Gaby

Overall I loved the feel of the episode, very cute.

Sam has a sleepover at Zahid's place, and meets Zahid's roommates, aka his parents. They are the sweetest loveliest people, and I love how we see a different side of Zahid. Instead the crude, over doing it Zahid, we see the nice, kind, and gentle Zahid. We see why him and Sam are gest friends. For Zahid, he appreciates Sam's honesty and how Sam looks up to him for advice, he feels loved and respected. And for Sam, Zahid doesn't see a kid with autism, he sees Sam as his younger friend who won't judge, and who won't judge Sam. Zahid treats Sam like he treats everyone else. I loved how Zahid was so protective of Sam when Sam was detained by the police officer, how he tried to make Sam feel calm even within their chaotic situatiuon. With this episode, I've a new affection and appreciation for Zahid.

Izzie stays over at Casey's since her mom's bf got violent. While she dropped her siblings at her grandma's place, she opted for Casey's as there wasn't any more room with her siblings. First, Sam and Izzie finally met, and it's cute how instead of finding Sam weird, Izzie understands Sam immediately, even giving him useful suggestions for his sleepover. She even tells Casey she thinks Sam is cool, not weird at all. Finally the girls get some alone time with another very sweet emotional moment, after bonding in their little fort, Izzie tells Casey how she's become her new favorite person, the one she wants to hand out the most with and feels understood. These moments are laying the groundwork for more between the two girls, building a strong emotional bond. Unfortunately the boding comes to an end when Nate stops by to hangout with them. While watching a movie, Izzie falls alseep and we see Nate ask Casey how things are going with Evan... when Casey confesses that things are in a bad place with them, Nate tries to kiss her, taking her confession as an opening for something between them. Immediately Casey shuts him down (that anything between them would NEVER happen), shocked that he would do that especially with Izzie just a few feet away sleeping. Now how will this affect Casey and Izzie when Izzie finds out? Will Nate bare the blame or will Casey?

Without Casey or Paige at school to ground him, Sam is regressing in his coping skills at school. Everything is too overwhelming and he's lost in the noise of High School. As he described it, his pack is leaving him and he's adrift in the wilderness of life. Plus without Julia as his therapist, Sam needs to find a new pack, he might have found one in a support group of highschool kids with autism.

As Sam loses his way at Dayton, Casey is finding an unexpected home in Clayton. After a bit of a pissing context with Izzie on the track field that ends up with a sprained wrist for Izzie, the coach forces the girls to spend time together and work through whatever their issue is. This gives us a great moment between the two girls: Casey learns that Izzie isn't one of the rich kids of Clayton, she's on scholarship and she helps take care of her younger siblings. To Izzie, being at Clayton is an opportunity she can't mess up. This moment is the beginning of seeing something she can connect to for Casey. They both let their guard down, and see each other for who they are, insecurities and fears and all. Plus a little alcohol to lose yourself up helps too. (these two getting buzzed is really cute).

We met Izzie, Casey's track team captain and fellow Clayton student. But they are off to a rocky start as Casey already has a bad rep at the new school as a troublemaker (punching a girl and getting suspended). It's Casey's first day and she is already lost in this new world, did she make the right choice in going to Clayton? Does she fit in with Clayton's rich kids?

Love the jump cut of Sam in the middle of the hallway at Newton to Casey in the middle of the hallway at Clayton... great transition.

It's nice to see Casey hanging out with Evan and her bff, such a contrast from the insecurity of the kids at Clayton. Ir's good to see her relaxed and just beeing a teenager. But do we have some foreshadowing: Evan says he should probably be worried Casey will be stolen by some rich kid from Clayton; Poor Casey trying to navigate Clayton and how it works is so sad... and when she finally meets someone nice, it's Nate, Izzie's boyfriend. Poor Casey can't catch a break. But i see these new dyanmics are gonna be very entertaining. Nate says Izzie was jealous of Casey breaking the record at the last meet, is this tidbit of info a set up for a rivalry between the two? Will Casey end up dating Nate? Will this make Casey and Izzie mortal enemies? I'm excited to see what Casey's life at Newton will have!

Sam and Paige working out the rules of their casual friends with benefits relationship is funny and cute.

Elsa and Doug are still useless and annoying, can we please get less of them? I don't care about their marital status or their insecurities. Also Elsa is so stupid, she really thought getting bangs was going to fix her cheating on Doug? WTF?! And now she is stealing another person's cat?!?!? Ugh, dumb!

The VO from Sam and his therapy sessions are key in framing the emotional subtext of the Gardner's lives: as Sam talks about the hole in Antartica, we also see the hole in the Gardner family: Doug leaving cause Elsa cheated, Casey distancing herself from her mom, and Sam not having anyone to confide in. All of this things have created a hole in the Gardner dynamics and shifting their lives as something is missing that can't make everything better and whole.

