2020 has been an incredibly tough, painful, and depressing year for many people so far, with so much tragedy and upheaval taking place. During a time like this, it is important on a personal level to find little escapes from all of that, and I know for many people, including myself, ‘Killing Eve’ season 3 provided that.
*Spoilers below for the entire 3 seasons of ‘Killing Eve’.
‘Killing Eve’ quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV after premiering in 2018 and has now concluded its third season. Despite a slightly up and down series, this is still one of the most ‘must watch’ shows on TV right now, as very few shows mix the thrills, laughs, sex appeal, and character development as much as this one.
This year, new showrunner Suzanne Heathcote took the decision to put character development over plot and to turn the show into more of an ensemble (which some cares for more than others). I think Heathcote understood the characters more than season 2 showrunner Emerald Fennell, and while she didn’t deliver the quantity of Villaneve scenes as Fennell, they seemed more impactful and organic.
The particular focus for Heathcote was on deconstructing Villanelle, and I think it is mostly effective. She needed strong character development and it really pushes her arc forward, but at times the season did miss the mischievous and hilarious behaviour we had seen from the character in the first two seasons, but now she has a better understanding of herself again, maybe that will re-emerge in season 4.
Villanelle’s costumes were again amazing and memorable, particularly impressive as they often mirror her mental state at that time. Some of the looks that stood out most for me were the clown, the white dress in Barcelona, the ridiculous green golf outfit, and the bomber jacket look when she is back in Mother Russia.
Sandra Oh remains a really strong presence as Eve but this season she is given slightly less to do and doesn’t feel quite as central as she should do. She especially comes alive in episodes 3,7, and 8, which were all written or co-written by next season’s showrunner Laura Neal, so that gives me great confidence (especially as these were the best episodes of the season as well) for what Neal can do in season 4.
This season was much more of an ensemble, which in my opinion didn’t quite work, but it did allow the very talented Fiona Shaw and Kim Bodnia the chance to shine, and they do great work and flesh out those characters (and I now think they should now take a back seat to our main two and act as supporting characters again).
Jodie Comer is now an Emmy winner for Season 2 and a BAFTA winner for Season 1 of this show, she is incredible, but the things she did with the character this season are beyond what we have seen before. She takes Villanelle on a remarkably emotional journey and we buy into it completely because of Comer. She is an incredible talent and deserves to sweep the awards again for this season.
As for the rest; Kenny’s death catapulted the plot of the season successfully without ever having a satisfying conclusion, Dasha was an effective foil for Villanelle and a new dynamic added to the show, Niko should’ve really died when it seemed like he had (although he may have been kept alive so Eve could actively choose to leave him), and Geraldine was one of the most bizarrely unnecessary characters I have seen on TV for a long time.
Eve and Villanelle’s relationship development will also have been a huge source of joy for those fans in the LGBT community and what a great way to kick off pride month, and I hope it is a positive one for those who are celebrating. The LGBT representation in this show is so integral to everything that happens and I think it is a very positive example of (admittedly still way too slow) progress.
The finale was refreshing and powerful, as Villanelle and Eve nearly walked away from each other for good, but in the final moment, seemed to accept they are destined for each other. I hope they stay together and we develop their relationship next season.
Overall, despite the often meandering plot and de-tours, Killing Eve remains one of the best and most unique shows on TV, and features one of the best performances of modern times from Jodie Comer. Season 4 cannot come soon enough.
Rating = 4/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 