Entertainment NOW

2 • February 27 - March 5, 2022 Entertainment Now By Dana Simpson TV Media A esop, master of the mo- rality tale, is often credit- ed as the author of a par- ticular story involving a scorpion and a frog. While the true origin of the story remains un- known — some speculate it may, like a certain show's main charac- ter, have originated in Russia — and many versions of it exist, the fable seems to be the driving force behind the fourth and final season of a much-beloved BBC America series, "Killing Eve." Premiering its final season on Sunday, Feb. 27, on BBC America and AMC, and for streaming on AMC+, "Killing Eve" has earned a reputation for its complicated plots involving espionage, attrac- tion, human nature and obses- sion. Now, not unlike the scorpion that asks the frog for help cross- ing the river, it's time to see who, if anyone, comes out on top on the other side. First hailing from BBC America in 2018, the series, led by Sandra Oh ("Grey's Anatomy") and Jodie Comer ("Free Guy," 2021), is based on the Villanelle novel series by British author Luke Jen- nings. It didn't take long, however, for the TV series to eclipse the books and rise to immense popu- larity among British and North American audiences. The series came in hot with a 98% approval rating on the popu- lar ratings site Rotten Tomatoes, and while its approval has, as with many series, borne witness to a slow decline over time, leading lady Comer seems to have no doubt that Season 4 will wow fans right off the bat. "We have definitely got off to an exciting start," Comer told NBC in a recent interview. "I think now, because we know it's the final season, they are definitely pushing boundaries, especially with Villanelle. Where we open with her [Villanelle] is totally bon- kers and brilliant. I hope people finally enjoy it when it hits the screen." Following the emotional culmination of Season 3, AMC, parent company to BBC America, released a statement announc- ing Oh's Eve, Comer's Villanelle and Fiona Shaw's ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," 2001) Carolyn are all in "very different places" heading into the final chapter, saying, "Following Eve and Villanelle's exchange on the bridge, Eve is on a revenge mis- sion, while Villanelle has found a brand-new community in an attempt to prove she's not a 'monster.'" This "new community" will likely lead to new characters for the show's fourth season, and — dare it be said — perhaps create new opportunities for a possible spinoff if all goes well. Just about anything is possible in the land of "Eve." The same AMC release also alludes to Carolyn's quest for ven- geance for Kenny (Sean Delaney, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," 2021), stating she "goes to ex- traordinary lengths to continue to chase down The Twelve" and re- store order to the chaos that has been brewing over the past three seasons. Despite having been relegated to an embassy role by MI6, she is doing everything within her power to get back in the field as quickly as possible. With new series writer Laura Neal ("Sex Education") at the helm this season (following the one-season reign of "Fleabag's" Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the "Kill- ing Eve" trend of having women write powerful stories about powerful women continues. But despite the new voice behind the plot, AMC assures fans that every bit of the "passion, revenge and obsession" viewers know and love will build to "a messy, nu- anced and totally glorious series finale." Cover Story Sandra Oh stars in "Killing Eve" The end of 'Eve': Comer, Oh return en route to final hurrah Ready Rental 3 x 4 Hayley Siefert 3 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12.

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