Out of everyone's storylines, though Sam is the title character, I find Casey to be a much more compelling character. She is the one experiencing the most emotional instability and life changes. Thought Sam has grown in the first season, Casey has changes she wasn't prepared for (sleeping with Evan, changing schools, being bullied by friends and losing the trust she had in her parents) are much more daunting and hard to deal with than what Sam has gone through, all without the support system that Sam has had (his overbearing mom, Julia his therapist, Paige his girlfriend, and his best friend).

Elsa and Doug are still the most boring and uninteresting characters on the show, they just fill the hole of useless parents, but I can't feel bad for either of them, especially Elsa seeing how much they try to protect Sam, while leaving Casey on the sidelines (missing her track meet, prioritizing Sam's needs at school, etc). I like seeing Casey rebel against her mother, now let's see if Doug can grow and fix his relationship with Casey.

I liked that this episode brought back the Sam narration to give context to his life, it helps us frame the story better, helps move everything that is going on close to Sam and his learning experience. Miss this in the middle episodes of this season.

Julia finding out about Sam interferring in her life, plus Paige venting to Sam about this breakup and the "killing the penguin" incident was genius. It took extreme situations to finally get through to Sam about how other people feel and brings him out of his self focused nature.

Casey finding out about her mom and the bartender will probably be a game changer for Casey since now she has zero trust of both her parents (her mom cheating of her dad, and then her dad abandoning them when Sam got diagnosed), so how will she search an independent path (other than pissing off her mom indirectly by losing her virginity to Evan especially after her mom told her she was too young for a physical relationship).

I feel so bad for Paige, even after her super controlling ways, she really did love Sam, seeing the dance be Sam-friendly and the theme be the Penguines shows how much she cared for him, and he threw that away for a misguided crush. Poor Paige. Also, loved Casey's awed expression of seeing the dance set up to please her brother who has never quite fit it.

The finaly leaves a very interesting set up for next season: Casey going to the prep school, her parents maybe splitting and Sam growing so much in his social skills (result from messing things up so much and understanding how he was messing up).

Sam has a crush on his therapist, but unfortunately for his future plans with her he is hit with the reality that she has a boyfriend. With bad advice from his work friend, he tries to learn from the kids at school only to be made fun of and have a meltdown. Seeking advice from his father, he tries to woo his therapist with a gift. But Sam ends up breaking in to her place trying to surprise her. It ends with his dad intervening keeping him from going into criminal. Meanwhile, Casey and Evan have their first kiss after she learns why he was kicked out of school, Elsa tries to fight he attraction to the bartender and Doug has no clue what is going on in his family's life.

Love the narration of Sam paralleling penguins (his obsession) with what is going on in his family's life. It's a great narrative form to structure everything around Sam's perspective but also giving us deep understanding of what the rest of the family is doing. Each episode's theme is seen in what's going on with each person in his family: ie. while Doug tries to impress Sam with stories of how he stole Elsa from her boyfriend, Elsa is off starting flirtation with a bartender she just meet as Doug has no clue what else is going on in his wife's life.

The first ep does a great job in showing us the family dynamics and who each character is. Great at giving us a preview of what the rest of the show will be like.

Sam is a sweet kid who has austism, is the "typical" case of what we would consider on the spectrum: has trouble with nonverbal communcation, is literal about everything, has obsessions, has trouble with physical touch, and has a hard time socializing. But he is also a typical normal teenager, trying to figure out who he is and where he fits in a world he feels he's not a part of.

Love the glimpse we see of Sam and his sister, Casey. She is protective of him while at the same time loving to annoy him and tease him.

Their parents are struggling to figure out how to help their son fit into a world that isn't made for him. And also how much this struggle causes strain on their relationship, with each other and with their children.

Overall, good first episode that gives a great introduction of who the characters are, what the premise is about, and what to expect of the storyline and tone in the rest of the season.

Intro Voice Over-Diary entry to show passage of time, routine, and also lead's personal thoughts.

Stanets personality shift after the Spore-Tartegrade DNA injection is both hilarious when seen on a superficial level and worrying when looked at closely and a side effect of the DNA melding. Interesting where it will lead.

Potential romance between Michael and Tyler is interesting since it is assumed that Michael has never had romantic relationships and is unsure of what to do.

The Discovery is attacked (using a Trojan Horse) by Lorca and Tyler's cellmate Mudd from the Klingon ship, intent on destroying them for abandoning him to Kilngons as they escape. He alludes killing Lorca as many times as needed to achieve his goal of taking everything from Lorca. He bombs the ship, destroying Discovery and everyone on it. But here is the twist, he has a time jump device. Okay, time loop episode.... interesting.

