I really enjoyed Luke Jennings's Villanelle books and I loved the first two series of this adaption, even though they differed greatly from the books. The third series lost its way a bit but I never imagined that the last series would be such an unmitigated disaster from start to finish. Like pretty much everyone else I was enthralled by the perfomances of Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh and they were the only reason I kept watching to the end, but what a dreadful and badly written end. How Mark Jennings and the producers could have allowed Laura Neal to get away with such appalling and self-indulgent writing I will never know. I have rarely seen acting talent of this calibre so badly wasted by such miserable scripts. The only good thing that can be said is that even Laura Neal's dreadful writing could not spoil the wonderful characterisation of Eve by Sandra Oh and above all, the stunning performance of Jodie Comer as perhaps the most loveable, scary, sexy, crazy and funny female assassin in fiction - Villanelle.
497 Reviews
Ending with no purpose
AlexSureUK10 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode as a finale didn't really have a purpose other than killing off a main character. You receive no answers or clarification about the 12 other than Villanelle killing some of them off (don't even see who they are). Carolyn's story is more confusing in this episode. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT blame the actors in this episode but the writers and director for it being so awful.
"Rushed" doesn't even come close to describing this mess
paula-kroll10 April 2022
This episode has some incredible heartwarming scenes, scenes that make you fall in love even more with Villanelle and Eve. However, there are several unnecessary long scenes that have nothing the do with the plot, which is ridiculous since it's the final episode of the series ever. The last scenes of the show feel like the writers just gave up. They are rushed, heartless and seem cold. It's a shame that a show that started that incredibly genius, with two main actresses that have a talent and chemistry that is palpable, ended in such a cheap and passionless way in just a few rushed minutes towards the end. Jodie Comer and Sandrah Oh deserved so, so much more. Disappointing.
What a shame
philipgriffin-2458210 April 2022
Goodbye,losers
darkerpassenger10 April 2022
Laura Neal managed to single-handedly destroy the whole show just because of her ego. This season was the weakest and instead of making it up in the finale we were presented with the most cliché and disappointing ending ever. Shame on you Laura.
Horrible
ladyyve-6934610 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Made us fall in love with these 2 women just to end them like that?? Villianelle deserved a better wardrobe and a better ending. This makes me so angry!! And as for Carolyn?? Off with her head!! How dare yall make her character do this??
What the...!?
isabellacheng10 April 2022
The majority of the episode seems nice. Not in any way spectacular, but passable for a series finale. Perhaps even above average with respect to this lackluster season. Then we get this major "plot twist" at the very end. Emphasis on "very". This is disastrous! How do you go from 19 Emmy 15 BAFTA nominations and a Peabody, to this pile of dung!? It takes huge effort to ruin something so good. It takes losers, many of them. Goodbye Eve, goodbye Villanelle. I am lost for words.
Got really lazy
malty-185-48833710 April 2022
My rating is Zero
cimorellisteve12 April 2022
What you have here and the higher ups, show runner, etc. Saying "our fans are so loyal we can give them the worst ending in TV series history and they'll take it" obviously they didn't care, there were no answers, lazing writing and minimal effort. Beyond awful, a complete embarrassment.
Disappointing but I get it.
girliefingers12 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I think it's obvious you can't be an assassin and get away with killing people on British soil. Although I would have liked them to waltz into the sunset as a partnership with a glorious future, we should all realise that is a fantasy.
Giving this a six because there are too many unanswered questions.
Giving this a six because there are too many unanswered questions.
"Hello, Losers" Indeed
mynewyaa11 April 2022
This series finale is namely "Hello, Losers." That's the writers talking to US, the audience, calling US losers. What chumps we are for having watched this show for years to have it end like this. What contempt these writers must of for us to do this. Disgusting.
They should haved stopped at season 3.
klaatu5610 April 2022
Season three left on a high note, and could have been left for fans of the series (like me) to formulate a conclusive ending.
Season 4 is a disaster and a mess, I wish they hadn't done this.
------------------------------ Here is my own ending:
------------------------------ A Stealth military/medical helicopter hovers above the Thames.
Two rescue rafts with hoist are dropped.
Four SAS divers in the Thames put Eve and Villanelle into rafts and hoisted to helicopter.
Eve and Villanelle are given emergency surgery.
... E and V wake up in a large bed to the sound of Claire de Lune being played on a Steinway grand piano.
The pianist (who is the international concert pianist Khatia Buniatishvili) looks over to E and V and says Carolyn wishes you good health and welcome to Batumi, Georgia.
------------------------------------------
Season 4 is a disaster and a mess, I wish they hadn't done this.
------------------------------ Here is my own ending:
------------------------------ A Stealth military/medical helicopter hovers above the Thames.
