Here’s Why “Killing Eve” Season 3 Didn’t Really Work

An important character was sidelined for too long.

When Killing Eve premiered in 2018, audiences and critics were instantly captivated by the cat-and-mouse spy drama. This was largely due to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s devilishly clever writing, and the BBC show’s ability to deliver constant surprises.

However, it was also because of the two main characters: Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Jodie Comer). It became evident early on that the chemistry between Oh and Comer was electric, and their dynamic was unlike anything else we had seen on television.

To recap, we were first introduced to Eve when she was working as a deskbound agent for MI5. Except, she was fired for failing to protect a witness. Being overly interested in female psychopaths, she was instead recruited by MI6 to chase the talented assassin Villanelle.

The closer Eve became to Villanelle, the more her life started to unravel. In Season 1, we began to view Eve as a woman struggling with her self-identity, and Season 2 only cemented her psychopathic tendencies. Exploring the influence Villanelle has over Eve (and vice versa) is what has always made the show so intoxicating.

That brings us to the major problem with Season 3, which just wrapped up on the ABC in Australia yesterday: Eve was barely part of the story.

the lack of eve’s character this season is not normal, her character is so complex and I wish we could’ve learn more about her this season

— m (@villanelleve__) May 27, 2020

*Spoilers for Season 2 and Season 3 below.*

Given that Season 2 ended with Eve being shot by Villanelle, it was only natural for audiences to expect that the series would explore how much the life-threatening altercation had impacted her. Getting shot is kind of a big deal, after all. While the first two episodes of S3 established that Eve was struggling to cope, the writers never delved too deep into her emotional turmoil.

We also quickly discovered that there had been some significant changes to Eve’s life. She was no longer working for MI6, and her husband Niko (Owen McDonnell) had left her (which admittedly did not come as a surprise.) Plus, she lost Kenny (Sean Delaney) by the end of the Season 3 premiere.

You would expect these events to take an enormous toll on Eve’s psyche, except they are mostly brushed off using humour rather than contributing to any meaningful development in her character. When Niko is in hospital after being almost pitchforked to death by Dasha (Dame Harriet Walter), he writes that Eve should "piss off… forever", and it hardly appears to affect her.

Of course, it is difficult to know whether it did or not since Oh barely gets enough screen time to exhibit either. While the first two seasons mainly centered on Eve, Season 3 has shifted focus towards other characters like Carolyn (Fiona Shaw), Konstantin (Kim Bodnia) and Villanelle. With the introduction of supporting characters like Dasha and Carolyn’s daughter Geraldine, portrayed by Game of Throne’s Gemma Whelan, there was simply not enough time for Eve left. And while we appreciate Emmy-winner Comer receiving an entire episode dedicated to her character ("Are You From Pinner?"), Eve was ultimately pushed to the background of a show that is supposed to be about her.

So, why has there been a blatant lack of Eve?

ok so i’m getting kind of annoyed by people trying to justify the lack of eve screen time by saying that the side characters have been playing a larger role in the plot. do you see the problem in that sentence? she’s one of the 2 MAIN characters and her development was neglected

— xin (@eveoxana) May 27, 2020

Around midway through Season 3, it became evident that Eve wasn't playing a large role in the plot, and I trusted there was something bigger in store for her. Surely the writers were building up to a thrilling twist or a major moment that would get Oh back in action?

Unfortunately, that moment never came. 

Perhaps head writer Suzanne Heathcote was not entirely sure where to go with Oh's character. The complex dynamic between Eve and Villanelle has always been what propelled the show forward, but this season saw Villanelle become more interested in her own affairs. With Niko gone, Eve's investigation into "The Twelve" going nowhere, and her now-one-sided fixation on Villanelle still in full force, Oh's character wasn’t able to progress.

Additionally, the screen time Oh did have failed to contribute anything noteworthy to the season. We mostly saw Eve working at the Bitter Pill office, attempting to figure out who was responsible for Kenny's death. Ultimately, her efforts didn't lead anywhere, with Bear (Turlough Convery) discovering that he'd had the footage of Kenny's death all along.

Then, we thought Eve might finally be onto something when she picked up the mysterious nesting doll that Konstantin was after. Instead, she became an observer of the events; literally sitting down on the couch alongside Villanelle to watch the scene unfold, rather than actively participating in it. 

It is obvious—for the sake of the series—that Killing Eve will need to find a way for its titular character to move forward. Fans have been longing to see Eve and Villanelle start a romantic relationship, which would undoubtedly be toxic and turbulent. In saying that, at least Eve’s story would be going somewhere in that scenario. The Season 3 finale leaves that possibility open, and it seems likely that we’ll see the pair join forces, particularly considering Villanelle asked Carolyn if she could work for her.

Of course, there is always a chance that Season 4 could fall back into the familiar will-they-won't-they pattern that has dominated the plot of the series for so long. But hopefully next time around, Killing Eve will give its central character a more riveting purpose than to simply pine after a psychopath.

Header Image: BBC