We jump back in time and everyone is living it for the first time, except Stanets, which seems to retain memory of the time jump, side effect of the DNA meld. In his frustration and hurry, he goes to Michael and Tyler to warn them. To warm of the danger or at least the trap coming their way. Michael and Tyler being the soldiers that they are see the warning for what it is. Except Mudd is two steps ahead. He reaches the spore drive beforeTh anyone knows he's on the ship. The trap is different this time. It's different everytime.

With the effects of the DNA meld Stanets keeps the memories of the timeloop, a 30 minute time loop. He's running against time and Mudd...he can't do it all himself, he needs Michael and Tyler. But how does he get them to trust him, even under uncertainty. He uses Michael and Tyler's attraction to each other to trust him. To reach what they need to win over Mudd. As the loops continue the loop shortens to only the relevant moments in the loops. With enough loops to forge a quickly but strong bond with Michael, the devise a plan to jump two steps ahead of Mudd, making him believe he has won, taken over Discovery and defeated Lorca, while forcing Mudd and the crew to rejoin the timestream. It is hear that they show their hand. The find the real reason Mudd has been running (got engaged, stole the dowry, and has been on the run from an arms dealer and his love struck daughter). The crew forces Mudd to meet his fate.

Surprisingly it's not the time loop that is the best part of this episode, though it is entertaining the resolution to Mudd. The strenght of this episode is getting to know Michael as a person, not a Star Fleet member, not as a Vulcan transplant, but just a Michael. We learn how little she knows or can handle social and romantic interactions because she's never had them. She's been outside of human society that she has no idea how to let go of logic and just feel. How to let go and just fall... or fall in love. All those emotions which are to be felt are so foreign to her she doesn't know what to do with them. From simple things like small talk to a quick dance. Michael is lost when it comes to romance and love.

It's endearing watching Michael dance toward Tyler as she opens up about being romantically interested in him. And from a story perspective have her not experience her own personal growth and understand of this as it's all lost to the time loop, with only Stanet as witness. As Tyler mentions at the end of the episode while Michael confesses she like likes him, his response is "I'm sorry I missed our first kiss."

Outside of the two part pilot, this has been my fav episode.

Sarek is attacked by a Vulcan extremist, one of his own people, for the moral offense of accepting non-Vulcans into their society. The attack is a suicide bomber, one who sees themselves as a martyr for the cause, the most dangerous of extremists.

The friendship that is developing between Michale and Tilly is wonderful to see. For Michael, Tilly is showing her the goodness of being human, of embracing emotions, something that was socialized from her long ago. For Tilly, Michael is a driving force, a mentor that can help her develop and polish herself to who she wishes to be. It's not often we see this kind of female supportive friendships .

Lorca is a strategist, he's moving his pieces into place. This time is by putting Tyle as his head of security. He's assessed him as capable, a fighter, someone worthy of the position, and with the skill set take is beneficial for him.

The rescue mission is almost a suicide mission for Michael, Tyler and Tilly. Fly into a nebula gas cloud, connect with Sarek via a telepathic connection, find his location and flu out of the nebula that is dangerous at best. Forcing a telepathic connection between Michael and Sarek that is hostile mentally and physically.

Though this is a bottle episode: Michael using her Vulcan connecton/Katra to Sarek to save his life (rescue mission), it's ultimately a foundation epsiode focused on Michael's past, Sarek, and exploring the relationship between Humans and Vulcans via Michael, replayed in Michael (and Sarek) worst memory: the day she graduated from Vulcan Academy and rejected by the Vulcan Expeditionary Group. This is a moment that Michael deems this as a failure of being too human, not good enough for Vulcans. Which ultimately lead to Michael joining Star Fleet and working with Phillipa. Unknown by her, Sarek was given a choice: let Michael join the group, or let his son, Spock, joing the group as a half human. He chose his son over Michael. He betrayed and failed Michael, as Spock would end up chosing Star Fleet over the Vulcans. A shame that Sarek has carried the weight of for years. As it ultimately lead to Michael believing herself unworthy. To not trust herself or her abilities. The whole exchange gives us insights into the relationship of parent-child between the two, but also a to Michael not living up to her full potential, you can spread your wings and fly when you think you'll fall at each step.

As a final acknowledgement of family, we have a moment where Michael confirms she considers Sarek her father, that blood/genetics is not the only thing that makes you family. It's an emotional touching moment for two people who are deemed to be emotionless. Michael is finally accepting her humanity as she sees for the first time her true position within Vulcan society: she was good enough for both. She doesn't have to long for one and reject the other.

