Security operative, Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) is bored with her desk job and desperate to be a “real spy”. After unofficially following up on an assassination case she believes was committed by a woman Eve gets herself fired. However she’s come to the attention of a senior operative (Fiona Shaw) who seconds her to further the investigation.
Meanwhile, Villanelle (Jodie Corner) uses her chic Paris apartment as a base to take on international assassination jobs, something she enjoys rather too much. When she discovers that there is a woman heading up a whole team to find her, she is fascinated.
Soon the two women are involved in a game of cat and mouse, fuelled by their obsession with each other. As both dig deeper into the organisations that employ them they start to suspect that they might be working for the same people.
I am not going to tell you much more about this series because the less you know, the more of a wild ride it is, and boy is it a wild ride. it’s dark, disturbing, weird and absolutely fucking hilarious.
Eve and Villanelle are both such interesting characters and played remarkably well by both Sandra Oh and Jodie Corner. It’s rare we get such complex, interesting female characters. It is doubly rare when their motivations are not “romantic” in nature. Eve is ambitious, ruthless and rebellious but also warm, funny and loyal. Villanelle on the other hand is a cunning, creative sociopath, so charming it is impossible not to fall for her.
The supporting performances are equally enjoyable. Fiona Shaw is brilliant as the fearless, eccentric Carolyn, who is not afraid to use her feminine wiles to her advantage… even in her 60’s. Kim Bodnia is magnetic as Villanelle’s brutal yet enigmatic and sweet handler, Konstantin. And David Haig brings a lot of heart to Eve’s partner and best friend, Bill. Their friendship is one of the best things about the series.
Frankly, I loved every second of it and I cannot wait for the next season especially as it ended on such a mega cliff hanger.
5/5
