Posted in: AMC, BBC, Review, TV | Tagged: amc, bbc america, Jodie Comer, Killing Eve, Sandra Oh

'Killing Eve' S02, Ep4: "Desperate Times" Calls for Desperate… Bacon? (SPOILER REVIEW)

"Desperate Times", the fourth episode of this second season of Killing Eve, kicked things up a notch in a way that I wasn't expecting at all, and with food driving just about every element of the story.

Villanelle (Jody Comer) and her new/old handler Konstanin (Kim Bodnia) are in Amsterdam for a job, and the erratic assassin is bored. Everything is boring, except for a painting of two disemboweled men she sees in a museum that reminds her of bacon.

Eve (Sandra Oh), on the other hand, is nothing but bored. The hunt for the Ghost continues, with Eve's MI6 team (Operation Mandalay) coming across yet another flawless kill. Eve is closing in on what makes the Ghost tick, and getting excited and energized by the prospect.

Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) makes a potentially risky decision with a member of her team, deciding to send Jess (Nina Sosanya) to Amsterdam to investigate a potential Villanelle killing instead of Eve.

Everything in "Desperate Times" was pulsing with a new energy, one that I didn't realize was missing from the show. Not that the previous episodes of this season haven't been good- they've been fantastic, but this latest installment was next level.

Villanelle pouting about Eve is terrifying, and her desire to get Eve's attention will probably backfire on Konstantin in the long run. Comer plays Villanelle like a petulant, terrifying child, and it's a bit unnerving when she lashes out.

There's a fantastic scene towards the end of the episode where hyper-sexed up Hugo (Edward Bluemel) figures out what makes Eve tick, and suddenly, the whole theme of the episode is laid bare.

Boredom is a dangerous thing. Eve will do anything for the excitement a murder investigation brings her, and Villanelle is erratic and dangerous if she has nothing to do.

It's also good to see some momentum with the Peele investigation, which provided the initial clues Operation Mandalay needs to track down the Ghost.

SPOILERS!

I absolutely love how quickly Eve clued in on the Ghost. She notices a minute detail about a recent kill, and from that comes up with a list of character and professional traits that the MI6 team can use to track the killer down.

And track her down they do, in a scene that should send chills down anyone's spine. Eve is excited by the hunt, and potentially dangerous- and the Ghost knows it when she's apprehended.

Oh plays that scene so chillingly well, making small-talk with the suspect while a sniper lines up a shot. It's so good, you don't even see it coming.

Comer's bored desperation spiral is equally chilling, as Villanelle can't cope with Eve apparently ignoring her. She performs a flashy, very public execution in a cartoon pig mask, then goes on a drug bender and almost kills someone at a club. This is not a side to Villanelle that we're used to seeing, and it's unsettling to say the least.

The music, of course, was fantastic. If you want to check it out, here's a link to the playlist!

On Sunday, May 5th, AMC and BBC America will run "Smell Ya Later", here's a taste:

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