Martin Carr reviews the first episode of Killing Eve season 3…
Left for dead at the end of season two there is much to be said for Eve’s gyoza dumpling prep. From that Eastern bloc opening through those muted colours to an ostentatious Spanish wedding, Killing Eve has lost none of its swagger. Polished production, razor sharp dialogue and depth of character are abundant, while everyone from the checkout actress down is having fun.
Harriet Walters and Steve Pemberton make brief and lasting impressions while the comedic chemistry between Walters and Comer is electric. Likewise Fiona Shaw and her nemesis Pemberton crackle with past rivalry and the potential for high end dialogue jousting. From a narrative perspective episode one has also lost none of its invention brimming over with moments of victory lap bravado.
Bouncing between Barcelona, New Malden and Girona this season feels like a lavish travelogue with the occasional return to reality. Hinging on the fact that Villanelle believes Eve to be dead our first foray finds the latter trying to disappear. Happy in the routine and anonymity of catering work whilst spending evenings alone, there are still people unfortunately keeping an eye. It is testament to the smart set up, dynamic plotting and top end writers that even the mundane in New Malden remains engaging.
We touch base with Konstantin briefly whilst comic relief comes from Fiona Shaw and Sean Delaney who continue to have a unique parental relationship. However the main attraction continues to be Jodie Comer’s Villanelle. A cold blooded assassin with expensive tastes, whimsical moments of unpredictability and an off the wall affability. What also remains impress beyond the self-possessed performance is her talent with accents.
During interviews Comer is disarmingly self-effacing making light of her abilities to not just do the accent but disappear behind it. She also remains a gift to script writers drawing sarcasm, cynicism and an alluring indifference from every line. Few actors would be able to keep an audience on side whilst bludgeoning someone to death with a Mason jar, but then again Comer is a rarity.
Someone who can go toe to toe with a seasoned veteran yet still draw the eye without either grandstanding or scenery chewing. It is for these reasons as much as the continual freshness which Killing Eve brings into this third season, that ‘Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey’ marks a barnstorming return for a unique anti-hero.
Martin Carr
