Killing Eve – Beautiful Monster

By: Kelly Kearney

After Villanelle’s failed hit in Romania and the disastrous family reunion in Russia, our favorite fashionable killer does not know who she is or if she wants to continue down this Keeper/Assassin path. The Twelve’s Helene sweet talks her into another chance to prove herself as an asset to the organization, but Villanelle’s heart does not seem to be in it. Maybe that is because she left it stunned with kiss bruised lips on a London bus?

Two Assasins in Better than One

We find Villanelle (Jodie Comer) waiting for Helene (Camille Cottin) in some kind of waiting room for medieval knights. The swords and body armor adoring the ornate office definitely leave an impression on her. As does Helene, who uses flirtation and some sweet talking to appeal to Villanelle’s killer side. Helene has a new assignment for her and if she cannot get the job done another assassin, Rhian (Alexandra Roach), will gladly finish it and probably Villanelle, too. Rhian is a silent but deadly threat that reminds Villanelle she is trapped in this web The Twelve has cast and her only way out is with her favorite surrogate father, Konstantin (Kim Bodnia). Unfortunately, he has his hands full with Irina (Yuli Lagodinsky) who last week murdered her mother’s boyfriend with a hit and run…and run again. The annoying child had a moment of psychopathy and this landed her in the local juvenile prison. Konstantin is informed that not only is his daughter a manipulative and disturbed killer lacking empathy (Villanelle would be so proud), but she is staying locked behind bars for the safety of the community. Konstantin tries and fails to bribe the prison doctor (Oleg Mirochnikov) into releasing her, knowing this will throw a nasty wrench into his escape plans. He does not want to leave without his daughter, but after her stunt he is running out of options. With the facility’s doctor refusing to budge, Konstantin tells Irina that he has to go back to London to tie up some loose ends but promises to come back for her. His precocious daughter is not buying it and immediately accuses him of abandoning her in this Russian kiddie gulag.

Things go from bad to terrifying when he gets home to London gets scared out his wits by Geraldine (Gemma Whelan) who was waiting for him in the dark. What is with all the women in his life and their love of breaking an entering? After the initial shock he realizes Geraldine is there for some companionship or is she? She seems lonely and looking for some comfort, but her mood quickly turns to anger when she accuses him of taking advantage of her, something he admits to when he reveals, “I used you to spy on your mother.” That puts an end to their burgeoning romance and thank goodness because we still are not sure if he is Kenny’s, or for that matter, Geraldine’s father!

Mo Jafari’s Last Job

Speaking of Carolyn (Fiona Shaw), she is still working on her son’s murder case and all paths seemingly lead to that spectacles wearing little weasel, Paul (Steve Pemberton). She is more convinced than ever that he is in bed with The Twelve and tries persuading her partner Mo (Raj Bajaj), but he is not buying it. Carolyn’s only real evidence is Paul’s terrible taste in wine,and Mo does not really think that is enough proof he works for a secret organization of assassins. With some prodding he agrees to look into it and, eventually, he does find a connection between Paul and The Twelve. Unfortunately, with his attention on this case he misses the mysterious Rhian who has been following him. Like Eve warned him earlier in the season, MI6 will not keep him safe and thanks to this female assassin he is about to learn that the hard way. Rhian follows Mo through a local park and the very next time we see him the poor agent is floating dead in shallow creek! Whatever leads he had for Carolyn are now dead in the water; quite literally! Too bad he never took Eve’s (Sandra Oh) warning seriously.

Tee Off with Dasha and Villanelle

Meanwhile, Villanelle and Dasha (Harriet Walter) head to Aberdeen, Scotland for their next assignment. Although, this might be just a great excuse to show off their sportswear and work on their accents. Dressed in an outfit that can only be described as “The Grinch goes Golfing,” Villanelle and Dasha’s American target is a loud (typical), lewd (also typical) and chubby man who happens to interrupt the two women bickering over Villanelle’s lackluster job performance. Dasha wants this kill over with so she can get back to Russia and her son. When the target rolls up to offer his assistance to these helpless women both are ready to tag-team kill the fool. He seems like an easy mark and Villanelle tells Dasha the kill is hers. That is when she winds up her club, but just as she is about strike the American down she turns and clocks Dasha in the head! The Russian falls to the ground and the American starts screaming in terror. Villanelle tells him to run because she is not sticking around to finish him off. Killing Dasha was her final foray into homicide and, luckily for her, Konstantin is waiting not far with the getaway car. The two drive off just as Eve manages to track Villanelle down thanks to the credit card she used when she sent her that birthday cake. Eve almost gets to her before she takes off with Konstantin, but instead finds Dasha thanks to the screams of the traumatized American. Surprisingly, Dasha is not dead, proving once again Villanelle is off of her game. Dead or not, her injuries are severe but not bad enough to stop her from running her mouth. Eve has just about had it with mouthy Russian assassins and after what Dasha did to Niko she decides to finish what Villanelle started. With a boot to her chest, Eve attempts to crush the life out of Dasha! Making fun of Niko’s “Stalin Stache,” was a step to far for Eve and this woman needs to go! As Dasha struggles to breathe, Eve hears sirens in the distance and her murderous rage is cut short. For now, Dasha gets to live.

Roommates

With Villanelle, Konstantin and now Eve on the run, the three manage to converge onto the same train platform. This is when things take a heart stopping turn. Just as Villanelle and Konstantin are about to board their train to freedom the big guy grabs his chest and falls to the ground in what appears to be a massive heart attack! A scared and teary Villanelle runs to him in a panic, unsure how to save him without the two of them being caught by The Twelve. With them both running out of options, she leaves him on the platform and hops on the train. She is headed to their escape money, the six million pounds he stole that led to the Kruger’s deaths! As she settles into her window seat Eve shows up and spots Konstantin on the ground. Then, she sees the object of her obsession. Drawn to the train the two women wave goodbye just as it is pulling away. Sooner or later their missed connections will end in a confrontation Killing Eve fans have been dying for!

Back in London Carolyn gets the news about Mo’s death and she handles it in true Marten fashion. First, she appears stoic and brushes off the loss, but everything changes after Geraldine accuses her of basically being an emotionless robot. Carolyn proves her daughter wrong by smashing up the living room and having a full on violent meltdown. Do not ask for it Geraldine if you are not prepared for it!

Someone else who is not prepared for a surprising outburst is Konstantin, who lands in a Scottish hospital after his heart attack. The doctor asks him if he has been under any stress lately and with his booming laugh Konstantin almost triggers another attack, but he is not the only bursting into laughter. His roommate is laughing too. When they peel back the curtain we see a beaten Dasha barely containing her joy. The two of them playing roommates will definitely not ease Konstantin’s stress, especially since her connection to The Twelve will most certainly put a damper on his escape.

As the episode draws to a close we find Eve walking through the train station just as her phone rings. From the look on her face we can tell she knows who it is before she even answers it. Of course, it is Villanelle who speaks the truest words ever spoken, “We have to stop running into each other like that. It’s not good for the both of us.” To be honest, it is not good for the fans either. We desperately want these two to share the screen before this season ends. With the finale upon us there is only one way wrap up this killer obsession with Villanelle and Eve FINALLY burying the hatchet…Let’s just hope it is not in each other’s backs.