‘Killing Eve’ Recap: ‘Don’t Get Attached’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 405 of ‘Killing Eve’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past four years, we’ve learned a lot about the fascinating characters that populate the BBC America show, Killing Eve. Because this series serves as a masterclass in character development and how to tell a story through actions over exposition and the end result of defying the norms of storytelling… since cleverly crafted plots for stories in this vein tend to dominate the market… has been a compelling and powerful journey. One so engaging and unique that is has allowed for the incredible mystery hanging over this story to all but be forgotten by the audience. For we simply know little about the Twelve or their origins and haven’t really noticed the lack of resolution regarding that. But with the final season upon us, it would seem that particular mystery is going to come to light by journey’s end, as evidenced by this week’s episode.
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For ‘Don’t Get Attached’ spent a lot of the time in the past, in 1979 to be exact. In Munich no less, where a young Carolyn Martens was working her first MI6 gig. One where she was to keep an eye on an anarchist group that was making waves with its anti-establishment and toppling of government rhetoric, and she did such a great job of implanting herself within his group that she was able to help them come up with quite the name… the Twelve. And she also did a wonderful job of getting to know its leader, Lars, and she also caught the eye of another German man. One both burly and silent and for a time it appeared as though Carolyn’s mission was going to go off without a hitch. Much to the joy of her spy father, who was also on this mission with her.

But it didn’t take long for this whole thing to go sideways when Carolyn’s father died. Because that made the mission personal and it revealed that the burly German man in question was actually a Russian spy named Konstantin, and he was responsible for daddy’s death and well, the genesis of the long-standing cat and mouse game led to all kinds of problems. In that, cover was blown and their focus on their feelings for each other… led to a messy end to their mission, when they thought they killed Lars in a violent manner. But clearly, he lived, and being a ghost allowed for him to properly found the Twelve and bring its chaos to life and that answers why these two are so intent on bringing this organization down and how it came to pass, and more answers may come our way shortly, since Carolyn tracked down Lars in present day.

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However, while it was incredible to finally get some answers and see how interconnected the Twelve are to our characters, there were other important moments in this tale that we need to discuss. Such as how Villanelle spent a little time killing once again to dust off her skill set and oddly enough, she did so in a very noble manner. Since she whacked men that were harming women in Cuba before she headed to meet Konstantin. In part to forge peace between the two of them since they have had plenty of sour moments over the past few years, but to also elicit his help in finding Hélène. Because she wanted to make her pay for every ugly moment she bestowed upon Villanelle, and well, a shared desire for revenge between both Villanelle and Eve… allowed for disaster to take place.
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Because while Villanelle was plotting and scheming and getting back into the thick of killing. Eve kidnapped Hélène’s daughter to try and get the upper hand, and she of course, worked the case on the side, and came to discover that Carolyn was somehow involved with the Twelve back in the day and well… her quest to find Lars and put him down and get revenge and best Helene at her game, brought us to the disaster in question. Since Hélène invited Eve along for a little ride to confront Lars. Which of course turned out to be a ruse. For she knew that Villanelle was back in town and that Eve harbored some kind of connection with her and what better way to distract them both from their tasks at hand and teach them a lesson… by making every attempt to kill at least one of them. Which is why she made sure that Eve watched, as Villanelle took an arrow to the back.

A surprise that leaves us worried for certain. Since this is the final season, and anyone can exit the story on a moment’s notice when the end is in sight. But while we wait to see if Villanelle survives this treachery, we can bask in the wonder of a quality tale. One that truly informed us that this farewell season, will be filled to the brim with stunning surprises and the answers we seek, and, in the end, those realities are going to make the wait for next week’s episode an excruciating one for certain. Since we have to know if Villanelle is going to make it and of course… what will come out of the revelations that this episode presented us with. Because it is a huge deal that Carolyn has had some inadvertent involvement with the Twelve and that she is once again, face to face with its unhinged and enigmatic leader. Until next time.  

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Carolyn Martens and Konstantin. Circa 1979.