Killing Eve
A British black dramedy spy thriller series.
Killing Eve is a British television series that blends black comedy, drama, and spy thriller elements. Produced by Sid Gentle Films for BBC America and BBC Three, it centers on Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), an intelligence investigator for Britain, who is assigned to track down Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a psychopathic assassin. As the hunt unfolds, the two become mutually obsessed with each other. The show is based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle novel series, and each season was overseen by a different female head writer: Phoebe Waller-Bridge for the first, Emerald Fennell for the second, Suzanne Heathcote for the third, and Laura Neal for the fourth.
The first season aired on BBC America on 8 April 2018 and on BBC iPlayer via BBC Three on 15 September 2018. The third season premiered on BBC America on 12 April 2020, followed by BBC iPlayer on 13 April 2020, and concluded on 31 May 2020. The fourth and final season debuted on BBC America on 27 February 2022, on BBC iPlayer on 28 February 2022, and on BBC One on 5 March 2022, ending on 17 April 2022.
Critical reception was strong for the first two seasons, while the last two received more mixed reviews. The fourth season, especially its final episode, drew significant criticism from both critics and audiences. The show set records for weekly ratings increases and earned numerous awards, including the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series. Sandra Oh won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama, and Jodie Comer won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Comer and Fiona Shaw also received British Academy Television Awards for their performances.
In the first season, Eve grows bored with her protective role at MI5 and, after investigating a witness murder she was handling, gets fired. Her fascination with female assassins leads her to a covert MI6 unit hunting Villanelle, a ruthless killer working for a secret group called The Twelve. When Eve and Villanelle meet, they enter a cycle of obsession that pulls them away from their missions and toward each other.
The second season picks up after a violent encounter. Eve and Villanelle resume their obsessive dynamic while pursuing separate goals: Eve investigates murders set by The Twelve, and Villanelle continues killing for them. When a new killer appears, both The Twelve and MI6 shift focus, forcing the two w
- field
- Television series
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Spy thriller with mutual obsession between an intelligence investigator and an assassin
- first_premiered
- 8 April 2018 (BBC America)
- final_series_premiered
- 27 February 2022 (BBC America)
- number_of_series
- 4
Lore & Background
The first series premiered on BBC America on 8 April 2018, and on BBC iPlayer on 15 September 2018 through BBC Three. The third series premiered on 12 April 2020 for BBC America, and on 13 April 2020 for BBC iPlayer, and concluded on 31 May 2020. The fourth and final series premiered on 27 February 2022 on BBC America, 28 February 2022 on BBC iPlayer and 5 March 2022 on BBC One and concluded on 17 April 2022. The first two series were critically acclaimed, but the last two series received more mixed reviews. The fourth series, and its final episode in particular drew significant backlash from critics and audiences.
Reader's Guide
Killing Eve broke weekly ratings increase records and received several accolades, including the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series. Both Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer were praised for their performances, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, respectively. Comer and Fiona Shaw also received British Academy Television Awards for their performances. The series is notable for having each series led by a different female head writer: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (series one), Emerald Fennell (series two), Suzanne Heathcote (series three), and Laura Neal (series four). Its legacy includes significant audience engagement and critical recognition for its lead performances, though the final series attracted backlash.
Did You Know?
- Each of the show's series is led by a different female head writer.
- The fourth series, and its final episode in particular drew significant backlash from critics and audiences.
- The show broke weekly ratings increase records.
- Both Oh and Comer won major acting awards: Oh the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, and Comer the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
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