DISCLAIMER: This recap of Killing Eve episode “End of Game” contains more spoilers than the number of times Konstantin has walked into a dark room with a surprise guest waiting for him. I do advise caution when sneaking up on him, folks. He’s like a hamster – easily frightened. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution.
Welcome back, Killing Eve lovers! “End of Game” marked our official descent into the remaining three episodes of Season 3! Now, sh*t is really hitting the fan. Carolyn discovered that Konstantin called Kenny prior to the latter’s unfortunate demise. Konstantin’s daughter took the route of vehicular slaughter when she ran over her mother’s boyfriend. Villanelle botched her latest ordered hit, which is a rarity in and of itself. She’s normally an impeccable killing machine, after all. Eve paid Dasha a visit in Barcelona. Oh, and Niko’s alive, albeit now he’ll never be capable of speaking again. Pitchfork throat puncture and all.
Alright, ready to delve into “End of Game?” Let’s get to it.
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Now, we open with Eve (Sandra Oh) waltzing into Niko’s (Owen McDonnell) hospital room. He’s alive! Eve emphatically vows to track down the person responsible for Niko’s murder attempt. However, Niko isn’t having any of it. He tells her via fancy electronic pad to “piss off forever.” Uh oh. That sounds like a verbally binding divorce agreement to me.
Meanwhile, Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is meeting with Helene (Camille Cottin) – a superior of the Twelve. Helene is mighty impressed with Villanelle’s resume and near-perfect track record. So impressed that the Twelve plans on gifting Villanelle with that long-sought-after promotion. Villanelle the Keeper! Our favorite psychopath is elated. That is, until Helene reveals that Villanelle’s next assignment is in Romania. The target? A politician. Now, Villanelle is irritated. She thought she was past all that killing malarkey. She wants to order people around!
Later, Eve is back at Bitter Pill headquarters parsing out details with Jamie (Danny Sapani) and Bear (Turlough Convery). The boys seem to think that Villanelle is behind Niko’s unfortunate pitchforking. But Eve knows better. She insists that Villanelle knows to steer clear of Mustache Man. Bear reveals to Eve that Dasha was the one responsible for the chalk killing in Russia in the ’70s. Eve seizes that information and the opportunity to question Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) about the former KGB assassin. Carolyn informs Eve that Dasha was exiled from Russia for slaughtering one of her own in the KGB. Oh, and to exercise extreme caution. Dasha is one dangerous lady.
Then, we see Konstantin (Kim Bodnia) is at his daughter Irina’s (Yuli Lagodinsky) hockey match. In addition, we see Villanelle in the stands eagerly cheering on Irina. Villanelle reveals what happened in Russia with her mother to Konstantin’s chastisement. She wants to get out of the assassin life with Konstantin. Leave the Twelve behind. Konstantin is hellbent on fleeing the scene with Irina, but the trio cannot go together. He vows to send for Villanelle when it’s safe to do so. Villanelle refuses to agree to those terms.
Next, Carolyn is meeting with an informant in public. He discreetly reveals that, based on Kenny’s phone records, he was in contact with a Russian number prior to his death. Incoming and outgoing calls. Hmm. Naturally, this makes Carolyn suspicious. She barges into her new office at MI6 headquarters and finds Paul (Steve Pemberton) within. She presses him for the phone records from Scotland Yard. However, he reveals that the authorities are, as per usual, dragging their feet. The pair proceed with question whether the other is a member of the Twelve. Lots of mistrust there. But neither admits to their potentially traitorous affiliations. Stalemate!
Later, Villanelle pays Irina a visit at the latter’s school. They decide to play hooky for the day. Irina despises Villanelle, but I think she’s starting to warm up to our little psychopath. We learn that Konstantin and Irina are escaping to Cuba, and Villanelle still plans to follow suit. Villanelle urges Irina to kill her mother’s boyfriend, because murder is the answer to all of life’s problems. A+ role model!
