Killing Eve
B OX S E T
As the lead writer on series one and exec producer on series two and three, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s influence, and particularly her ability to blend black comedy with pathos, is evident throughout this stylish multi-awardwinning spy thriller.
Based on Luke Harding’s Villanelle novels, Killing Eve introduces us to efficient, cold-blooded yet vulnerable professional killer Villanelle (Jodie Comer), who appears to be working for a rogue international agency with Russian links, and her nemesis – British intelligence agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) who is assigned to track her down.
It is an intricate game of cat and mouse and when the two women eventually meet, there is an electricity between them which they are both repulsed and attracted by and they become obsessed with each other. The performances from Comer and Oh are outstanding and both have been showered with various prize nominations and awards including BAFTAs and Golden Globes. In support is a roster of top-class acting talent including the excellent Fiona Shaw and Harriet Walter, and Danish actor Kim Bodnia as Villanelle’s avuncular handler.
The gory, violent set pieces are pretty shocking, all delivered with a terrifyingly cool panache and a streak of dark humour, while the high production values are a major asset. Costume design deserves particular mention – Villanelle’s own wardrobe is a fabulous mix of high-end designer and quirky psychochic, then there is the endless supply of cunning disguises she adopts for her ‘kills’– and the stunning international locations are certainly easy on the eye.