They're colleagues now.

Killing Eve Season 2 Episode 5 offered a lot more information to prove our new theory that Eve might be getting groomed for something far different than being a plain vanilla MI6 agent.

Is that on your mind, too?

When Eve ultimately decides that she cannot get the Ghost by any conventional means, she leans far to the left of her conventional side. 

But I'm beginning to wonder if Eve has the conventional side she's been using as her social armor. 

After the events of Killing Eve Season 2 Episode 4, we got to chatting in the comments, and what was almost a throwaway from Carolyn to her boss doesn't seem as flippant as it could have been read.

That comment was that everything was going according to plan.

Killing Eve Review: Desperate Times

In the wake of that niggling comment, it's impossible not to explore other avenues for Carolyn's trust in Eve's instincts or at least her appeasment of Eve's shenanigans.

Eve: I wish she were a bit more...
Jess: Forthcoming?
Eve: Fun. She kills people for a living. Come one! Give us the goods.
Jess: Not everyone can be as exciting as you know who. I think you've been spoiled, Eve.

• Permalink: Not everyone can be as exciting as you know who. I think you've been spoiled, Eve.

We're not the only one noticing it, either. Once Jess said the words "I think you're spoiled," even she began wondering what the hell is up with Eve that she's not treated the same as all of the others on the team.

There isn't a paper trail of Carolyn's approvals. Everything with Eve is very off the record, not only when she's putting a hit on herself but in general. She doesn't do paperwork at all. What does it mean?

There are so many things about Carolyn that are mystifying and worthy of exploration. Every move she makes can be seen as constructive and taken with concern for Eve while also viewed suspiciously.

Take the whole ordeal with the psychopath expert. 

You could assume that Carolyn is getting an outside read on Eve because she doesn't want to be liable when Eve gets killed by a hitman. Or you could see it as a collection of more information on her protege for an even more significant purpose.

I like to think it's the latter.

The psychopath class was looking for specific reactions from Eve in contrast to her teammates.

What she learned was that Eve doesn't shy away from a gruesome scene, but when it comes to Villanelle, she can't stand to be confronted with the possibility she's as inhuman as others suggest.

Get Sundance Now via Prime Video Channels for Proof that Entertainment doesn't have to be Mindless.

None of that concerns Carolyn. She continues with her withdrawn support of killing Eve.

Yes, "Smell Ya Later" finally gave a solid lead into the show's title when Villanelle got the assignment to kill Eve. But I've realized that Killing Eve is a much broader subject than the obvious.

At the same time, Eve is trying to find an alternative way to solve her Ghost problem Villanelle is getting read the riot act by Konstantin.

Konstantin: This is a little hurtful. You had no problem shooting me.
Villanelle: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET OVER THAT???
Konstantin: You need to kill her. You're a mess. She's making you weak. You know that. You used to be smarter than this. You won't even remember her name next week.

• Permalink: You need to kill her. You're a mess. She's making you weak. You know that. You used to be...

Konstantin is looking out for Villanelle by accepting the job to kill Eve. On the surface, at least.

Villanelle cannot kill Eve. Everyone must know that by now just as Eve knows it herself.

The two are intricately wound in a way that might have been unexpected, or it could be a creation by The Twelve. We have no idea how it's come about, but it might not be as random as it initially seems.

Despite her initial concerns over the matter of killing Eve, Villanelle allows herself to get very close to the prospect of doing it.

She's getting new weapons, preparing her poison, and picking the right outfit for the job.

Killing Eve's Kim Bodnia on Konstantin's Return, Relationship with Villanelle & More

At the same time, Eve is contemplating what it means to be on a hit list. Once again, she fails to tell Niko he's in any trouble as she gleefully accepts his upcoming spelling bee gig courtesy of Carolyn.

Eve goes so far as to ponder becoming the killer instead of trailing one.

The Ghost might be a tough nut to crack, but she got a read on Eve very quickly.

After mere minutes, the Ghost knew enough about Eve to ask her if all of her intensive questioning might mean she's interested in doing the job herself.

Is Eve cut out to be a killer? From the moment we met her on Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 1, Eve has been feeling out the idea. Before she had any contact with Villanelle, she was already slicing open her leg to get a feel for doing it.

But when Eve got shuffled too close to the edge of the train track, she retaliated by sniffing out the guy who nudged her and contemplating a more purposeful nudge while she waited for the moment she would do it or not.

