DISCLAIMER: This Killing Eve recap of “The Hungry Caterpillar” contains more spoilers than the number of times Villanelle has evaded capture. She truly is a master of escape. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution. 

Welcome back, Killing Eve fans! Our favorite cat and mouse thriller returned with another stellar installment this week. Eve and her MI6 crew delved deeper into their case regarding The Ghost, the new female assassin on the rise. However, Eve’s still carrying a torch for Villanelle, so she enlisted Kenny to help her track the aforementioned down. Meanwhile, Villanelle and her new handler Raymond butted heads. Our little psychopath went on a spending spree and made sure Raymond’s credit cards were put to good use – her eclectic wardrobe. Finally, Villanelle reunited with Konstantin in a turn of betrayal against Eve. Always with the betrayal, this show. 

Alright, ready to delve into “The Hungry Caterpillar?” 

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We open right where we left off – Eve (Sandra Oh) is taken aback to find Konstantin (Kim Bodnia) alive and well in Carolyn’s (Fiona Shaw) living room. Konstantin reveals that MI6 are protecting his family by sequestering them away to an undisclosed location. Eve grills him on Villanelle’s whereabouts, but Konstantin urges her to give up her search. “She’s a parasite,” he tells Eve. However, Eve knows just how to get what she wants from Konstantin. She strikes a bargain – he divulges Villanelle’s location, and she’ll find out where his family is. 

Meanwhile, Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is on a new assignment in the Houses of Parliament. She murders a well-to-do political figure via strangulation in an elevator shaft. However, in true Villanelle fashion, the act is flashy and the epitome of grand. Raymond wants her to remain discreet and neat with her killings, so this won’t make him happy. You can take the girl out of the flashy, but you can’t take the flashy out of the girl. 

Later, Villanelle arrives at her hotel room. Raymond (Adrian Scarborough) enters the scene and informs her of a new female assassin, one who’s the complete opposite of Villanelle. Villanelle believes he’s trying to make her jealous with this newfound information, but she asserts that she’s glad someone will be able to “pick up the slack.” However, Raymond reveals that their organization hasn’t hired this mystery assassin yet. If MI6 doesn’t find said assassin first, Villanelle may be out of a job. Let’s hope that severance package has all the perks! After Raymond leaves, Villanelle calls the school where Eve’s husband Nico teaches posing as a student “filing a complaint.” Anything to get Eve’s attention, am I right? She also decides to rack up Raymond’s credit card bills via a shopping spree. 

Jodie Comer as Villanelle – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/BBCAmerica

Next, we see Eve hard at work on the latest assassination case. Eve believes it could be Villanelle’s handiwork, but The Ghost is also rising through the ranks. Jess (Nina Sosanya) beseeches Eve to sway Carolyn to aid them with a sticky situation, citing that Eve is the boss’ favorite. 

Meanwhile, Villanelle is lurking outside Nico’s (Owen McDonnell) school. She spies a mysterious redhead flirting with Mr. Polastri, flinging herself bodily at the married man. Trouble in paradise? I hope not. Later, Eve arrives at Nico’s school for a social function, donning the blue dress she purchased in the previous episode. Villanelle is disguised as a teacher and discreetly follows her. That is, until Raymond swoops in and asks Eve for directions. After Eve departs, Raymond swivels around and gives Villanelle a charged glare. Someone’s in trouble. 

Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, Owen McDonnell as Niko Polastri – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/BBCAmerica

Then, Eve and Nico are chatting it up with one of the latter’s colleagues. Eve learns that a child is phoning the school and filing complaints against Nico, but he believes they’re merely prank calls. Of course, we know Villanelle is behind the wheel as far as that is concerned. We see that Nico’s colleague is flirting with him but attempting to conceal her affections. After she leaves, Eve pokes fun at Nico for having an admirer. 

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Next, Villanelle finds the unrequited lover sitting in the stairwell and smoking. Villanelle introduces herself as a new teacher on campus. The two bond and share a smoke. Villanelle’s new friend confides her true feelings for Nico. Villanelle encourages her to pursue her desires, to take what she wants. Oh, Villanelle. Always one to sow the seeds of discord in the name of getting Eve’s attention. 

Meanwhile, Carolyn and Konstantin are drinking and laughing, reminiscing like the old friends/lovers they are. Konstantin begs her to disclose the location of his family. Carolyn remains stalwart on the issue, citing that they’re under protection. 

Then, we see Eve and Nico sneak off to his classroom for some hanky panky. Eve becomes paranoid that Villanelle is afoot, and in her haste she pulls the fire alarm. Everyone flees the building. We see Villanelle exit as well, and she manages to waltz past Eve. However, Eve dismisses Villanelle since the latter is in disguise. These two are always on the brink of reunion. I hope someday they actually reunite. Nico believes Eve’s paranoia is getting the best of her, and her job is causing too much stress. One woman announces that the fire alarm was a false alarm. Nico unleashes his rage, upset that Eve attended his work event and managed to make it about her. Nico’s admirer approaches him and asks him to join her group for drinks. He accepts the invitation, much to Eve’s dismay. 

