‘Killing Eve’ Recap: ‘It’s Agony and I’m Ravenous’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 404 of ‘Killing Eve’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are a great many questions that hover over humanity that remain unanswered. Such as why we came into existence and whether or not there is a God or if we are alone in the universe. Which are some powerful questions for certain, the kind so deep and so out of reach that a vast majority of them will go unanswered for a long time. Which is why we tend to turn to more intimate questions to solve life’s mysteries, since a narrow focus on ourselves can give us purpose and direction and spiritual and personal fulfillment. Which is why we ponder upon our own specific purpose and niche in life, and it is also why we think deeply upon the nature of change and whether or not we can alter who we are when we find ourselves in a rut or on a destructive path, to find direction… and peace.
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If anything, that latter question is one that is of note today… simply because it is the central question hovering over the final season of Killing Eve on BBC America. Because in essence all of the characters in this story have been wondering whether or not they can become different people and leave behind the toxicity of who they’ve become in order to find that peace. And since their adventures have taken them to some wild places in the first few weeks of this farewell season, we haven’t had the chance just yet to really explore that question and receive answers as to whether or not these people can in fact, change. But the next episode in this series decided to fix that by focusing squarely on that question and what each character in this story wants to abandon and that made ‘It’s Agony and I’m Ravenous’ quite the powerful tale.

One that quite frankly, was supremely sobering in nature. Because not everyone is going to the like the answers that Carolyn and Villanelle, and Eve discovered. For instance, Carolyn has been wondering for some time now, as to whether or not she can shed her spy persona and become a genuine champion for truth and do so in a manner where she doesn’t have to feed on the wonder of being the boss and playing every side and well, it doesn’t look like she can. Because when given the chance to work with Villanelle in Cuba, she took it. All so that she could run point on the investigation into the Twelve and pull all the strings in doing so, making it clear how intoxicating that kind of power is and how hard it is to let go of. 

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Speaking of Villanelle, her desire to leave murder behind and truly embrace the good of the world, went the wayside when Hélène broke her out of jail and demanded she kill Carolyn. Simply because Carolyn really did know exactly what buttons to press to get Villanelle on her side and how to get her to do her bidding without insulting her or making her feel akin to an outcast. And being able to enjoy that kind of tenuous trust and being encouraged in the right way to commit murder, allowed for her to indulge in her favorite pastime with fervor once again. Which speaks volumes to how difficult it will be for Villanelle to abandon a lifetime of this kind of work, especially because of the joy It brings her.
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As for Eve, well she’s been wondering for some time now, if she can leave behind the toxic thrill that comes with chasing trouble and troubled women so that she can finally understand aspects of life that she never knew existed. But her desire to be Hélène’s bestie in this tale and immerse herself in her frenemy’s twisted world, to the point where she made a point to participate in every sexually charged moment to gain Hélène’s trust and to indulge in a life and psyche that she doesn’t understand… outright reminds us how desperate Eve is to explore the parts of life she has been sheltered from and how far she is willing to go to taste that kind of existence.

Which means that in essence, this story makes it clear that sometimes… people cannot change in the slightest. Not when they are unwilling to put in the work to deal with the root causes of their unhealthy behaviors, which is exactly the case here and until they do… this is the path they are on and well, that revelation could prove worrisome. Because this trio is in fact, inching closer and closer to the true identities of the Twelve and since the Twelve prefer to work in the shadows, being exposed makes this collective obsession dangerous to say the least and well, this is a heck of a way to set the stage for the back half of this final season. Since it adds gravity to the journey and leaves all of us wondering, if this story is going to end in tragedy, since obsession and a desire to stay a toxic course will either bring this trio to ruin… or a devastating pyrrhic victory at best. Until next time.  

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