Intergration of Michael into Discovery is final, she is offered an official position as Science Specialist on Discovery.

A great setup episode to shift dynamics on Discovery, but also set Michael up for whatever her future role will be on Discovery, but also in the greater story of the Federation.

As much as Michael has grown up Vulcan, she is 100% human in her true nature. In the opening scene, she is empathizing with a space being seeing herself inside the spore chamber, connected to the spore drive, feeling the same pain as the creature. All of this in the unconscious of her dreams.... but it's much deeper than that as she focuses on trying to figure out how to help it, while still doing the job she was tasked with: make the spore drive work to win the fight against the Klingons.

At the same time Lorca is getting pressure from Star Fleet about his command and choices: progress of the Spore Drive and having Michael on his ship. Though it's been shown that Lorca wants a win against the enemy, there seems to be an underlying reason far more personal and thus more dangerous for his push to have the drive in full function. Then it's the matter of Michael, who he seems to have taken special interest, like she's his wild card, one that no one else has realized the true value of but himself. These two things together make me suspicious of what his ultimate goal is.

On the war front, Lorca is taken by Klingons. The power struggle in space is mirror between Michael and Saru, who have a complicated past. A power stuggle between the two, even with Saru holding a higher command, Michael is still the favored child on the ship. Still the star player that Saru wishes he could live up to. And this jealousy and rejecting will ultimate lead to Saru making decisions not because they are the best choice, but rather because they go against Michael. The real question is will this ultimately lead to Saru becoming an antagonist or friend to Michael in the long run; While Michael's rejecting of Saru's plan to rescue Lorca (using the spore drive), she is utlmately doing it for the well being of everyone, including the Tartegrade. But Saru can't see past his own ego. Can't see past Michael's past failures.

Since Stanets has already deemed Michael the enemy, he can't see the genius that she is, only the traitor that she's been labeled as. In another universe, Stanets would find Michael an asset and friend. Maybe in time he'll find Michael is much more of a friend than he could have thought.

Meanwhile Lorca has found a Star Fleet officer he can trust. While being held by the Klingons, he bonds with Lt. Tyler who has been a POW held in enemy hands. Surviving the enemy for 7 months shows a strength that Lorca respects and, furthermore, find useful; like collecting tools to achieve his final goal, whatever that may be. And Tyler will stay loyal to Lorca since he helped him achieve freedom. The new team of Lorca and Tyler will be an interesting dynamic to Discovery.

While Michael, Tilly and Stanets try to find a why to use the drive without hurting the Tartegrade, Saru forces their hand. A jump is made to Lorca's location, forcing the creature to go into a dormant state, one that is used to preserve its life in survival mode. Saru doesn't care what happens to the creature as long as his objective and command is followed. While Saru calls Michael cold and heartless, it seem like Saru might be the one who has little empty for others. As the story progresses, while Saru turn further against Michael? or will he take a step back and recognize his own shortcomings?

And in a twist I didn't see, Stanets injects himself with the spores to make the jump, human experimentation is highly prohibited. Crazy scientist. But how will injecting himself with universal hoping DNA into his system. What fall out could this have? At the end of the episode we see Stanets move away from the mirror, while his reflection stays put. What does this mean? Also, Saru doesn't hate Michael, he is jealous of Michael and mad that he never got the opportunity to take his place alongside Phillipa as second in command as he would have wished. Unfortunately, he's been taking that anger out on Michael as he sees her as the reason for his shortcomings.

And as a peace offering, Saru commands Michael to release the Tartegrade, same its life and return it to its own enviroment. This final scene, the ceremony behind honoring life, even in the depths of the darkness is breathtaking.

Ultimate reveal: Stanets is gay and in a relationship with the ships Doctor. And it was done in a such a domestic way, there was no shock, just softness. Domesticity. Normalcy.

Fav quote: "This is so fucking cool" - Tilly, being a complete science nerd.

Now with Michael integrated into the Discovery, we are pulled into the true conflict of the show: the war against the Klingons. Reminded that lives are being taken at the hands of an enemy who sees war as destiny.

It's interesting to see how Michael tries to fullfill her duty on The Discovery while remaining true to her principals and instincts. She is able to meld the requests of her captain to figure out how to weaponize a creature unknown to them, while at the same time seeing the same creature as another being in the universe. Not a thing, but a being. And like all that exists, she must find a way to understand it cause only then can she really interact with it. This careful consideration becomes the key factor in figuring out The Discovery's primary goal of faster than light travel.

And the breakthrough cannot come soon enough as Klingon's have attacked a key mining town in the edges of Federation Space. A brutal reminder to all the explorers and scientist on The Discovery. That real lives are at stake, not jus their research.

