7 Reasons Why Killing Eve Has Us Completely Obsessed
|
Are you watching Killing Eve? If not, you really, really need to get on it and check out the new BBC America series ASAP! We’re not even kidding you. If you have watched, then we’re guessing you’re completely and utterly obsessed with everything about the series that follows the intertwining lives of two equally fascinating women. We certainly are all in on this series that seems to be the most fun and captivating show to grace our screens this spring.
Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) has returned to grace our TVs once again as Eve Polastri, a bored desk-bound MI5 operative that has been recruited, by the always fantastic Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, True Blood), to track down a highly skilled assassin. Villanelle (Jodie Comer, The White Princess) has been hunting and killing people all across Europe and Eve must now try and put a stop to her. As Villanelle and Eve go head to head, they become equally obsessed and entangled with one another in a complicated relationship that is filled with respect, curiosity, high-stakes action and somewhat surprisingly, humor.
The series, which airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on BBC America and is coming to Bravo in Canada this summer, has currently aired four of its eight Season 1 episodes. That means there’s still plenty of time for you to catch up and get in on a show that has us here at The TV Junkies completely obsessed. If you need more convincing as to why that is, check out a few reasons below!
Sandra Oh
Have you been patiently waiting to see what Sandra Oh’s next move after Grey’s Anatomy would be? Us too! After earning five Emmy nominations, following in the footsteps of sarcastic surgeon Christina Yang would undoubtedly be no easy task. Thankfully, the character of bored MI5 operative Eve Polastri was not only up for the challenge, but the role has returned Oh and all her incredible talents back to the small screen. Oh has the inexplicable ability to portray 50 emotions all at once on her super expressive face and she’s just stellar as Eve. She makes her relatable and gives heart to a character that is smart, moral and funny. A lesser actor wouldn’t be able to convey the frustration Eve feels in quite the same manner that Oh manages, bringing a comedic aspect as well to this complicated role. Simply put, Oh has never been better!

Jodie Comer
As good as Oh is as Eve, Jodie Comer is as equally stellar as trained assassin Villanelle. She is cold, calculating and persistent, and as a viewer you can’t look away when she’s on screen. Villanelle seems to find amusement in her chosen profession, but soon enough becomes bored with routine and obsessed with Eve. While we should be completely terrified of her, Comer brings a goofiness and lightness to Villanelle, especially when she’s dealing with her handler Konstantin (Kim Bodnia), that has us completely captivated and begging for more.

Women where we rarely see them
The spy thriller genre is not one typically associated with women, let alone women opposite one another. Eve Polastri is about as far removed from James Bond as one could get, despite working for the same intelligence agency. But Killing Eve doesn’t seem to care and instead delivers a tale about bored women looking to spice up their lives. Yes, one may be a completely detached sociopath, but Killing Eve never judges its female protagonists and doesn’t shy away from being a completely feminist procedural. It’s also great to see the show never have Villanelle fall into familiar femme fatale tropes, where she must use seduction as a weapon. If this were about two men it’d just be the same old story we’ve seen a hundred times, but by allowing us to see fully complex and dynamic women in the lead roles, the result is fantastically compelling television.

Its Sense of Humor
Killing Eve is created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and just as she brought drama to her acclaimed comedy series Fleabag, she injects humor into the darkly comedic tone here. Despite the subject matter, there’s a lightness and highly entertaining factor to everything happening between Villanelle and Eve. It’s a difficult skill to balance the urgency and plot of Killing Eve with these emotional and sometimes comedic bits, but one that Waller-Bridge seems to have definitely mastered.

A super fun soundtrack
A killer soundtrack is always a great thing and not every show on TV has one. However, Killing Eve uses music in such an effective way that really adds to the fun, entertaining tone that Waller-Bridge is aiming for. When done right, music can add something special and really take a show to the next level. It can amp up the drama and make viewers feel a flood of emotions. Let’s just say, the team responsible for the music on Killing Eve are doing things very, very right.

