And just like that, they pulled her back in. We all knew Eve was going to get back in the game sooner rather than later (there’s no show if Eve isn’t working as a spy in some capacity, after all), and Kenny’s death certainly has provided the perfect path back into the life that has all but destroyed the poor woman. On the other side of the Bay of Biscay, Villanelle is once again under the thumb of The Twelve, and still managing to do things her own way. We also knew that she would find out that Eve’s alive sooner rather than later (there’s no show if Villanelle isn’t trying to get close to Eve, for one reason or another), and having Konstantin stroll back into her life to deliver the body blow was a nice touch. Villanelle was actually coping pretty well (or, as well as a psychopath can) and this piece of news will certainly set her spiraling. But, come on. We all know why we’re still watching this series, and it’s about to give us what we want on a silver platter. Why spend time complaining that it’s all working out just a tad too cleanly to be believable?
A great television series takes you where you know it has to, but does it in such a way that you cannot see the seams in the story. You know Breaking Bad has to end with Walter White getting what he deserves – and you even know that Chekhov’s machine gun has to factor in – but you don’t necessarily see it all coming together the way it does. Here, we know Eve has to get back in the game. Kenny’s death is the impetus for it, and while we didn’t necessarily see it coming, it’s not a huge shock. We know Villanelle will find out about Eve’s miraculous survival. Konstantin rolling in (and still working for The Twelve – more on that in a moment) and dropping that bomb is something I suspect most of us were waiting for. It doesn’t feel fun or fresh when things play out exactly as you expect them to with no real mystery.
The “twist” that Konstantin is still Team Twelve (and is spying on Carolyn)? Yeah, of course he is. And, while I’m not going to spoil it here, it’s also pretty obvious who his London handler is and who she’s related to within the series (trying to disguise that accent didn’t work all that well, but a valiant attempt). What I’m trying to say is that this expositional bit of the season feels long and bloated in a way the series didn’t feel back in season one – although it’s still better than the drag of season two’s opening piece. But the series lacks the punch and fun of its first – and best – incarnation. While the cast continues to do excellent work (the stillness of Fiona Shaw as Carolyn sinks into her grief was just plain brilliant), the writing lacks the pop it once had (which, I suppose, is just another acknowledgement of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s genius, and a recognition that she got out at just the right time).
Watching Killing Eve certainly isn’t a chore. I’m still willing to spend an hour each Sunday checking in with this strange spy world. But I found myself far more excited for the Chicago Bulls The Last Dance documentary this weekend than I did to find out the latest clues regarding who killed Kenny (perhaps because I’m already pretty sure I know who did it, which I suspect the series doesn’t want me to know at this point). And that’s a problem. It’s entirely possible for a story to continue to pull you in even when you know how it all ends up – Shakespeare still draws a crowd even though we’ve had his plays for over 400 years. But Killing Eve needs to give us something more than the same old story, just retold with a bit more flair. I want to be surprised. I want to be unsure whether Eve or Villanelle will succeed in their goals. I want the series to be able to sweep me away and immerse me in its world. We know that the show ends one of two ways: either Eve takes down Villanelle for good or suffers a similar fate (whether that is death or accepting the darkness in herself and teaming up with Villanelle, well, the juries still out). But we need to have a new story told each season as we head toward the end. So far, season three hasn’t delivered.
Final Thoughts:
— Several new characters popped up in episode two. Danny Sapani, probably best known for the mostly silent role of Sembene on Penny Dreadful, is Jamie, Kenny’s boss at Bitter Pill, and Gemma Whelan, Game of Thrones‘ Yara Greyjoy and Marian Lister in Gentleman Jack, is Geraldine, Carolyn’s daughter. I suspect both will have major roles in the season to come – especially Whelan.
— Eve’s really relying a lot on alcohol these days, and that doesn’t bode well for someone in the crosshairs of Villanelle. Although, knowing Villanelle, she is just as likely to exploit the advantage to kill her as she is to try and “help” her. I hope that the series dives a bit more into Eve’s trauma and the steps she takes to recover, but I suspect we’ll pass that stage and have her get back in the game only for her to fall apart later.
— One thing I’m very intrigued to see is how Villanelle will work while being pulled between Eve, Konstantin, and Dasha. That’s a lot of things pulling her focus, and we all know that when she loses her focus bad things happen.
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Acting
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Direction
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Writing