I'm interested to see how Michael builds friendships with two key people: her roommate and a key researcher on the ship. Two extremes that will be interesting in their development from strangers to friends/coworkers/rivals.

The second part of the pilot is such a contrast to episode 1. While ep 1 is all about discovery, wonder, exploration; the ideals of Star Fleet, and it's ultimate goal. Ep two is about the Klingon's, everything that Star Fleet isn't; War, Violence, Destruction.

The whole episode is the rebirth of a broken and scattered Klingon civilization. And at the front is a daring and bloodthirsty Klingon leader ready to seal his place at the front of his people with the blood of StarFleet and his own people. And for the StarFleet who had no contact with the other for over 100 years, they walked into a trap and played right into the Klingon's hands.

Ultimately this surprised attack blindsides the Star Fleet to the point of walking into a massacre, losing too many to count. But it also lead to Michael's mutiny over her mentor. But a mutiny based on love and admiration, based on a need to save her people and crew.

Finally when all the cards were on the table, Phillipa and Michael come together to take on the leader of the Klingon. To gain back the advantage and to even the battlefield. But even this will come at a price at Phillipa is killed. But in exchange Michael kills the new leader. An eye for an eye.

Watching Michelle Yeoh fighting a Klingon was badass and a highlight of the episode. Soneque is a heavy weight in her acting skills. Watching her go from glee and wonder to frustration, anger, desperation, and ultimately heartbreak is a beauty to witness.

The battle scenes are at the scale we expect from great SciFi. Watching the contrasting ships of the Star Fleet (cold, metalic, blue), with the Klingon (full of organic material, full of art and life even in its disctruction).

Not the opening I was expecting from a Mexican soap. We start in the middle of the action; rushing to save a dying man. And quickly to set up the story and characters we get a 3 month time jump into the past. First is the Carvajals, rich family from Mexico. And a poor (scicario) family, The Valdezes. These two families will be the heart of the story, all of their members playing integral parts to the story The Fates have woven for them. And through death, these people will have their lives changed for better or for worse ... forever.

Leon Carvajal is the head of a media company, waiting to get married to a woman much younger than him... much to his oldest daughter's disappointment. Lucia (a former prostitue, forced into it by her mother, and later worked in reception for Grupo Carvajal). Unknown to Leon, his fiancee Lucia is currently sleeping with his friend and second "son" Johnny. Johnny is playing with Leon, using Lucia as a pawn to attain power.

Chino Valdez is a sicario working for a Cartel, a follower of the Holy Death, he places his fate at the hands of fate to protect him. He's also trying to escape the life. Unfortunately, his boss El Alacran is not happy about his plans, so he goes afte the wife and the daughter. El Alacran uses his contacts in the police to capture Chino. Since Chino killed a federal judge, he's going to the electric chair. Unfortunately his daughter Juliana doesn't know what he does.

It's finally the wedding day for Leon and Lucia, everything does off perfectly. Until, he is stabbed at the wedding...bringing us back to present day and the beginnig of the show. Chino is finally going to the electric chair as Leon is being rushed to the hospital. Leon goes into cardiac arrest as Chino is electrocuted.

The next day a solar eclipse covers both Mexico and Texas.... and Leon wakes up in Chino's body. End episode.

This setup is much more complex than what I usually expect out of Mexican soaps, which are usually all about rich boys and poor girls falling in love. Amar a Muerte is looking to weave more Mexican culture (belief of Saints of Death, Day of the Dead and Reincarnation to live a second life or to repair the sins of the first life lived) into it's long format shows, telenovelas. As the first episode, it drops the viewer straight into the action and only gives us enough backstory to understand who the players are as the story develops.

Overall a great start, and a very interesting setup.

Watching Villanelle deal with a petulant screaming child (much like she usually is with Konstantine), yelling at the top of their lungs about killing each other... another hilarious golden moment that could only come from this show. Thank you again writers for giving us so much. I love it!

As Konstatine goes to Carolyne (and Eve) for help in rescuing his daughter, I'm struck by when asked is his kid is annoying... he says she is, very much and also so amazing, and it's this moment when I can't tell if he is referring to his daughter or to Villanelle, cause it's the same emotional reaction when he was telling her how proud he was. I do think he has come to see Oksana as his daughter... and seeing Villanelle with his daughter, their interactions and bickering, feels like they are siblings... annoying the shit out of the other and wanting to be their parent's favorite.

Villanelle uses the kid to get into Anna's apartment, to get the passport and money Eve found, but is discovered by Anna. What is most striking to me is the look of longing in Oksana's eyes when she gets a glimpse of Anna.. and worse when she comes face to face with her. I don't know what is more painful, how beatup Oksana is or how much it hurts to see Anna worry over her, trying to keep an emotional distance from the only person who ever showed her compassion and love, who was the first person who wanted to connect with her, leaving a lasting affect on her. Ask Anna calls her darling, with tears in her eyes, she concedes... to love, compassion and to be taken care of.... something that breaks you heart... cause how much more can our assassin take. She is use to muder, not emotions. And quitely she concedes, yes it does sting a little.

