Killing Eve
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Are You Leading or Am I?
is a tepid episode that lays bare the extent to whichKilling Evehas lost its way.
Yes, Eve and Villanelle spend considerable time face-to-face musing over what binds them together.
But theres an essential spark missing.
The show is repeating many of the same beats it has teased since the beginning.
Shes meeting Carolyn, of all people, to take the MI6 job offer she got long ago.
But she doesnt want to kill anymore.
Im confused, what would you do for us?
Villanelle proves useless in answering who killed Carolyns assistant, Mo, or her son, Kenny.
What use are you to me or anyone?
If Villanelle has retired, whats left?
Carolyn pointedly ponders aloud.
Its a good question for the show itself, too.
Villanelle wanting to untangle herself from the Twelve and her life as an assassin isnt an inherently worthwhile narrative.
Who is Villanelle without death by her side?
What does she want out of life?
Isnt that what originally drew Eve to her?
The fantasy of what life could be if she lived like Villanelle?
They watch couples waltz around the room as they have one of their frankest conversations ever.
Do you ever think about the past?
Its all I think about, Eve responds.
Villanelle has a lot on her mind.
Jodie Comers face whirs with emotion as she says this, as if shes overwhelmed.
So Eve gets up and offers her a dance, despite it not being eithers strong suit.
I have no idea.
Eve and Villanelle slowly dance with each other, Villanelle losing herself in Eves magnificent hair.
Eve: Not anymore.
Villanelle: Why not?
Eve: Wed never make it that long, wed consume each other before we got old.
Villanelle: Sounds kinda nice.
When Rhian makes her way to Villanelle, she cant help but be her ostentatious self.
She dips Rhian, aggressively.
But Rhian would like to keep things neat and professional as she mentions Helene wants to meet.
At a train station, Villanelle and Rhian are at odds.
Where Villanelle is bold, Rhian is utilitarian, preferring comfort over style.
I was trained to be devastating … obviously, Villanelle says at one point.
Their differences go beyond surface level.
I think thats the true problem for Villanelle.
She doesnt so much want to stop killing as she wants to gain autonomy over her life and destiny.
Villanelle whispers, Im sorry before beginning to pummel Rhian.
Seems like Villanelle can kill again after all.
The finale is working overtime to bring its various characters together.
Carolyn goes to the Bitter Pill office, where the mood is strangely chipper.
Apparently, Bear put in a secret camera to figure out who was pilfering his candy stash.
(Why the hell didnt Bear check this footage earlier?)
Meanwhile, Eve and Konstantins tracks merge when he finds her with what hes looking for.
When Eve looks in the bag it seems to be an innocuous nesting doll.
But it isnt the welcome Eve or Konstantin expects.
At Pauls, Carolyn is already there with a gun in hand.
She instructs Konstantin to sit next to Paul.
Do you even know how to use that?
c’mon give the gun to me, a clearly stressed Konstantin advises Carolyn.
Both Villanelle and Eve are confused.
Paul is asked by Villanelle about Helene and by Eve about Niko.
He acts as if he has no idea what theyre talking about.
He says his fall from the roof was an accident.
Carolyn doesnt believe him, beckoning him to get on his knees.
He wants to say that he would never do anything to someone he once loved.
Dont say loved, Carolyn advises.
Konstantin begs Villanelle to do something.
Instead of killing Konstantin, though, Carolyn turns her gun on Paul, shooting him through the head.
It should have been you.
Go before I change my mind, she advises Konstantin.
Before he leaves with his package, he asks Villanelle if she will be joining him.
Konstantin asks at her refusal.
Youre not family, she replies coolly.
Why would Carolyn let Konstantin go and kill Paul knowing he could provide so much information on the Twelve?
What Ive come to realize is one cannot destroy the Twelve, she says to a frustrated Eve.
She pointedly suggests Eve go cold turkey and Eve runs off in response, with Villanelle following after her.
Villanelle and Eve share a frank yet tender conversation over a bridge in the closing moments of the finale.
They discuss how they both had a hand in killing Dasha.
Villanelle says about their mutual killing.
Villanelle says she doesnt want to be in her line of work anymore.
You were never like them.
You only thought you were, Villanelle is careful to note.
When Eve describes seeing her future, she says she only sees Villanelles face over and over again.
Villanelle: Did I ruin your life?
Do you think Im a monster?
Eve: Youre so many things.
The script is a bit blunt here, as Eve and Villanelle suggest their monsters feed each other.
Eve pleads with her to help make it stop.
So Villanelle tells her to stand up, turn around, and walk in the opposite direction.
Now we walk and never look back, Villanelle says.
So, they walk along the bridge in opposite directions.
At opposite sides of the bridge they hold each others gaze silently before the episode cuts to black.
What are we to make of this ending?
Are Carolyn and MI6 really done investigating the Twelve?
Will Eve and Villanelle run toward each other or turn away once more?
This is one of the few satisfying moments in the finale.
Dasha is officially dead.
After Konstantin discharges himself despite being advised not to, he visits Dasha.
A tense argument erupts between them about Villanelle before Dasha yelps in pain (a heart attack?)