Later, Eve returns to MI6. She discovers red lipstick in her handbag. The shade is called “Love in an Elevator.” Bingo! Eve believes this is proof Villanelle was behind the assassination from the beginning of the episode. Villanelle most likely slipped the lipstick into Eve’s handbag at Nico’s school. She runs into Kenny (Sean Delaney) and urges him to discover the location of Konstantin’s family, despite them being in Witness Protection. Eve cites that she needs leverage, and this is the only way Konstantin will inform her of Villanelle’s whereabouts. Kenny initially refuses to do so, but Eve firmly puts her foot down. She vehemently orders Kenny to carry out his task. He’s shocked by her sudden change in behavior. Eve believes they only have a small window to pinpoint the assassin, as Villanelle could already be fleeing London as they speak. Kenny finally agrees to break the law. 

Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, Sean Delaney as Kenny Stowton, Edward Bluemel as Hugo – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gareth Gatrell/BBCAmerica

Next, Eve presents Kenny’s findings to Konstantin. He agrees to do some digging, revealing that there are a handful of places Villanelle could be. Meanwhile, Villanelle returns to the hotel to find…Konstantin. She charges him as if she’s going to attack him. Konstantin braces himself…for a bear hug. Villanelle jumps into his arms. Aw, seeing these two reunite, despite Villanelle attempting to kill Konstantin previously, is sort of sweet in a strange way. 

Now, Villanelle informs Konstantin that Raymond is her new handler. Konstantin tells her that Raymond’s job inside the organization is to “terminate” contracts. Presumably, that means he slaughters assassins when they need to be put out to pasture. Konstantin also reveals that MI6 will be on their way to the hotel. So, either Villanelle dies by Raymond’s hand or she’s taken out by MI6. Konstantin broaches her with a proposition: she can partner up with him. Konstantin has hefty contracts, this we know. A lot of money will be involved. A lot. Villanelle can essentially be her own boss. Flexible hours. Sounds like a dream job! Villanelle agrees to join him. Just like old times. 

Suddenly, Eve, Jess and MI6. arrive at the hotel. They head upstairs to Villanelle’s room. We see Villanelle and Konstantin are only on the other end of the hall. Villanelle can view Eve via the peep hole in the door. Eve wanders over to said door, and the two are only separated by a slab of wood. So close, and yet so far. Eve has a sneaking suspicion that Villanelle and Konstantin are on the other side. Her crew bursts into the room, only to find it bereft of people. Villanelle and Konstantin have escaped. Eve is enraged. 

Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, Nina Sosanya as Jess – Killing Eve _ Season 2, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/BBCAmerica

Later, Carolyn is also enraged that Eve conducted her investigation into Villanelle behind the former’s back. Carolyn urges Eve to continue delving into The Ghost and to wrap up the Peel case. Villanelle is yesterday’s news. Of course, it’s clear that she’s also furious that Konstantin betrayed her trust. 

Next, we see Konstantin and Villanelle on the road. Villanelle is singing along to “Listen to Your Heart.” It’s 50 shades of adorable. She asks Konstantin if Eve ever asked about her. Konstantin lies and claims Eve’s more interested in The Ghost. Villanelle asserts that Eve still cares about her, but Konstantin reveals the former is of the past now. This angers Villanelle, and she orders Konstantin to turn the music off. God, I missed these two together. Comer and Bodnia have such electric chemistry and pitch perfect comedic timing. I demand BBC America gift us with a Villanelle/Konstantin spin-off once Killing Eve ends. 

Meanwhile, Eve is in her bathroom, ready to wind down after a long day. She procures the red lipstick from Villanelle. She applies it to her lips. Suddenly, we hear the sound of a knife and see Eve’s lip is bleeding. She discovers a small blade is hidden inside the lipstick. This is very on brand for Villanelle – beauty with an edge. 

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Killing Eve is so adept at steadily building momentum in a scene and a master of the proper cliffhanger. The final scene for this episode, with a blade tucked away inside a lipstick tube? Bloody (pun intended) brilliant. It also blends dark comedy and drama so seamlessly. Not to mention, the performances are top-notch and some of the best currently on television. Comer is in a league of her own. Honestly, she could have chemistry with an off-white brick wall. She arrests your attention the minute she enters a scene. I hope she’s generously awarded one day for her astounding performance. 

Do you think Villanelle will send Eve more gifts? Where are her and Konstantin heading? Who is The Ghost, and do we know her? Join me next week as I recap Killing Eve, here on Geek Girl Authority. 

Killing Eve airs Sundays at 8pm on your BBC America affiliate. 

 

 

 

Melody McCune
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