Shit, there is so much lesbian drama. Anna pulls out a gun on Oksana, threatening to kill her. After a back and forth, Anna kills herself, unable to kill Oksana. Yeah, wasn't expecting that! And neither was Oksana, as she stands over the body with tears in her eyes, but she is an assassin, so she puts aside any emotion, she has a mission to complete. But putting her emotions aside has only left a well of hurt, pain and anger, and that well is filling up quickly.

Eve finally gets the truth out of Konstantine. Yes, he knows Villanelle and he works for the 12. But he's only telling her this cause he needs help getting his daughter. I wasn't expecting this dynamic, but i like it. It's two very different people who love the same person for different reasons.

Finally Eve and Oksana meet, with guns in hand, each trying to get what they want. This is the climax. It's interesting to see the two people Villanelle "loves" confronting her, and all she asks is that they don't break her heart... while she has them at gunpoint... she needs to do her job (kill Konstantine) but it breaks her heart to do so, even as her gun goes off... All Eve can do is try to save Oksana, get her out of the grip of the 12, to take her away... maybe even protect her like Anna did, what does this mean? I don't think Eve even knows what she feels for Oksana... obsession, love, curiosity..., no matter, she just needs to catch her, to reach her, to get her... she pleades, and with tears in her eyes, wanting to give into Eve, Oksana pulls away and runs off, leaving Eve to handle an injured Konstantine.... god, this moment is filled with so much for both women, wanting to give in, but each needing to accomplish different goals.... keeping them an ocean apart.

As Eve is on her way back to England, she gets a lead that sends her straight to Oksana's apartment in Paris. Finally Eve catches Villanelle, sees who she is behind the mask... And in the process removes her own mask. She goes through all of Villanelle's things, drinks her champagne, and trashes the place in an outburst of rage... which just comes off was finally letting her hair down and inflicting as much damage on Villanelle's things as Villanelle has done to her life. But it's short lived by Oksana coming home. Surprise! And finally the moment that this whole season has come to... for Eve and Villanelle to face each other without any mask, without disctractions... Eve confesses her obssession with Villanelle... and it comes off as more than curiosity into heartfelt attachment.... and all Oksana can do is says she thinks about Eve too... and it completely catches Eve off guard... with their weapons down, this is the real climax.... oksana doesn't know wether to kill eve or kiss her...and Eve doesn't know what to do, she accomplished her goal.. she found Villanelle, she knows who she is... And quickly it turns into a moment where you see Eve and Oksana as people, who are connecting to each other in a way that they haven't with others... and as Oksana goes to kiss Eve (cause she is just her type), Eve surprises us all and herself by stabbing Oksana.... breaking her heart in the process... she trusted her and she is betrayed, hurt (both physically and emotionally).... but as Eve tries to undo her betrayal, Villanelle escapes her grasp.... she is gone..... end credits.

What an intense finally. The whole season was nonstop. It is the most well written show I've seen, where no moment, no beat, no silence is ever wasted... all building to give us a story that informs ever second. There are no filler moments, everything counts. The whole time it feels like I'm watching a very well crafted book, with each character introduced is crafted as an individual. This show is a character piece pretending to be a investigative thriller. Eve is obssessed with a serial killer, trying to figure out how she works, the pshycology behind her, but once she reaches her goal, all she sees is a "normal" person who wants to enjoy life, connect with people and have a career she is good at.... nothing at all with what she thought she'd find....and finds herself connecting on a person-to-person level. This season has been the undoing of Eve and her life and her expectations.... I do hope season 2 is the undoing of Villanelle and the reconnecting of Oksana.

Fav line: "Is it hard to be bad?- Kid; Not if you Practice. - Villanelle"
Fav line 2: "Ive decided you are a good person, because you're sad and sad people are usually good because sad people feel more."
Fav Line 3: "I have lost a husband, two jobs and a best friend because of you" - Eve; "Yeah, but you got some really nice clothes" - Villanelle

Eve's direct link to Villanelle, and the 12, is gone. Nadia has been killed... and this only pisses Eve off. Directing her anger at Konstantine, her instincts scream he is more involved in the whole mess than he is willing to let acknowledge. With Carolyne's romantic entanglements with him, it just puts doubt in Eve as to who's side Carolyne is on. Leading to only one conclusion, Eve goes rogue (taking Kenny along with her)... like in the beginning, investigating on her own. Full circle.