Meanwhile, Carolyn and Konstantin go for a nice ride in the former’s car. She begins to ferociously grill Konstantin regarding his intentions with her child. Konstantin assumes Carolyn’s referring to Geraldine, so he asserts that she came on to him. Carolyn tosses Konstantin’s wallet out the window. Then, we learn that Konstantin called Kenny before the latter tragically perished. Why? Because Kenny wanted to know if Konstantin was his biological father. Some bring in Maury Povich ASAP! Anyway, Carolyn leaves Konstantin stranded in the woods. Do not mess with Carolyn Martens, folks.
Later, Geraldine (Gemma Whelan) confronts her mother regarding the latter’s incessantly cold behavior toward her. Carolyn pops open that can of worms and reveals that she doesn’t quite understand her daughter. However, she’s willing to sit down for a delicious supper with her. You know, as long as Geraldine gives up the ghost where Konstantin is concerned. Carolyn is on a role today!
Next, Konstantin arrives home after finally reaching his requisite step count for the day. He finds Paul sitting in the dark, waiting for him. Konstantin nearly jumps out of his skin with fright. I love that this is a running bit this season – Konstantin getting the piss scared out of him while folks keeping breaking and entering his flat. You know, just committing minor felonies for a laugh. As it turns out, Paul is a double agent.
Well, more like he’s working for the Twelve and feeding them information from MI6. He reveals that someone ordered a hit on Kruger’s wife (the accountant from Episode 3), and it wasn’t sanctioned by the Twelve. We know Konstantin asked Villanelle for a favor and said favor included murdering Kruger’s grieving widow. Uh oh. In addition, Paul divulges that if Konstantin is responsible for the hit, the repercussions could be dire. Deadly, more like.
Later, Eve arrives in Barcelona. She tracks down Dasha (Harriet Walter) in a bowling alley. The pair engage in a highly competitive bowling match. Eve interrogates Dasha regarding Villanelle’s whereabouts. Dasha tells Eve that Villanelle is moving up in the world. She’s becoming untouchable. Eve asserts that Villanelle isn’t the culprit in Niko’s murder attempt. Dasha, naturally, refuses to take accountability. But she does bowl a damn good game, so there’s that.
Next, we see Villanelle is in Romania. She’s posing as a hairdresser who’s primping the aforementioned politician prior to a TV appearance. Villanelle tries to kill him via electrocution through a hair dryer. Before homeboy bites the dust he stabs her in the arm with a pair of scissors. Hey, at least she eventually got the job done, albeit it was a little messy.
Later, Villanelle is sitting in her hotel room and suffering from her nasty stab wound. Dasha arrives on the scene and finishes applying stitches to said wound. Villanelle insists over and over that she’s through with this business. She’s done. However, Dasha encourages Villanelle to keep at it and plies her with pizza. That’s the way to my heart, Dasha. Plenty of pizza.
Meanwhile, Konstantin is all packed and ready to leave London after his encounter with Paul. We see Irina’s mother’s boyfriend is taking out the trash. Irina is behind the wheel of a massive SUV. She proceeds to hit the poor fellow with the car, right in front of Konstantin. Then, just to make sure he’s really out, she runs him over. All while sporting a gleeful, giddy grin. It’s Villanelle Jr., ladies and gentlemen!
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Now, one thing I’ve loved this season is Villanelle’s character growth. She appears to be really tapping into her emotional center. Yes, she committed patricide, which is generally frowned upon. But, based off her interaction with Konstantin, it looked as if she felt some form of remorse. Or at least sadness regarding her mother’s passing. Not only that, but she wants to get out of the assassin business. She steered clear of Niko and actually adhered to Eve’s wishes in that regard. Growth, people! This is why I’m not so sure that Villanelle is a psychopath in the true sense of the word. She’s feeling things! Of course, her motivation behind longing to leave the Twelve could be rooted in not receiving the promotion she actually wanted. Who knows?
Do you think Villanelle’s motivations are pure? Will she actually leave the Twelve behind and start a new life in Cuba? Will Eve learn that Dasha was the one who tried to kill Niko? Join me next week as I recap Killing Eve, here on Geek Girl Authority.
Killing Eve airs Sundays at 9pm on your BBC America affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
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