Killing Eve premiered in 2018 as a surprise hit for BBC America, and the series has aged better than most spy thrillers. It follows two women chasing each other across Europe, Russia and the Middle East, and the relationship between them is the engine of the whole show. The result is a tense, funny, and surprisingly tender crime drama that rewards patience and repeat viewings.
The premise is simple: Villanelle is a contract killer who gets bored easily, and Eve Polastri is a British intelligence officer hunting her. The two women meet once, in a hotel room, and spend the rest of the season stalking each other across continents. The show is based on the novels by Luke Jennings, and the adaptation keeps the sharp dialogue and the dark humor intact.
Trailer, via BBC America.
Villanelle And Eve
Jodie Comer plays Villanelle as a performance artist in blood. She dresses in bright colors, dances through kill scenes, and treats murder as a form of self-expression. Comer won an Emmy for the role, and it’s easy to see why. She commits fully to every moment, from a playful jump rope scene to a brutal stabbing.
Sandra Oh plays Eve as a bureaucrat turned hunter. She starts the series as a desk worker in MI6, but the chase transforms her into a cold professional. Oh brings a dry wit to the role, and her chemistry with Comer drives the show’s best scenes. Their cat-and-mouse games are the reason Killing Eve works at all.
“She’s like a dog chasing a car.”
That line, spoken by Eve about Villanelle, sums up the entire dynamic. The two women are chasing each other for reasons neither fully understands, and the show lets that tension breathe.
The Supporting Cast
The show also builds a rich supporting cast around its leads. Caroline Catz plays Carolyn Martens, Eve’s boss at MI6, and she gives the character a quiet menace. She’s not a villain, but she’s not a friend either. Her scenes with Eve are some of the sharpest in the series.
Kim Bodnia plays Konstantin, Villanelle’s handler and mentor. He’s the man who trained her, and he knows her better than anyone. His scenes with Villanelle are often the most emotional of the season, even when they’re about killing. He’s a father figure, a business partner, and a conscience.
The show also introduces a group of killers known as the Twelve. They’re the shadow organization that runs the assassination market, and their presence looms over the entire story. The show never fully explains them, which is a strength. They’re a threat that hangs in the background, driving the plot forward without needing to be explained.
The Writing
The dialogue is the show’s strongest asset. Lines land with a punch, then a laugh, then a sting. The writers know how to balance violence with wit, and they never let the tone slip into grim seriousness. The show is dark, but it’s also absurd, and that contrast is what makes it memorable.
The pacing is another win. The first season is slow-burn, with long stretches of setup before the payoff. Some viewers might find that frustrating, but it pays off in the final episodes. The show builds to a climax that feels earned, not rushed.
The show also handles the moral ground carefully. Villanelle is a murderer, but the show never makes her a monster. She’s a person with a job, and the show asks the audience to see her humanity even as it shows her doing terrible things. That balance is rare in the genre.
The Style
The visual style is bold. The show uses color to distinguish between worlds. Villanelle’s world is bright and chaotic, while Eve’s world is gray and institutional. The contrast is deliberate, and it helps sell the emotional distance between the two characters.
The show also uses music to great effect. The score is minimal, but the licensed songs are perfect. From pop hits to classical pieces, the music always fits the scene. It’s a small touch, but it adds to the overall mood.
The direction is confident. The show knows when to hold a shot, and when to cut fast. The action sequences are brutal but choreographed with care, and the show never loses sight of the human stakes.
The Weak Points
No show is perfect, and Killing Eve has its flaws. The middle stretch of the first season drags in places, and some viewers might lose interest before the payoff arrives. The show also relies heavily on its leads, and the supporting cast sometimes feels underwritten.
The show also takes a darker turn in later seasons, and some viewers might find the later installments harder to watch. The tone shifts, and the comedy becomes more muted. That’s a risk, but it’s also a choice.
The show also raises questions about its own logic. Why does Eve keep chasing Villanelle? What does Villanelle get out of it? The show doesn’t fully answer those questions, and some viewers might find that frustrating. But the ambiguity works in the first season, even if it doesn’t hold up in later installments.
The Final Season
The final season wraps up the story in a way that satisfies most viewers. It answers some questions and leaves others open. The show ends on a note that respects both its characters and its audience.
The finale brings back old allies and old enemies, and the show uses the full scope of its world to deliver a payoff. It’s a fitting end to a show that always knew what it wanted to be.
The show also leaves room for reflection. It asks what happens after the chase ends, and it offers a quiet resolution rather than a loud one. That choice is brave, and it rewards the patient viewer.
The Score
Killing Eve is a smart, stylish, and emotionally honest show. It takes risks with its leads, its tone, and its plot, and it mostly lands. The show is imperfect, but it’s a standout entry in the spy thriller genre.
The show earns its reputation. It’s a show that rewards attention, and it’s a show that stays with you after it ends. It’s a rare thing in television, and it deserves its place in the canon.
- Jodie Comer delivers a career-best performance as Villanelle
- Sandra Oh matches her as Eve, creating a pairing that anchors the series
- The writing balances darkness with humor, often within the same scene
- The pacing is slow-burn, which pays off in the final episodes
- The show handles its moral ground carefully, never reducing Villanelle to a monster
Killing Eve is a show that understands its own rules and follows them. It’s a show that trusts its audience to sit with discomfort. It’s a show that rewards the patient viewer.
The show is available on multiple streaming platforms, and it remains a strong entry point for new viewers. For fans of the genre, it’s essential viewing. For casual viewers, it’s a pleasant surprise.
8.3 of 10.
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