Fiona Shaw walking and on the phone as Carolyn Martens in Killing EveImage via BBC America
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Erin Konrad
Published 14 minutes ago
Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.
She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 126 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.
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There have been many twisted relationships depicted on television. Whether it was a dark connection between a psychiatrist and a serial killer in Hannibal or between a woman and her former kidnapper in Found, some of the most fascinating relationships are often the most complex ones. It might be difficult to always understand the dynamics in a toxic game of cat-and-mouse, but the pull towards someone or something that might be bad for you is actually pretty relatable. One of the most intriguing and tangled partnerships from the last 10 years also happens to be from one of the best spy thrillers that should be added to your must-watch list right away. Luckily, it is free to stream on Tubi.
What Is 'Killing Eve' About?
Jodie Comer as Villanelle holds a knife to Sandra Oh as Eve in the kitchen in Killing Eve.Image via BBC America
Killing Eve, which aired on BBC America for four seasons from 2018 to 2022, is a fantastic blend of spy drama and dark comedy. Based on the Villanelle novellas by Luke Jennings, each of the four seasons was led by a different female head writer. With brilliant writers such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Emerald Fennell, the series was always going to be both electric and smart. In the first season, we meet Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), an American spy living in the U.K., who gets fired from her MI5 role after going rogue. She ends up being drafted to join a secret division within MI6, and is tasked with locating one of the most dangerous international assassins out there. Most assassins in spy thrillers fall into the same male stereotype, but Killing Eve's ruthless killer is anything but typical. Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is a young, pretty woman who works for a secret organization called The Twelve. She manages to fly under the radar (and successfully take out her targets) precisely because she doesn't fit the mold and catches most of her victims completely unaware. When Eve finally locates Villanelle, and the two cross paths, what unfolds is a continuous cycle of danger as both women become increasingly obsessed with each other.
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"Sorry baby."
Posts 2 By Lade Omotade Jan 21, 2025As each season unfolds, we learn more about both of these main characters. Eve feels suffocated in her marriage to the kind-hearted Niko (Owen McDonnell), who doesn't really seem to be able to give Eve the excitement she's craving. And then there's Villanelle, who is one of the most unique anti-heroes ever written. She takes immense pleasure in her kills, and doesn't seem to have an empathetic bone in her body. It's difficult for her to relate to people in a normal way, but somehow she can connect to Eve. Villanelle is also pretty funny, and offers Killing Eve much of its comedic relief. She has a fascinating relationship with her handler, a Russian man named Konstantin Vasiliev (Kim Bodnia), who is perpetually frustrated by his inability to rein Villanelle in. Each character weaves together a narrative to create a dangerous and intriguing world for the series to play around in.
'Killing Eve' Depicts One of the Wildest Cat-and-Mouse Games Ever
In all 32 episodes, Eve and Villanelle find themselves getting drawn back to each other, which develops a seductive vibe that the series thrives on. Every interaction they have sparks with electricity, and it's clear from the start that Oh and Comer have incredibly impressive chemistry. They're also able to depict a suspenseful, intricate tone that dances between impressive fight sequences and quiet moments of intimacy between characters. The series sets a fast-paced tone that still somehow allows the viewer to feel a connection to the characters (in between chases and murders, of course). In this cat-and-mouse game between Eve and Villanelle, it can be difficult to discern who's the hero sometimes. It often feels difficult to root for a terrifying killer, but Villanelle somehow still manages to steal hearts. Both women display questionable choices on their journeys, but this only serves to make the series become one of the sexiest, most unpredictable shows around.
Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer Make 'Killing Eve' an Electrifying Ride From Start to Finish
Eve (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Jodie Comer) standing, with an aquarium between them in 'Killing Eve'Image via BBC America
Killing Eve is worthy of a bing because of the incredible writing (especially in the first two seasons). But the show would not have been as successful as it was without the truly remarkable performances from Oh and Comer. Oh had already been an established actor (from her time over on Grey's Anatomy), but Comer wasn't well-known before Killing Eve. Her portrayal of Villanelle is one-of-a-kind, twisted, masterpiece. Future seasons explore more of Villanelle's past, which allows us to better understand how she ends up where she is, and Comer illustrates every stage of Villanelle's life with the same combination of playfulness and grit. The two actors' chemistry together makes Killing Eve a series that depicts the ultimate toxic partnership, but one that is hard to turn away from.
The leads in Killing Eve are incredible, but the supporting cast is nothing to sneeze at either. Fiona Shaw is the stoic and hard-nosed head of MI6 named Carolyn Martens. Her brisk iciness (and eventual thawing) brings another level of intrigue to the series. Bodnia becomes a throughline of humor as Villanelle's handler, and despite his position as someone who is basically facilitating murders, somehow becomes sort of lovable. Harriet Walter is also a stand-out in Season 3, as Dasha Duzran, Villanelle's former mentor. Her plotline is a memorable one, and only elevates the series' always-entertaining storytelling style. Each minor character helps to support the leads so that the web of mystery and suspense becomes even more captivating.
Killing Eve wrapped up Eve and Villanelle's stories with a fourth and final season. While some fans weren't necessarily happy with where Killing Eve's characters ended up (no spoilers here), the entire show is worthy of a watch for its action-packed storylines and edgy performances. Killing Eve had a far-reaching influence, especially Villanelle's glamorous clothes, which inspired several real-life fashion trends. The series also managed to snag 21 Emmy nominations during its run, with Comer deservedly picking up a statue in 2019. Killing Eve is definitely not your average romance or a spy thriller like the ones you've seen before. Rather, this twisted tale with morally ambiguous characters is a show that you'll soon find yourself obsessed with. It's also free to watch right now on Tubi, so you have no excuse not to dive in.
Seasons 1–4 of Killing Eve are available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.
Killing Eve
Like Follow Followed TV-MA Adventure Drama Action Release Date 2018 - 2022-00-00 Network BBC Showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge Directors Lisa Brühlmann Writers Phoebe Waller-BridgeCast
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