The British spy thriller has been described by fans as an ‘absolute genius work of art’

An individual is positioned in front of a vibrant, illuminated background, with the person's face partially obscured by a bright
The thriller programme has also earned considerable acclaim from reviewers (Image: Sid Gentle/BBC)

The British espionage thriller series, Killing Eve, adapted from Luke Jennings’ Villanelle novels, has been hailed by viewers as “captivating, dramatic, addictive and different” and an “absolute genius work of art”. Though it broadcast between 2018 and 2022, it continues to captivate thriller enthusiasts and has garnered numerous honours, including the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.

The thriller programme has also earned considerable acclaim from reviewers, with its opening two seasons achieving critical success, scoring 96% and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes for seasons one and two, respectively. The series follows Eve Polastri (portrayed by Sandra Oh), a bored yet exceptionally intelligent MI5 security officer weary of her desk job, and Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a gifted, psychopathic, exceptionally proficient assassin who relishes the luxuries her brutal profession provides. As Eve draws closer to locating Villanelle, the pair develop a mutual obsession in a cat-and-mouse game that ultimately culminates in tragedy and bloodshed.

Two individuals engaged in conversation at a table within an indoor setting. The room is adorned with red walls and illuminated

The programme boasts an outstanding ensemble cast (Image: Sid Gentle/BBC)

The programme boasts an outstanding ensemble cast, with Comer and Oh being characterised as “mesmerising” and “at the top of their game” in their performances. Fiona Shaw also features as the detached yet wickedly witty Carolyn Martens, Eve’s boss and head of MI6’s Russia Section, reports the Mirror.

One audience member remarked about the programme: “One of the best shows I’ve seen.”

Another devotee revealed, “This is my new favourite TV series. It is immediately addictive and definitely binge-worthy. Definite must see!”A third audience member admitted, “This series is so addicting in a way no one would ever have predicted. The acting of Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer is award-winning. The obsession between these characters is so very compelling. I have watched the series several times.”

Two individuals, one dressed in a blue jacket and the other in a beige top, are lying side by side on a white bed, engaged in a
Sandra Oh (left) and Jodie Comer (right) as Eve Polastri and Villanelle in Killing Eve (Image: BBC)

The opening series featured Phoebe Waller-Bridge (recognised for her role in Fleabag) as lead writer; the second series had Emerald Fennell (recognised for helming the upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation); the third series had Suzanne Heathcote; and the fourth series had Laura Neal.

Waller-Bridge, specifically, garnered critical acclaim for her writing. Jasper Rees of The Daily Telegraph observed: “With style and verve, Phoebe Waller-Bridge has adapted Luke Jennings’ Codename Villanelle novellas about the co-dependent joust between a spook and an assassin.”

Two women are engaged in a conversation in a kitchen setting. One woman has her hair tied back and is wearing a white shirt, whi
The pair develop a mutual obsession in a cat-and-mouse game that ultimately culminates in tragedy and bloodshed (Image: BBC)

Meanwhile, Deborah Ross of the Mail on Sunday noted: “You will be laughing while on the edge of your seat, which is a hard act to pull off, but Ms Waller-Bridge does so, in spades.”

However, the final two series divided opinion among certain reviewers. Series three achieved merely an 80% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while series four managed a decidedly mediocre 52% rating.

The Guardian’s Jack Seale remarked of the fourth season: “It’s still recognisably Killing Eve and it’s still kinda cool, but it’s out of new ideas.”

Killing Eve is available to stream on Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney+