Killing Eve is a series inspired by Luke Jennings books, which started in 2018 and has, so far, three seasons. At the time, the series received a resounding reception by the public - 97% positive reviews and won several awards, as did its actresses. It is a series produced by BBC America, and it is possible to see on HBO Portugal.
During the confinement, I finally decided to rent HBO to see the documentaries and series that interested me. I was already a subscriber to Netflix, and it was enough for me during the life I lived. The documentary about Michael Jackson Leaving Nerverland and Chernobyl were the reasons that made me dive into the HBO universe. I was overjoyed when I realized that Killing Eve was available, and strangely it was the last scene of the first season that made me want, really, to see the whole series, yes, when I saw the part where Villanelle is stabbed and where Eve is sorry, I was very curious.
And I had a lot of time to see ... I started with the first episode, followed by the second, the third and never stopped until I reached the end of the second season. The third season had not yet left. For me, it was gold on blue, I like to see the series like this, one episode after another. I don't like to wait to see the next one. So I saw the first and second in a few days. I had to wait to see the third one, and I was delighted with the ending. I'm looking forward to the fourth season
It is probably the series that we all need (all). The first season is brilliantly written by Phoebe Waller Bridge, which won several awards for its Fleabag series on Amazon Prime and which I recommend. The second was written by Emerald Fennell and the third by Suzanne Heathcote. Sex Education writer Laura Neal wrote two episodes in the third season and will be the lead writer for the fourth season. Killing Eve is very interesting due to the fact that women are the main writers and that many of the episodes are directed by women and the main characters are also women - which gives the series a feminine and feminist note that I love.
It was Phoebe Waller Bridge, incidentally, who was assigned to write the first season of the series from the book Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings. Villanelle is the main character and is played by Jodie Comer. She is a hired killer, incredibly beautiful, obsessed with fashion, expensive clothes and who, in addition to being a relentless killer, without complacency or compassion is full of humour, sarcasm and there is something in her that connects us in a tender way. She has a coldness that I followed, and I was dazzled by her, not because I'm crazy, but because everything she does lets us enter her universe with bewilderment and surprise - and some concern because we don't want something bad to happen to her. We realize that it is her job, she was trained to do this, removed from her family at a very young age, and she probably cannot get out of this murder spiral because of the organization for which she works. She achieves a very good life, a lot of money, independence and power which gives her some comfort for her high standards.
Villains and psychopaths, we have seen many and there are extraordinary in films and series, such as Dexter, Norman Bastes in the film Psycho, Jack Torrance in Shining, Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction, divinely played by Glenn Close who also incarnated Cruella De vil, Catherine Tramell in Fatal Instinct by Sharon Stone, Derryl Hanna as Elle Driver in Kill Bill or Lena Headey in the terrible but so charismatic Cersey Lanister in Game of Thrones. These women, villains opened up this concept of the strong unscrupulous woman, who lives freely and can do the unthinkable and take anyone out of their minds. Some of these villains are unbearable, but others, like Villanelle manage to seduce us, win us over and despite being dangerous, they create a desire to protect them - which puts us in an uncomfortable position, because we love the fact that they are totally the opposite of our personality, at least mine. I wouldn't be able to do anything Villanelle does, but she is so professional, so perfect that I am able to let my guard down (which can be dangerous) and cheer for her and want everything to end well (especially with Eve). Strange connection with this psychopath ... These films and series with murderers prepared us for her with hundreds of examples - Villanelle is a happy surprise for me.
The whole series explores her ascension and transformations as a person, and the relationships with the other characters are rich, deep and light at the same time, yes, there are contradictions that relate us to his evolution through a refined sense of veracity, especially with the characters she doesn't kill! She kills a lot! It is clear that the connection with Eve gives us another view of Villanelle - after all, she has something human inside her. This obsession with Eve, disguised in a love that she senses in return, because Eve is captivated by murderous women and also has an attraction towards the villain, corresponds with our obsession with the bond that grows between them. We were expectant with the unfolding of the connection that goes up during the plot and this climb of interest is very well done and could not end in the best way.
Truth be told that the actress who plays Villanelle - Jodie Comer - is extraordinary! There are no words to describe her, she does this role perfectly! In such a way, that the character imposed itself on the actress throughout the series and I connected myself more with Villanelle than with the person who interpreted her, due to the sublime fusion. Villanelle is arrogant, proud, pretentious, manipulative, in addition to being a ruthless murderer, but she is also naive, childish and clumsy - which connects us with her. Jodie Comer was fortunate to interpret her, allowing freedom of action that placed her on a level very difficult to overcome. She is perfect throughout the first season - the scene in which she is in prison and wants to leave is stupendous, one feels all the suffering that comes from remembering her first incarceration because of a passionate crime. She continues to have periods, really amazing in every season - the cry in front of the mirror in the Netherlands or the cry in the third season on the train. These moments of deep intimacy portray a sensitivity to the skin. Moments of great beauty. It is clear that his performance is fantastic throughout the series, but these were the ones that touched me the most. The beauty of Jodie Comer, for my standards of beauty, connects us to Villanelle with dazzle, despite all her actions.
Jodie Comer has won several acting awards for Villanelle, such as BAFTA and EMMY and I think she could win many more because she is a great actress.
