✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we send newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Support Us Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Shopping
  • CW SHOPS
  • Support Us
  • Get Started
  • Tickets
  • CW SHOPS
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
TV

Killing Eve season 3 episode 3, BBC review ★★★★★

27 Apr 20 – 27 Apr 21, ON BBC iPLAYER

Episode 3 shows how funny Killing Eve can be, as Villanelle (Jodie Comer) makes friends with a baby and Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) tries to have fun

By Euan Franklin on 24/4/2020

1 CW reader is interested
Jodie Comer in Killing Eve season 3, BBC iPlayer
Jodie Comer in Killing Eve season 3, BBC iPlayer
Killing Eve season 3 episode 3, BBC review 4 Killing Eve season 3 episode 3, BBC review Euan Franklin
A huge part of Killing Eve’s continued appeal is its comedy. And although this is the least attractive season so far – many thrills falling into predictable formulas – the laughs have never dried up.


Happily, episode three proves to be one of the series' funniest episodes, while also wielding this season’s first dive into unbearable tension. It makes you realise that much of the previous suspense of Killing Eve has dilapidated over time, but this can be forgiven if more nail-biters like this are waiting to leap out.



This episode is like a testing of the stylish waters for writer Laura Neal, who’s replacing Suzanne Heathcote as show-runner for season four. It’s a shame that quarantine will delay the Neal iteration; we’ll have to wait to see how funny Killing Eve could be. With a few decent comedy credits to her name, including an episode of Sex Education, Neal’s potential is exciting and we’ll only need to wait for episode seven for another flavour. And her humour is dark. Delectably dark.


The bleakest jokes belong, of course, to Villanelle (Jodie Comer) as she’s dropped in Andalusia bearing the guise of a dungareed piano tuner. There’s no revealed premise with this target. In fact, few of the recent assassinations are explained any more; there’s no motive to get behind or explain. But these concerns are cut to pieces as Villanelle has violent fun with a tuning fork, leading to an unlikely companionship with a baby.


One scene with the said baby will be hilarious to some and abhorrent to others, as Villanelle and her old mentor Dasha (Harriet Walker) show their nihilistic colours, ignoring the more human world behind them. For this critic, who has no children, it’s a triumph of visual comedy.



If Villanelle dominates the physical comedy, former MI6 boss Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) is the master of cutting wit and genius one-liners. She always came out with unforgettable, often surreal belters (we’re still thinking about that pig placenta moisturiser); but here, Neal gives her as much time on screen as a stand-up on stage.


One particular highlight is when she and Eve (Sandra Oh) discuss one of Carolyn’s ‘cold war boyfriends’: ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Eve… We barely had a night together…’ She has many funnier moments, but it’d be sinful to spoil them here. As this season continues, it’s transparent that Carolyn is the real hero in all this.


Meanwhile, Eve and the staff at Bitter Pill are still looking through Kenny’s phone. It’s hard to know where their efforts will lead them. Although the new characters are nice enough, chewing Tangfastics and crafting funny lines, there’s very little to say about them. Why are they worth watching? Maybe there'll be more character revelations in further episodes.


But if episode three was a test, Neal has definitely passed. It’s the most enjoyable episode of season three, and promises great things for the future Killing Eve showrunner.


Killing Eve season 3 continues on Mondays from 6am on BBC iPlayer, and Sundays on BBC One at 9:15pm




What Killing Eve season 3 episode 3, BBC review
When 27 Apr 20 – 27 Apr 21, ON BBC iPLAYER
Price £n/a
Website



Most popular

Things to do in London this weekend: 3–5 February
Things to do in London this weekend: 3–5 February
Gemma Arterton in Funny Woman, Sky Max (Photo: Sky)
What to watch on TV this week
London exhibitions on now — Peter Doig, Courtauld Gallery
Top 15 exhibitions on now in London

Editor's Picks

Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones in Normal People, BBC Three
Why Normal People is beautiful television
Gemma Arterton in Funny Woman, Sky Max (Photo: Sky)
What to watch on TV this week
Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things, Netflix
Dark and distracting series to watch on Netflix
Shira Haas in Unorthodox
Unorthodox, Netflix: everything you need to know
Domhnall Gleeson and Merritt Wever in Run, Sky Comedy
Run, Sky Comedy review
Matthew Macfayden in Quiz
Quiz, ITV review
Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
1

Killing Eve

BBC

April

Jodie Comer

Sandra Oh

Villanelle

2020

You might like

  • Hollywood, Netflix: Everything you need to know

    Hollywood, Netflix review ★★★★★

  • Jodie Comer in Killing Eve season 3, BBC iPlayer

    Killing Eve season 3 episode 2, BBC review ★★★★★

  • André Holland and Joanna Kulig in The Eddy, Netflix

    The Eddy, Netflix review ★★★★★

  • Jodie Comer in Killing Eve season 3, BBC iPlayer

    Killing Eve season 3 episode 1, BBC review (spoiler free) ★★★★★



  • The Culture Whisper team
  • Support Us
  • Tickets
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×