Two rescue rafts with hoist are dropped.
Four SAS divers in the Thames put Eve and Villanelle into rafts and hoisted to helicopter.
Eve and Villanelle are given emergency surgery.
... E and V wake up in a large bed to the sound of Claire de Lune being played on a Steinway grand piano.
The pianist (who is the international concert pianist Khatia Buniatishvili) looks over to E and V and says Carolyn wishes you good health and welcome to Batumi, Georgia.
------------------------------------------
People really hate things coming to an end don't they
fozzybass14 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I really don't understand the vitriol that is being poured over this episode. Carolyn was using eve and villenelle do do her dirty work, but couldn't let someone who has created so much death and carnage live. Surely eve and Villenelle riding off into the sunset together would have been less plausible. Yes we didn't get to see the 12, but we never did anyway! I've really enjoyed this series. Its almost as good as the first. Carolyn has been immense as a character.
Makes Game of Thrones' ending seem flawless
WichieHenwy10 April 2022
The only reason this is getting anything above 1 is because it actually showed Villanelle and Eve's relationship grow and progress after 7 painfully slow episodes.
The end was incredibly rushed. Far too much air time on side characters such as Pam, Gunn and Hugo on the finale episode where time is crucial and the goal is to tie all knots and conclude any unfinished business between the main characters.
Gave Fiona Shaw the "Danaerys" treatment by throwing everything about her character down the drain for some cheap and poorly written shock value. What were they thinking?
The final 2 minutes of this episode should have lasted far longer than it did but instead it was rushed beyond anything imaginable and is just a slap in the face for both Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh who brought so much talent, skill and charisma to this show. They deserve better than that.
The end was incredibly rushed. Far too much air time on side characters such as Pam, Gunn and Hugo on the finale episode where time is crucial and the goal is to tie all knots and conclude any unfinished business between the main characters.
Gave Fiona Shaw the "Danaerys" treatment by throwing everything about her character down the drain for some cheap and poorly written shock value. What were they thinking?
The final 2 minutes of this episode should have lasted far longer than it did but instead it was rushed beyond anything imaginable and is just a slap in the face for both Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh who brought so much talent, skill and charisma to this show. They deserve better than that.
Disappointed but not surprised
simkovamirus10 April 2022
Why is that, that great, succesful shows that are so unique and briliant in the start ends like this ...I loved Game of thrones and was left only with bad taste in my mouth in the end ...I loved Westworld and then third season happened and i'm pretty sure i won't watch 4 season when it comes ...and then I loved Killing Eve, and ESPECIALLY Villanelle and Eve there and ....you know what was next ...
I just don't get it ...i know it's not real of course, it's a fiction..but i mean isn't out there already enough cruelty and unfairnes for us, to suffer through something what should bring you joy and moment of oblivion?
Brava writers 👏👏 you ruined 4 years of something special for a quick pump of your ego.
Brava writers 👏👏 you ruined 4 years of something special for a quick pump of your ego.
We deserved better.
maru_ec_198610 April 2022
Stunned. Utterly speechless.
percy_k11 April 2022
This is a whole new level of bad writing.
The first 30 minutes or so did not serve the plot even one bit while the latter 10 minutes seemed incredibly rushed; and the last 2 minutes of this show was just an outright felony.
Note that, I don't mind at all who dies and who survives and who lives happily ever after, but the arrangement of things (well, I think it's an insult to the word "arrangement" in this case) is just extraordinarily catastrophic, and I am left utterly speechless.
If there is one thing I would commed to the writer, it is when the "THE END" appearing on the screen. Think about it, it's genius, without it no one would think this could be the actual end of the (used to be) critically acclaim show; and for this the writers have my sincere gratitude.
The first 30 minutes or so did not serve the plot even one bit while the latter 10 minutes seemed incredibly rushed; and the last 2 minutes of this show was just an outright felony.
Note that, I don't mind at all who dies and who survives and who lives happily ever after, but the arrangement of things (well, I think it's an insult to the word "arrangement" in this case) is just extraordinarily catastrophic, and I am left utterly speechless.
If there is one thing I would commed to the writer, it is when the "THE END" appearing on the screen. Think about it, it's genius, without it no one would think this could be the actual end of the (used to be) critically acclaim show; and for this the writers have my sincere gratitude.
Just why?
The last episode was Rushed, Choppy and made absolutely no sense whatsoever. The last Scene was SO abrupt & left me confused & with more questions!
After 32 episodes, FOUR WHOLE SEASONS, the series ending episode was Exreamly disrespectful to the fans who stuck by this dumpster fire of a show and having to go through awful writing & see the horrible direction this show took. Beyond sad to see once an amazing show turn into a show I wouldn't even recommend to anyone looking for a good show to watch. Because you'll just be left disappointed like I was.