Eve is the other main character played by Sandra Ho that we all know from Grey's Anatomy or from the film Catfight. She also plays a big role as Eve, with which she won a Golden Globe. Despite being a more noticeable character for us, Sandra Ho manages moments of great intensity - the scene in the first season with Niko, before going to Moscow is fantastic! She does not compromise Eve's changes at all, she transports us into the character's underlying duplicity and effervescence. The chemistry with Jodie Comer looks excellent. The scene in front of the mirror, the kiss ...
Eve is a woman with a quiet, ruled life, a job, a husband, a house and a chicken. She works for MI5 / MI6, and she is obsessed with murderous women. She finds in Villanelle a challenge that puts her to the test, in fact, this interest will change her whole perception and her life. The relationship between the two grows over the seasons, and we realize that Eve finds a way to project herself into her life as an investigator. Villanelle, little by little, occupies all its space and, without realizing how, a love / hate connection is generated between the two. Whoever wrote this link was very good, it is like a lesbian love that gives the plot a journey of equality between them. If Villanelle were a man, or Eve, it would be different and all the magic of seduction, advances and setbacks would not have the delicacy of ambiguity when building the link between the two protagonists.
All the characters are well-chosen, and they are all fundamental pieces in the development of the story. Konstantin, for example, the head of Villanelle, belonging to the so famous organization of "The Twelve", that we never really know who they are, is fundamental. His charisma and humour is in keeping with Villanelle's humour. The Actor who plays Konstantin, Kim Bodnia, the "Sexy Man" is formidable. The relationship between the two varies a lot and has many ups and downs, but it is always linked to Villanelle's extensive list of murders, because it is he who oversees her. A relationship that resembles the father / daughter relationship that Villanelle does not have, and we understand why in the course of the episodes. He is the perfect spy, he works for all organizations. Konstantin's trajectory is very interesting.
Killing Eve is decidedly feminist. Carolyn, a character wonderfully represented by Fiona Shaw who also won a BAFTA, is the epitome of feminine power, freedom, levity, despite her having a prominent place in the organization in the relentless pursuit of "The Twelve". The connection with Konstantin is marvellous, as are the many men with whom she fell in love. There is a little feminine "Casanova" in her, which for us women is very good, because it deconstructs the prejudices that are normally directed towards powerful and free women. His humour and sarcasm are the best you can witness. Carolyn is an essential character in the series. The scene with Geraldine at the end of the third season is divine!
Throughout the series appear characters that make a huge contribution - Bill, Franck, Kenny, Niko, Hugo, Raymond, Helène, Dasha, Geraldine, Irina and others that fit the stories and give new developments to episodes and seasons. Villanelle herself creates several characters to achieve her ends, as if she were a chameleon that uses these to catch and kill its prey.
Another very interesting thing, is that Villanelle is part of the LGBTQ community. She exudes a very peculiar charm well worked by Jodie Comer - in the way of walking, looking, approaching, touching, conquering. All her irreverence, freedom, sexuality and pride are an integral part of the character and it is so good! She is in bed with a couple at the beginning, masturbates thinking about Eve, we realize that she had sex with two women and masturbates with Eve listening in the second season, but, despite all that, she treats her with a certain respect. She moves forward, offers gifts, but it is never vulgar (apart from the violence that encompasses her). We know that she wants to have something more intimate, but, she hopes that Eve is ready to move forward. Note that when they kiss it is Eve who kisses her - there is an honesty in the relationship with her that she doesn't have with the other characters. She seeks, at all costs, that she does not forget her. It is her supreme suffering. She feels overwhelming love, which also transforms her and makes her want to change her course. During the series, we feel that she is growing and when the third season ends, she obtains a peace that she did not have in previous seasons. Will she be ready to accept living a life away from the murders and all the adventures that brought her to this point? The end of the third season is a beautiful proof of love that she gives to Eve. The fact of asking to walk away, knowing in advance that it is impossible, pretending to give freedom to Eve, but she doesn't feel good about accepting it, is the more adult scene than Villanelle has with Eve. Villanelle will have to make many changes, because Eve has shown her that she is ready to move forward in a future in which she is part. It's very beautiful …
The last scene of the third season:
Villanelle has a keen and expensive sense of clothing and fashion, she can wear everything she wants and be stunning. The mystique, depth and intensity of the character are well-used with the series' clothing. There is a refined and taken advantage of with the natural beauty of Jodie Comer - even in pyjamas or dressed as a recluse she looks stunning! Hair is also used perfectly. The designers and the hairdressers did a great job with her.
Besides the characters, with whom we fall in love, there are other aspects of Killing Eve that delight us, such as the various destinations and countries where the series is developed. Villanelle travels a lot to kill her victims - she lives in Paris in season one, London in season two and Barcelona in season three. In amazing houses, Barcelona is very, very interesting. There are already fan pilgrimages to these locations.
Music is another very important part of the series and is headed by the group Unloved with its amazing moments that bewitch us and set the tone for the identity of the series. The symbiosis with the scenes gives them a deeper meaning. Some scenes acquire a perception that is validated by the messages that are in the texts or in the music itself. It always shines, and it packs each episode in such a way that, sometimes, it is the song that talks about what is happening.
The fourth season is on Stand-by because of Covid-19. I am hopeful that Villanelle's maturity will continue. A final like the end of the third season should signal what the fourth season will be. A turnaround of characters, with a lot of suspense, violence and murders, is to be expected, but this time allowing Villanelle and Eve a space to finally find the tranquillity they deserve. Villanelle has already shown that she is tired of her life and Eve accepts her as it is. Can she be forgiven in the series? Yes!
Laura Neal has a lot of work ahead of her!
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