That seemed crazy.

But Eve has always been fascinated with the dueling duality of herself. To be as OK as she is with death and mayhem, some side of her could be accepting it because she's just a slight nudge away from becoming one of the killers she hunts.

Getting as turned on as she did after receiving Villanelle's gift of flowers is one symptom of her looming transformation, as is the fact she couldn't bring herself to wear a vest for protection.

Interview: Edward Bluemel on his Roles on A Discovery of Witches and Killing Eve

Of course, the last thing Villanelle would ever do to Eve would be to shoot her. It's too impersonal. Villanelle takes a lot of pride in all of her kills; if she were going to go through with killing Eve, it would be something fanciful and fantastic.

Look at the care with which she prepared her outfit to go to Eve. She wasn't even planning on killing the woman, but she was still adequately prepared to look the part of a grieving widow.

What do you think the outcome of their encounter might have been if Eve hadn't asked for Villanelle's help? It's hard to imagine how Villanelle would have let Eve off the hook if she never fully understood the purpose of their encounter.

And just how volatile is Villanelle if both Carolyn and Konstantin didn't have a problem with her getting so close to Eve? 

Villanelle: You don't seem that surprised to see me.
Eve: I'm not surprised.
Villanelle: That's a little arrogant, don't you think?
Eve: And yet here you are.
Villanelle: Eve, you've been so distracted lately I thought you'd forgotten about me.

• Permalink: Eve, you've been so distracted lately I thought you'd forgotten about me.

Villanelle plays it so cool with Eve while the entire time her head is swimming with the same thoughts as Eve. 

Dancing around their previous encounter wasn't necessary as Villanelle flat out asked for an apology. The way Eve touched Villanelle's face must have sent a jolt of electricity through the both of them, but they kept up appearances.

Villanelle: You know I'm here to kill you.
Eve: Yes, it was my idea.
Villanelle: No.
Eve: I told you. I need your help. I needed to see you.
Villanelle: So you hired me to kill you?
Eve: Yes.
Villanelle: That is so stupid. What if I hit you with a car? What if I shot you?
Eve: You wouldn't!
Villanelle: I wouldn't? Eve.

• Permalink: I wouldn't? Eve.

Eve laid all of her cards out on the table when she took the drugs Villanelle laid before her, but she is also not quite confident enough just yet not to get caught up in Villanelle's fun and games.

Villanelle knows how much Eve trusts her now. That could be excessively dangerous, or it could mean things will let up just a bit.

But if things do let up as a result of their working together, it doesn't make for a fascinating dynamic.

That's why my latest theory on the title of Killing Eve is more philosophical. Everything is going according to plan. Carolyn and Konstantin are working together as they mold their subjects. Villanelle and Eve are colleagues.

Killing Eve Review: The Hungry Caterpillar

Killing Eve is stripping away who she was before and molding her into something else. Just like Oksana is gone and replaced by Villanelle, I think Eve is transforming into a person Niko will no longer recognize and who will better suit the needs of. 

The needs of who? Carolyn? Carolyn and Konstantin as a freelancing arm of The Twelve? Eve and Villanelle seem like more of an arranged marriage than a surprising click after a blind date.

Choosing to confront Niko was very conniving, and Villanelle didn't hold anything back. She told him she was responsible for his troubles at school, she told him how interconnected she is with his wife, and also comforted him if he had any concern.

Now that she's colleagues with Carolyn, it doesn't matter all that much about Niko. She's comfortable in her relationship with Eve but managed to kick the stool out from what remained of Niko's faith in Eve.

What is the endgame for Eve? Are they hoping to pair Villanelle and Eve into a masterful killing duo? Will they commit and then cover their crimes? Is Eve merely getting groomed to be one of the world's best assassins?

Where do you stand on all of it? Can it be a simple as a cat and mouse game? It doesn't seem that way to me, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Killer Observations:

• Standing in front of the human statues to try to get a rise out of them is so deliciously Villanelle.
   
• Villanelle's mourning was very effective. Calling in a hotel employee to coddle her grief was freakin' adorable. For a psychopath, she's darn cute.
   
• Jess continues to amuse me. She gets great lines and offers insight into the story. 

Now it's your turn to share all of your Killing Even thoughts with me.

if you haven't seen the episode yet, you need to watch Killing Eve online and hurry back to join the conversation.

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.