After killing a second inmate, Villanelle is finally out of the hell hole, rescued while being transported to another facility. The breakout causes chaos around: damaged vehicles, dead bodies, and violence; the look of pride and fascination at all that was caused by, done in her name. She thrives in the unknown. And she knows it. This is her playground... the chaos, her controlling it and leaving only death in her wake.... like death herself.

After her rescue, Villanelle is dropped off to get her new assingment, unfortunately Konstatine is not there. Instead there is a douchy Russian dude who treats Villanelle like a mentally challenge child, who needs to be talked down to. Yeah, Villanelle isn't buying the guy or the shit coming from him. Once he's done with his speech and giving a gun to Villanelle, she quickly dispatches him, cause she has zero patience for douchy. As she checks the target info, it's a surprise to find it's her handler, Konstantine. Now what has he done to get a target on him? Was it the info Eve found on him tied to helping Carolyne, or was it that he tried to protect Oksana?

And finally Eve meets the infamous Anna, the woman who holds the key to unlocking Oksana. Anna was Oksana's language teacher, and also they were romantically involved. Anna liked Oksana's wit, intellect and charm, but Oksana became infatuate with her teacher, and disposed of her rival, Anna's husband. She even sent Anna expensive clothers and perfumes (kinda like with Eve earlier in the season, so she was trying to seduce her) Leading to Oksana's being in prison. And Villanelle just keeps getting more interesting. There is more to Oksana than just Anna, there is something more hidden behind why she was sent to Anna's school. Why did she come as a "troubled" person? What happened to her parents? So many questions.... Hopefully we'll get to have some answers in season 2.

Meanwhile, Konstantine has to deal with a VERY pissed off Villanelle. Instead of finding his daugther, he finds Villanelle... which at this point, she kinda acts like his rebellious older kid. Same difference.; The confrontation starts as you'd expect, Villanelle trying to do her job and get as much info into the 12 as she can from Konstantine, but from the beginning we see her have a soft spot for him (giving him a choice of how he'd like to die, via pills and whiskey), and how they want him dead b/c he has been trying to protect her and it quickly turns into a heart wrenching heart to heart, with Villanelle holding Konstantine at gunpoint as he finally let's her in, he tells her loves her (in a parental way), and is so proud of her, that she should never forget how amazing and powerful she is... even as he is taking pills at gun point.... and Oksana's eyes water at having to deal with a real emotional connection, not just chess games.... and then it's all broken when he chucks a glass at her head... and then escapes while they flip each other the bird.... and again, thank you for this wonderful sequences... undercutting drama and tension with dark humor... thank you writers.

after that interaction, I'm starting to worry for Oksana's general health; she gets continutally beaten up at the prison, and then Konstantine chucks a glass at hear, at her most vulnerable, after a heart to heart... how much more can she handle... not sure what has been more painful, the physical harm or having to deal with emotions she brushed off with humor.

Back at headquarters, Eve finds out Carolyne visiting Villanelle...oh, shit! Does this mean she is part of the 12? Carolyne has been a double agent this whole time?!?!?

Visuals: Love the slow mo scene of Villanelle taking in the chaos of her rescue... It makes Jodie Comer look amazing! Plus her acting makes it feel more like a commercial for some perfume or fashion ad, than a rescue op with bodies in its wake.

Fav moment: Anna warning Eve to be careful against Oksana, cause she is just her type.

How can a psychopath assassin for hire be a cute little shit. Well, you get Jodie Comer to play her. The intro where Oksana has to go into the Russian prison to kill her ex (who could blow her situation) is like watching a petulant reluctant scared child go back to school after a long break cause she hates everything about the place. It was amazing. Comer's performance in this and every episode of Killing Eve is a sight to see. Also, I love the contrast between cool in control chess master Villanelle and lovesick scared and vulnerable Oksana. Which one is the true self?

Shit. As much as I like Eve's husband, who very much babied her, I love the confrontation that has been building up between them since Eve started her investigation. As much as Nico loves her, Eve wants something he can't give her: danger, a challlenge and a understanding of herself. What Nico can give her is stability, comfort, protection (in the marriage sense) and all the mundane things that keep Eve back. What was really jarring is how much he aimed for Eve, "you get off on sniffing at a psycho", and Eve's reaction of slapping him (which clearly he was't expecting, but was a huge release for her; it released her from commitment and gave her an excuse to leave). Clearly Eve sees Villanelle as more important, cause he tries to sweep everything under after their outburst and she refuses, perferring to leave for Moscow, to leave for Villanelle or Oksana.

The last episode Villanelle insinuated that both she and Eve ultimately worked for the same people, and she might not have been off. Eve's contact in Moscow, an old friend of her new boss, is Konstantine. And seems like Konstantine seems like a very old close friends and an agent of the Russian government. Will this play in Eve's favor, or against her?