Season 3 and 4 were just horrible seasons, with horrible writing and direction, and pointless drawn out drama about "the 12". I honestly don't know why they just didn't end it with The first 2 season, they were really good! Beyond that, don't bother. You'll just waste your time.
This isn't in anyway Sandra's, Jodie's or Fiona's fault. Their acting was absolutely amazing and The chemistry between All three of them was amazing to watch.
Bye Eve, Bye Villanelle, Bye Carolyn.
curtisanderson-orris10 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
- Why did they keep Eve and Villanelle apart for FOUR WHOLE SEASONS, until the last episode, only to have Villinale killed not even 5 minutes later after they finally get together?!? WTF!
- Why did they make such a big deal about "The 12" only to have Villanelle kill ALL OF THEM IN 20 seconds, in a montage no less! We got NO answers about anything! We don't get to see who they are? You spent all of season 4 focused about "the 12" and yet gave up absolutely nothing in the end.
- Why did Carolyn have a whole 360 degree turn around in character and have Villanelle killed? It was SO abrupt, out of character for her. Just dumb.
- Why Have Pam, Hugo & Gunn in the episode? Waste of time on side characters, they had WAY to much screen time. (IMO)
The last episode was Rushed, Choppy and made absolutely no sense whatsoever. The last Scene was SO abrupt & left me confused & with more questions!
After 32 episodes, FOUR WHOLE SEASONS, the series ending episode was Exreamly disrespectful to the fans who stuck by this dumpster fire of a show and having to go through awful writing & see the horrible direction this show took. Beyond sad to see once an amazing show turn into a show I wouldn't even recommend to anyone looking for a good show to watch. Because you'll just be left disappointed like I was.
Season 3 and 4 were just horrible seasons, with horrible writing and direction, and pointless drawn out drama about "the 12". I honestly don't know why they just didn't end it with The first 2 season, they were really good! Beyond that, don't bother. You'll just waste your time.
This isn't in anyway Sandra's, Jodie's or Fiona's fault. Their acting was absolutely amazing and The chemistry between All three of them was amazing to watch.
Bye Eve, Bye Villanelle, Bye Carolyn.
The writers should be ashamed
ianrogers-6996011 April 2022
Bitter disappointment
MsShirlyS11 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's really nice to finally see these two women make peace with their relationship and truest enjoy each other's company after they fought with each other for nearly four seasons. Villanelle and Eve's road trip is the only good thing to see in this episode as the rest is a disaster.
Eventually the Twelve who have been chased for 4 years are just some suckers who have no names or backgrounds or lines or chance to show their faces on the screen. I was curious how the writers are going to wrap up the Twelve thing when the season 4 started with a strong intention of reviving them, but it turned out they don't even try. I honestly feel it can be more creative and convincing to just wrap it up with something like... I don't know, probably COVID kill them all? And Carolyn kills Villanelle and Eve just because Eve crossed her? Nothing makes sense at the end. A completely waste of good performances and stories.
Eventually the Twelve who have been chased for 4 years are just some suckers who have no names or backgrounds or lines or chance to show their faces on the screen. I was curious how the writers are going to wrap up the Twelve thing when the season 4 started with a strong intention of reviving them, but it turned out they don't even try. I honestly feel it can be more creative and convincing to just wrap it up with something like... I don't know, probably COVID kill them all? And Carolyn kills Villanelle and Eve just because Eve crossed her? Nothing makes sense at the end. A completely waste of good performances and stories.
Not as bad as it's scored
rmkellync26 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Mild mild spoilers
All of season 4 was a train wreck, I thought. The obvious different tone and direction throughout the season I did not care for. I don't like where Konstantin was taken, or not, as a character - or which director advised him to start laughing like that.
But the finale: I think it scored so low here not because it's just an ok episode and finale, but not the 3.whatever score it has here, but because of viewers reaction to the ending itself.
Seasons 1 and 2, amazing. 3 is the transition to whatever the main next story (the 12) was, but 4 botched the landing immediately and this wasn't Keri Strug shaking it off either. Every moment of the Christianity conversion story line was a total waste of the viewers time - maybe it was great and funny in the book.
NOW i have heard there is a spin-off in the works for everyone's fave old female spy: Carolyn (who after Villanelle is the absolute star of this show, stealing scene after scene). I'm down for that.
Overall: Killing Eve in total all 4 seasons: 8/10. The first two seasons were good enough to carry the rest. You CAN stop after season 2 or 3 and be ok. Lol.
All of season 4 was a train wreck, I thought. The obvious different tone and direction throughout the season I did not care for. I don't like where Konstantin was taken, or not, as a character - or which director advised him to start laughing like that.
