Killing Eve‘s 4×03 “A Rainbow in Beige Boots” feels like a betrayal. And we’re not just talking about Eve’s betrayal. That’s a whole conversation that we’re going to have. Rest assured on that bit. The betrayal is to the fans of this show. We understand that making a show is difficult and that there are multiple moving parts. But how could Killing Eve get season 4 so wrong and forget everything that has gotten us here to the first place?
At this point, we’re just piecing things together and making our own guesses because the team behind Killing Eve hasn’t given us the actual evidence to back up why these two characters have gotten to this place. Case in point, Villanelle. How did she end up with those Christians? Why is she so hungry to prove Eve wrong? And what got her to that point where she felt comfortable enough to confess her love for Eve? Because there are missing scenes (a whole season in fact) that got her from where she was on that bridge to where she is now, confessing her love to Eve right before Eve has her arrested.
Which, the same thing goes for Eve.
Even if Killing Eve reveals that *gasp* “Eve was doing everything to protect Villanelle or free her so they can be together!” it’s not enough. Eve knows how capable Villanelle is and has admired her for seasons on end because of this. But all of a sudden Eve thinks that Villanelle is weak and needs protecting? We’re not buying it. The Eve we’ve come to know for three seasons wouldn’t do something like that. Now, the Eve of season four is a whole other monster who does not care for Villanelle and sees her as someone in her way.
The proof is in the way that she undressed in front of Villanelle in 4×03 “A Rainbow in Beige Boots.” Eve of any of the other three seasons would’ve blushed, covered herself, or gone to the bathroom. Not saying that Eve is a prude in Killing Eve. We’re saying that she’s never come to the point where she can be open and honest about her feelings for Villanelle so why would she feel comfortable undressing in front of her object of affection? When in reality, the reason why this version of Eve does what she does in that hotel room is that Villanelle isn’t that important to her.
So Eve undresses in front of her like nothing, without a care, because she doesn’t care what Villanelle thinks of her or sees of her. And that is a betrayal of her character and us fans. Which, there is probably some fanfiction out there with an alternate sequence of events. You know it’s true. And while we’re thinking about it, there’s probably a season four rewrite that feels more honest and true to these characters because sometimes it feels like fans (who are writers and creators themselves) know these characters better.
The actual betrayal by Eve where she gets Villanelle arrested is heartbreaking. Villanelle knows there is something broken between them. That’s why she gave Eve that face when Eve undressed in front of her like nothing and why she did the same thing when she was being led away in handcuffs. And Eve, she just sits there watching without a care in the word because the person that has been in her way, and that of her plans, is out of the equation. Yes, it’s so Villanelle can’t hurt her therapist friend. But it’s mainly for Eve because if there’s anything we’ve learned this season it’s that Eve is Eve’s #1 priority.
And then there’s the final betrayal of 4×03 “A Rainbow in Beige Boots”: the call between Eve and Helene. We were already on edge because of everything that happened with Villanelle’s arrest. But when Eve called Helene, her whole demeanor changed. She was actually flirting, confident, and rising to the challenge of Helene, in the same manner, she’s done with Villanelle for three seasons. And then there was the music. That’s not a tune we want to hear when Eve is flirting with her new obsession, further cementing in the viewer’s mind how over she is with the woman she’s obsessed over for seasons.
Villanelle was right. Eve is the scorpion and her actions in this episode prove that she’s ready to strike, no matter who is in her way; that includes Villanelle and will absolutely include Helene. Just you wait. Because Eve is after something bigger, something that makes her feel like she’s in control. And she’s not going to stop at Helene. She’s going to take it to the top. And honestly, with a season of development between season three and four, we would’ve been here for Eve’s villain journey. But the beats are missing and us filling in the blanks isn’t our job as a viewer. It’s the people behind Killing Eve‘s job.
And unlike Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer‘s brilliant performances, the people responsible for this show are faltering at it.
Killing Eve airs Sundays at 8/7c on BBC America.
