Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 5 Review: I Have a Thing About Bathrooms
Carissa Pavlica
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What we witnessed on Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 5 can never happen again.
It was messy, ridiculous, and flat-out fun, but now that they've met face to face, never again should we expect the same reactions from Eve when she comes upon Villanelle.
And please, oh please, Eve, keep calling her Villanelle even though we all know her real name is Oksana. Surely you're still enamored with her enough to do that!
Picking up exactly where Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 4 left off, Villanelle wasn't aiming to kill anyone. If she had been, everyone in the car would have been dead. Eve is cunning enough in her own right to know that.
Still, her passengers aren't quite as evolved when it comes to the serial killing assassin and stopping the car seemed idiotic to them -- getting out of the car and giving a little friendly wave must have sent them into waves of panic.
Related: Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Sorry Baby
It's hard to imagine what's going through Eve's mind as she encounters Villanelle. She has officially become just as crazy pants as Villanelle. They may be on different sides of the law, but they are on equal footing otherwise.
Nothing Eve does makes sense when you break it down. She's not sure of what she's doing, either. From waving and advancing toward Villanelle to being frightened when Villanelle put the gun to her own head and then aimed at Eve. She's more confused than a 12-year-old girl with her first crush.
What the heck was she trying to tell Villanelle when she not only waved but put her heart to her chest? I took that as a symbol that Villanelle had her heart, but that can't possibly be what she meant. Not this early in the game.
Frank and his constant lippy remarks when he's balls deep on both sides was also mind-boggling. Maybe he was so out of his mind with fear he lost all sense of reason. When you're on the edge of either a lifetime of imprisonment or death by assassin, can you think straight?
Did Frank ever think straight?
Guard: He says he's feeling to weak to talk. Do you want me to drag him in here by his armpits?
Carolyn: No. I know exactly what he needs. [to Eve] I'm so sorry you have to see this.
Carolyn's off-hand remarks like that are sprinkled in so subtly, but they play very well.
Related: Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Don't I Know You?
All of the clues received pointed to the astute commenter who heard correctly the name Nadia had used for Villanelle being Oksana. Her prison records were discovered, as was the purpose for her mission, such that it is.
Frank: There is a pattern, a sequence to these kills. They're destabilizing from the ground up.
Eve: To what end?
Frank: Chaos.
When you take that together with the other offhand comment Villanelle made later at dinner, something about she and Eve working for the same people, it could be that there are people within the government who are trying to tear down the current structure to get something different into place.
That's just a guess, but it would be a good, long-term plan for Villanelle and that's what's needed to keep her around. It also makes sense as to why Carolyn was never allowed to pursue the killer through traditional channels. If the government is conspiring with Russia to restructure, then why would they allow interference?
Another reason the reactions felt during this particular episode can never occur again comes from Eve's forgetfulness about Villanelle's ability to be everywhere and anywhere.
Going home and considering it safe was dumb. She was perfectly wrapped up in Villanelle and the skin-hugging dress the killer chose for her that fit like a glove when the two were face to face again in Eve's house.
Whether it was the intimacy of her surroundings or the realization that she was, alas, messing with the best-trained assassin she's ever encountered that made her run, instead of tentatively waving at Villanelle or spinning in the dress to seek her approval, Eve took off.
So what is it, Eve? Do you want to get to know the girl, or does the thought of knowing her scare the hell out of you?
It's getting confusing, and at some point, Eve is going to have to have as much assurance in her skills as Villanelle does in hers. Eve can't keep running from a woman who isn't going to kill her.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE DINNER WITH YOU!! OK? Ok.
Villanelle
It was funny when Villanelle asked Eve on a dinner date, but the next time Villanelle shows up at Eve's house, the same actions won't play out as normal after Eve told Villanelle she wanted to find the thing she cares about the most and kill it.
And I do expect a lot more of these moments. They're brilliant. It's my hope the conversations will remain tentative and taught but comical, as well.
Eve will be the only person who can get through to Villanelle. She'll never stop Villanelle's smart-ass answers, but she'll get to the root of the girl's issues. She's going to study everything she can about Villanelle and discover why she's lopping off the knobs of her kills.
She'll find out what makes Villanelle tick, and that's when things will get real. That's when the playing field will even out a bit and Eve will have more of an upper hand during conversations.
Eve may never be able to stop Villanelle from killing, but she may be able to use Villanelle to find out why and for whom. Eve will eventually get around to doing what Bill thought was best, tracking Villanelle right back to who pulls her strings.
Villanelle pretends she doesn't know much when dealing with Konstantin, but the final scene with him proved she knows a lot more than she reveals. She only uses what knows has when it's in her best interests.
Villanelle didn't check to make sure Nadia was dead before running after Frank and getting close to Eve. That might cost her a trip to Russia, a place she never wants to go again, where she might have to see Anna. Or maybe Konstantin can stick around and find another way to fix it.
Niko is bound to lay down an ultimatum when he discovers the killer was in his house. And he knows Eve too well to buy that she wasn't just crying in the kitchen.
Will either woman have a man in her life when this season is over? Signs point to no if my Magic 8-Ball is right.
Frank knew a lot more than he was willing to reveal to the people who were willing to help him. How far will the task force go to get information the next time they have someone in their clutches? They don't have a lot of time before that person will be dead and there's little they can do to stop Villanelle. She's too good.
The relationship between Eve and Villanelle has to grow.
Related: Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 2 Review: I'll Deal with Him Later
What happened here shouldn't ever play out in the same way again. The more Eve knows, the more confident she should become in her dealings with the killer, but she should never become cocky. She should never lower herself to the place where Villanelle operates.
Eve's goal should be to bring Villanelle's behavior up to her own level so they're both taking each other seriously and communicating with mutual respect. That would mean fewer moments like the sad face, but keep intact those like Villanelle asking about Eve's sweater. You can't change a zebra's stripes, after all!
Where do you expect the season to end? It's going to have to be a cliffhanger, and with three episodes to go in Killing Eve Season 1, it's time to start thinking about it.
Did the first meeting between Eve and Villanelle live up to your expectations? What would you have done differently? Are you going to miss Frank? Who is next on the chopping block? Is Kenny safe now that we know he's Carolyn's son?
Hit the comments and if you haven't been listening to ANYONE who loves TV this spring, geez people, watch Killing Eve online and get with the times! You're missing the best new show of 2018. Don't be the lone wolf.
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.
