The final season of "Killing Eve" faces a rather monumental task: can it even come close to recapturing what made the series so special in the first place? The show's first season had the benefit of Phoebe Waller-Bridge serving as head writer, and it arrived feeling fresh and exciting (and more than a little twisted). That first season introduced us to MI5 analyst Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). The two women seemed like complete opposites — Eve was fussy, meticulous, and, if we're being honest, painfully normal. Villanelle was wild and vibrant (and, yes, a murderer). The characters were also on opposite sides of the law, with Eve essentially tasked with bringing Villanelle down.
And yet, despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, Eve and Villanelle were drawn to each other. That first season perfectly encapsulated the unhealthy (but narratively appealing) obsession growing between the duo. Were they in love? In lust? Was Eve just as demented as Villanelle? There were no easy answers, and that was all part of the fun. Unfortunately, the seasons that followed never quite managed to recapture the initial magic. Season 2 was a bit of a step-down, but signs of promise poked through. Season 3, however, muddled things, building an increasingly uninteresting conspiracy and introducing all sorts of supporting characters who couldn't hold a candle to Eve or Villanelle.
The problem with "Killing Eve" as a whole is that the show has to essentially reset itself every season. No matter how close Eve and Villanelle grow during the course of a season, the show's formula requires them to be at odds again by the time the new season begins. After all, how many great shows went downhill after they answered the "will they or won't they?" question. "Moonlighting" lost its spark when David Addison and Maddie Hayes hooked up. Sam and Diane getting together on "Cheers" backfired. And after years of sexual tension, the inevitable romance between Mulder and Scully on "The X-Files" was a disappointment. It stands to reason, then, that having Eve and Villanelle finally fall into each other's arms would hinder the show (never mind the fact that the relationship itself is toxic as hell, there's no argument there – but c'mon, we all know the prospect of the two of them getting together is what's driving this story.
Keeping Eve and Villanelle apart romantically makes sense to keep the story going, but keeping them apart in general also effectively torpedoes any progress the show made in previous seasons. Season 3 concluded with Eve and Villanelle standing back to back on a bridge with the implication that they could turn around and face each other, or walk in their separate directions. It felt like a real turning point in the relationship. But when "Killing Eve" season 4 begins, it's as if that fateful bridge scene never even happened. Once again, the show has reset itself. But at least we can take solace knowing that since this is the final season, it will be the last time we're forced to put up with one of these maddening resets.
