[yasr_overall_rating]
A security operative hunts for an assassin. Based on the Villanelle novellas by Luke Jennings.
The new TV series from BBC America, “Killing Eve,” starring the always reliable Sandra Oh and fairly newcomer Jodie Comer, is the most stunningly suspenseful and cynical series this year. Written by the sardonically hilarious “Fleabag” star and scribe, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the characters and plot are tightly written.
Violence doesn’t equate feminism but this series is feminist as hell. Jodie Comer stars as Villanelle, a globe-trotting cunning chameleonic assassin who seems to have a plethora of methods to kill her targets. Luckily, most of her targets seem to be misogynists and other terrible people that you wouldn’t miss if they were gone. The pilot alone has breathtaking locations spanning from Vienna, to Tuscany, Paris, and London.
Sandra Oh is the titular Eve, a low-level analyst for MI5, who has some theories on the contract killings that her superiors find to be outlandish. After confirming some clues, she is given a tiny dank office space and a small team of underlings, along with her trusty former colleague. Fiona Shaw plays her boss and seems to have a deeper knowledge of Villanelle’s past, her handler, and the mysterious intelligence organization than she’s letting on.
The real breakout of this series is Comer, who in real life hails from Liverpool, England but speaks in a flawless French accent and seems to speak any other language in a fluid native sounding tongue. She handles the excellent action choreography with the grace of a Bolshoi Ballerina and is believable taking on one or many foes. She’s dark-natured and pretty demented but overall you can’t help but root for her.
The single camerawork perspective has some nice long takes and the cinematography perfectly captures the diverse settings. Locations shift from opulent ancient homes to smoke neon noir-filled back alleys. The score and the soundtrack are incredible and well thought out. A mix of vintage unearthed sounding songs and modern but retro feeling tracks truly give the scenes a classic feel while the momentum and tension surges.
Eve and Villanelle have great chemistry and they intersect in some interesting ways. This is the most original spy thriller I’ve possibly ever seen, and it’s definitely the most entertaining show currently streaming. After a fantastic season and plenty of twists abound, I’m happy that BBC America has renewed “Killing Eve” for a second season.
“Killing Eve” is currently streaming on BBC America