Representation
Killing Eve is bringing some always welcome and much needed queer representation to the spy thriller game here, but maybe not in the ways you’d expect. First off, Villanelle is bisexual, but just as the show is subverting other tropes, she isn’t your standard villainous bisexual. The show also makes it clear that sex and romance are on the table at all times for any two people, regardless of gender and usual TV expectations. The equally obsessive relationship between Eve and Villanelle is very reminiscent of the one between Hannibal and Will on Hannibal. Eve does have a male partner, but there’s definitely a connection with Villanelle, who seems attracted and connected to Eve from the moment they meet. Villanelle has other romantic interests along the way too, but in the end, this all combines into a delicious game of two women trying to affect one another.

It’s already renewed for Season 2
If you’re one of those who is afraid to become invested in a series that may go away in the end, no need to worry about that here. Killing Eve was already renewed for Season 2 shortly before the first episode aired. I guess BBC America knew the addictive kind of show it had on its hands. They were right, it’s completely taken hold of us and we’re so thankful the fun won’t be ending with Season 1.

Are you also completely obsessed with Killing Eve? Tell us what you love about it below!
Killing Eve airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on BBC America and will be coming to Canada on Bravo this summer.
Bridget, this is spot-on and I am also hopelessly obsessed with these characters and this show. I particularly appreciate your nod to the music. Much like Andrea Higgins’ work on Wynonna Earp, the musical masterminds of Killing Eve undoubtedly set a unique tone and support both the international feel of the show. I am so pleased to know that it has been renewed for a second season and bless BBC America for recognizing this gem early on.
I want so much till like this show. The actors are fantastic and the premise is awesome. Infuriatingly however, the writing just sucks. Seemingly very intelligent people are put in ridiculous circumstances and act completely the opposite of what any sane person would do. While I will keep watching in hopes it gets more intelligent, I am afraid this run will be solved by writing that does not translate well on screen.
Obsessed is the right word. Everything works. The ladies are all great. The writing is fresh, and quirky, and sexy. Music. Set design. Costumes.(Villanelle’s suit in the Berlin subway!!) Episode3 was rocket-fueled. The note: Sorry, Baby. YES.
“SANDRA OH” – definitely the reason I started watching; she killed it on GREY’S ANATOMY!
“While we should be completely terrified of her, Comer brings a goofiness and lightness to Villanelle, especially when she’s dealing with her handler Konstantin (Kim Bodnia)” – the beard scene! Those are some of my favorite moments with her. 🙂 I had no idea who Jodie was before this but she certainly had me IMDBing her after a few episodes. I agree she has currently been holding her own with Oh and they’ve been great to watch with their standoff.
I’m not convinced Vil won’t use seduction at some point as a weapon, but on the large I agree they’re just as capable as any men who have similar parts in this genre.
The music is good but I am getting a little tired of “I Have To Kill You” being placed in scenes, we get it show so maybe save it for big moments and the promo material.
I like that they approach the representation as just is – her handler doesn’t pitch a fit when he finds Vil in bed with a man and woman at the same time nor does he say anything about her having an Eve lookalike in her apartment – he is concerned with her having relationships in general as they might break her focus but he could care less it seems about the gender of the romance. Bill comes out to Eve in a scene and after you hear the story it’s back to work because it’s a part of Bill but not all there is to him. Eve’s got intrigue but it doesn’t could her judgement. Like a lot of things with this series it’s just really well done!
“IT’S ALREADY RENEWED FOR SEASON 2” – YAY!!! I wonder if they’ll keep the 8 episodes a season model or will season 2 be 10 like some dramas on the network?
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the ambiguity of the series, yes Vil has killed people but are all innocent is the question because they suggest at least a few have been doing dirty dealings so does that make Vil an anti-hero in a sense versus a straight villain?
I’m definitely into this series and so happy to hear it’s been renewed; this was a good list, thanks for the read!