall and Rise. We see the depth of his addiction and his loyalty to Linden.
- Season 3 & 4: The Veteran. He grows into a mentor role, though his inner demons never really leave.
The "Holder" Effect on Kinnaman's Career
If you look at what Joel Kinnaman has done since The Killing, you can see Holder's DNA everywhere. Whether he's playing Rick Flag in Suicide Squad or Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind, there’s always that underlying grit.
He doesn't do "polished" heroes.
He likes the guys who are a little bit broken. He once mentioned in an interview with Interview Magazine that he’s attracted to characters who have to fight themselves as much as the bad guys. That started with Stephen Holder.
Honestly, the show had a rough road. It was canceled, brought back, canceled again, and finally finished its run on Netflix. Through all the network drama, the one thing critics and fans agreed on was that Kinnaman was the reason to keep watching.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't revisited the show in a while, it's worth a re-watch just to see the nuance Kinnaman brings to the later seasons. Most people remember the Season 1 cliffhanger drama, but the character development in Season 3—specifically the "Seven Below" arc—is where the acting really peaks.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
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- Check out the original: If you love the US version, watch the Danish series Forbrydelsen. It’s a completely different vibe, but it shows how much Kinnaman changed the character from the original source material.
- Look for the "NA Speech": If you’re a student of acting, find the clip of Holder’s NA meeting speech on YouTube. It’s a masterclass in controlled emotion.
- Follow his newer work: Watch For All Mankind on Apple TV+. It’s essentially "Holder in Space"—the same grumpiness, the same deep-seated trauma, but with 100% more rocket ships.
Joel Kinnaman in The Killing wasn't just a role; it was the moment a Swedish actor convinced the world he could be the most American person on screen. He didn't just play a detective. He created a person. And that's why, even years after the show ended, we’re still talking about him.