KILLING EVE 2.4: Thoughts on “Desperate Times” [Roundtable]

Last week Eve was having marital (and other) problems, and Villanelle escaped with Constantine. We learn what comes next in this week’s episode, “Desperate Times:”

After the discovery of another dead body, Eve and her new team make a break in their case.

Let’s see what Christie and I thought about “Desperate Times.”

Beware: *SPOILERS* ahead.

Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, Edward Bluemel as Hugo – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/BBCAmerica

THE GOOD

Christie: I’m glad Eve seems to be getting back to work. As hard as it is to deal with Peel, she needs to get past the trauma of stabbing Villanelle and fleeing France in the beginning, which I don’t think she did, and explains why she was so erratic in the last couple episodes.

Cara: Eve is definitely coming back to her baseline, but I’m not sure she’s there yet. It’s good to see her back at work and sharp as ever. I think Hugo called her out on something important this week when he said she does this job to avoid boredom. That seems very true. Since last season Eve has been caught up in the excitement of her new job and Villanelle. Carolyn doesn’t want that Eve though because that Eve is unpredictable and, honestly, unreliable. Niko called her on it too. I was watching Eve’s hair this episode (Sandra Oh has great hair!), and she pulls it up when she is getting down to business at work, but lets it down when she wants to be more attractive, desirable, and free. I mean, that’s a woman thing, right? Don’t we all do that? At the end of the episode, Eve puts her hair up and gets back to work, and maybe that’s a sign that she’s getting back on course and we’ll have our old, lovely Eve back.

I also really like Constantine as a character, so I’m glad to see him a little more. He definitely showed us how well he knows Villanelle, both when he goads her about Eve and when he reigns her in at the end.

Description: Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, Nina Sosanya as Jess, Richard Pryal as Peel lawyer, Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Aaron Peel – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Nick Wall/BBCAmerica

THE BAD

Christie: As important as it is for Eve to move on and find the Ghost… I really could care less if Aaron Peel lives. Which is horrible to say, but he’s fictional so, whatevs.

Cara: Ug, same. Although, I did love the lawyer coming in to decline to answer questions for him. Can I get someone to do all my unpleasant talking too?

I also didn’t care for Villanelle’s downward spiral in this episode. I mean, I expected her to spiral when it seemed like Eve is moving on, but I just felt like drugs are so out of character for her. Plus, it felt a little like they were having her lash out at herself by having an actor that resembles Jodie Comer be the young girl at the club that she attacks.

Jodie Comer as Villanelle – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/BBCAmerica

THE OMG MOMENT:

Christie: Villanelle. Pig Mask. Red Light District. That’s nuts. That’s insane. Does stuff like that really happen?

Cara: Yeah, that was pretty crazy for sure. For me, the OMG moment was at the end. I don’t want to give too much away for someone who hasn’t seen the episode, but she was cool and in charge. We’ve been building to this for a while, and it was great to see Eve look like such a bad ass.

Jodie Comer as Villanelle – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/BBCAmerica

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Christie: I liked this episode a lot better than last week, particularly with regard to Eve’s character, who really needs to just accept that she’s Carolyn in training and figure out if that’s the life she wants.

Cara: Sometimes I hate watching this each week because then I have to WAIT. I need to see what’s next.

Want to know more about the show? Check out our Killing Eve section.

Killing Eve airs Sunday 8/7c on BBC America and AMC.