I was also a latecomer to The Killing. I’ve not seen the final episode yet, so please no spoilers!
While I’m deeply worried about the second season’s ability to keep from becoming a noir shaggy dog story, I think the first season was simply brilliant. No sexposition whatsoever. Indeed, there’s almost no pandering of any sort. Yes, there are a few things that are implausible or absurd (For instance, I liked how the mayoral candidate often has time to have a quiet dinner in his apartment, even in the final days of a brutal campaign. Oh, and he seems to get very little e-mail). But the acting is quite simply fantastic, and the show’s ability to seduce the viewer without rushing or compromising rivals that of Breaking Bad.