The Saddest Death In Killing Eve
In 2018, spy drama "Killing Eve" debuted on BBC America to critical acclaim. Writer and actor Phoebe Waller-Bridger initially adapted the television program from a thriller series by author Luke Jennings. While the show largely diverges from multiple plot points in the books (via Collider), both projects center on MI5 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and ruthless assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Throughout "Killing Eve," the two protagonists find themselves endlessly fascinated by each other, leading to a compelling -– and wholly unpredictable –- cat-and-mouse game. During its run, both Oh and Comer received numerous accolades for their work, including an impressive slate of Emmy nominations (via IMDb).
While leaning into the emotional complexities of Eve's arc, Oh described her character's unpredictable nature. As she shared in an interview with Indie Wire, "Eve in some ways can't hold back. That's also what gets her into trouble." In the following installments of the series, it becomes more and more unclear who, exactly, is the prey and who is the predator. As one critic for The Atlantic noted, "Waller-Bridge saddles neither Eve nor Villanelle with the burden of palatability, and instead fills in the characters' contours with humor, fear, longing, and more."
In an effort to destabilize Eve –- and, paradoxically, bring her closer -– Villanelle often embraces chaos, leaving behind gut-wrenching devastation in her wake. In the world of "Killing Eve," no one is safe. As a result, Eve loses many of her allies, including close friends and lovers. Continue reading below to find out which death hits particularly hard on the show.
Kenny's death shocked and unsettled fans
In the beginning of Season 3, Eve reunites with her prior colleague and friend, Kenny Stowton (Sean Delaney). However, their heart-warming reunion is short-lived. Shockingly, at the very end of the first episode of the season1, Kenny seemingly falls to his death from the roof of a building. A traumatized Eve swears to avenge his untimely end and find his killer. Not only does Kenny's death shake up Eve, but it also rattled long-time viewers of the show.
In a Reddit thread titled "Kenny Deserved Better," many fans criticized his abrupt death, noting that it not only weakened the overall narrative, but also arguably removed a key character who represented the heart of the series. As u/Coffee_and_Jams noted, "I was shocked when he died. He brought a little light to the show." U/senpaimitsuji agreed, adding, "[H]e was a sweet person and a good friend to [E]ve, he also acted as her little moral [compass] even if she often did not listen to him."
While discussing the climactic premiere of Season 3, head writer Suzanne Heathcote acknowledged the inherent heartbreak of Kenny's death, noting it's long-lasting implications. As Heathcote said, "Kenny is a fantastic character and beloved. He has an emotional relationship with Eve. But it was really because of all those reasons that the death would mean so much" (via Variety).
In this way, Kenny's death had the deepest impact because he was the last link to Eve's humanity. Once he was gone, she had nothing left –- except revenge.