But the finale: I think it scored so low here not because it's just an ok episode and finale, but not the 3.whatever score it has here, but because of viewers reaction to the ending itself.
Seasons 1 and 2, amazing. 3 is the transition to whatever the main next story (the 12) was, but 4 botched the landing immediately and this wasn't Keri Strug shaking it off either. Every moment of the Christianity conversion story line was a total waste of the viewers time - maybe it was great and funny in the book.
NOW i have heard there is a spin-off in the works for everyone's fave old female spy: Carolyn (who after Villanelle is the absolute star of this show, stealing scene after scene). I'm down for that.
Overall: Killing Eve in total all 4 seasons: 8/10. The first two seasons were good enough to carry the rest. You CAN stop after season 2 or 3 and be ok. Lol.
A Complete Mess
Zlasant10 April 2022
No logic, no answers, and no payoff. Suzzanne Heathcote handed this writing team a series of open plot threads and the only thing they managed to do is hang themselves with them. It is hardly surprising that a final season that did nothing but waste time would be a rushed mess in the end, but it's hard to say that anyone expected something as bad as this.
perfect tragic ending
danthequeer9 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Everyone will say what they want about this finale, but personally I found it to be the perfect tragic ending to a series that I knew was going to have a tragic ending. And after the initial shock of the end of Carolyn ordering the death of Villanelle, it took me a little bit to realize why it happened.
It makes perfect sense though, because as we already know, Carolyn was original Twelve, and all this time she was playing the long game of having people do her job for her, she just ended up getting extremely lucky in the case of Villanelle and Eve. Once she realize the connection between the two of them, the power of Villanelle and the way in which Carolyn could manipulate circumstances into controlling Villanelle's actions.
When Villanelle goes in to assassinate the Twelve at the end, she is doing all of Carolyn's dirty work for her. And it's all because Carolyn recognized the connection between Eve and Villanelle in season 1. The whole time Carolyn had been playing Eve and using Villanelle to kill her way back into MI6 as well as to be the last member of the Twelve standing.
By using and then subsequently killing Villanelle, who was so interwoven into the Twelve, Carolyn uses everything to her advantage, and in the end "kills" Eve not physically, but emotionally.
10/10 I love this series so much and I find this to be the a perfect tragic ending.
It makes perfect sense though, because as we already know, Carolyn was original Twelve, and all this time she was playing the long game of having people do her job for her, she just ended up getting extremely lucky in the case of Villanelle and Eve. Once she realize the connection between the two of them, the power of Villanelle and the way in which Carolyn could manipulate circumstances into controlling Villanelle's actions.
When Villanelle goes in to assassinate the Twelve at the end, she is doing all of Carolyn's dirty work for her. And it's all because Carolyn recognized the connection between Eve and Villanelle in season 1. The whole time Carolyn had been playing Eve and using Villanelle to kill her way back into MI6 as well as to be the last member of the Twelve standing.
By using and then subsequently killing Villanelle, who was so interwoven into the Twelve, Carolyn uses everything to her advantage, and in the end "kills" Eve not physically, but emotionally.
10/10 I love this series so much and I find this to be the a perfect tragic ending.
What everyone wanted apart from the end!
jrbrombley28 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I know everyone is distraught by the dire ending but up to that point this was pretty decent in many ways and gave many fans what they craved. Jodie Comer continued to make Villanelle one of THE best tv characters ever, right to the end, with Sandra Oh providing great support. They should both be congratulated and they'll be missed. Pity the writers messed up the ending..what were they thinking? Much of this series fell short and was confused/ unnecessary and the series deserved better ! Overall though KE was ground breaking, intelligent, witty and dark and should be remembered as such.
Train wreck
wiktoriakoczaj10 April 2022
I've loved this show for years but this was by far the worst show finale I may have ever witnessed.
The whole episode didn't feel real, it felt like a poorly written fan fiction and the ending was just awful, really went out with a bang huh.
I love Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer for putting up with this, I didn't have any expectations for the finale anyways but my disappointment is so immense that I am writing this review.
The ending felt so rushed and unfinished, so many plottholes left in a finale that's meant to wrap it all up, seriously this was poor writing and poor choices made.
I don't think any mentally stable person would write something like this and think it's good to go film and publish to the public.
The whole episode didn't feel real, it felt like a poorly written fan fiction and the ending was just awful, really went out with a bang huh.
I love Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer for putting up with this, I didn't have any expectations for the finale anyways but my disappointment is so immense that I am writing this review.
The ending felt so rushed and unfinished, so many plottholes left in a finale that's meant to wrap it all up, seriously this was poor writing and poor choices made.
I don't think any mentally stable person would write something like this and think it's good to go film and publish to the public.
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