Meanwhile, Villanelle is following on her mission to kill Nadia. But as Villanelle gets closer, so does Eve. And Nadia gives Eve the final lead to Oksana's heart.... she gives her Anna. But shortly after Villanelle reaches Nadia, in a last ditch attempt to save her life, Nadia tells her that her trusted Konstantine is working with the British, working with Eve Polastri. But this information is not enough to save the pleading Nadia. Seems like the game has turned on Villanelle... Konstantine is playing both sides? Seems like it, especially after she tries to escape and is left in solitary. When we see Villanelle realize that she may stay in prison, in this hell on earth, it's the only time we truly see her panic, see her fear and see the desperation she holds back. We see her human. Fully. Not pretending. Not playing a game. But just being.

fav line: When is Eve is asked why she wants to get to Nadia and Oksana, "Because one of them is a little prick and she's keeping me up at night".

And we have Eve and Villanele finally face to face again... in the middle of a lone road in the English countryside... a game of chicken, of who will make the first move... will Villanelle shot her? Will Eve take her down? Not today, but it gives us a glimpse of these women. Eve wants to get Villanelle, she fascinates her and wants more of her; while Villanelle is enamored with Eve, she doesn't know what to do, but maybe keep the game going. How far can they take it.

Eve's mole just gave up loads of info... Our dear Villanelle works for an org (The 12) who's ain is to destabilize, fisures in the world that will cause a cosmic crash when stuck properly... So Villenelle is not the for hire assassin or part of a government group, but something much more. And this has Eve's head realing

After finally finding out who Villanelle really is... Eve goes home and tries on the clothes (an amazing black and white dress) and tries the perfume... while sensual deep music plays... almost as if Villanelle is both seducing Eve and showing her just how Oksana sees Eve Polastri.... she sees her as beautiful, elegant, decandent and sexy.... not slump and homebody. And it's too much. ... At the same time, Villanelle appears in Eve's home, causing Eve to panic (cause that's what you do when you are clearly outmatched against an assassin), but all Villanelle wants is to get dinner with Eve, talk to her, bask in her hotness. Which clearly throws Eve off, cause she doesn't see herself that way. Now Eve thinks Villenelle wants to kill her, V goes after her and ends up with V on top of Eve as she turns on the water (plays like a comedy of errors, from a romcom, a very twisted romcom)... Which leads into Eve serving Villanelle food, and V undressing Eve so she can get some dry clothes (which plays as subtly erotic, esp after V comments on her attraction to Eve). As they eat, Eve tries to play tjhe game at Villanelle's level, but clearly Villanelle is the master, always ahead of the game, always in control.

Now the best moment is when Villanelle tries to play the victim card, and Eve calls bullshit on her. Something that Villanelle didn't expect. So Eve shows her hand, she knows who Villanelle is (Oksana), she knows that she is amazing, and that she is a psychopath. When Eve describes all of Oksana's amazing qualities, it's almost as she is saying she is also smitten with her. Just open up to her and let her see how her head works, how everything works. Now they are on equal footing and Villanelle keeps loving pushing Eve to up her game. .

LOL, Nadia (the ex) didn't die, now Villanelle has to go back to Russia to finish the job, before her lovely ex tells what really happened. But this might mean that Oksana may bump into Anna, who clearly holds a special place in Oksana's heart and clearly still holds it.

This episode is so interesting... it's a bit of a turning point for Eve. Before her chase of Villanelle was about curiosity, a challenge and a chance to prove her smarts. But with Bill getting caught in the crossfire of the chase, the investagation has change into vengence and justice for Eve. Now Villanelle has all of Eve's attention, just not the way she probably wants.On a side note: I liked Bill, gonna miss him.

Interesting interaction between Villanelle and Konstantine, it starts with him reprimanding Villanelle for playing with the targets and killing Bill, who was off limits. Since Villanelle can't follow orders, her next mission will be with a team; The chat quickly turns on Konstantine; while he thought he was the one in power, she just pulled out a card he wasn't expecting. A threat to his daughter. Villanelle shows him just a glimpse of the games she can play. He better not forget who the master chess player is. He threatens her, she will threaten right back and make it count.

I love meeting the new "team" Villanelle. The look of awe when Villanelle sees the other woman, there is definitely history between them and Im sure it's very juicy cause it leads to the other girl attacking her, like there are novels of unwritten history between them. And to add to the tension, their target is a "member of the british intelligence"... And Villanelle has a look on her face "please don't let it be my member of the british intelligence". Shit.;This next mission is going to be so much fun.

And so far my favorite moment of the series is when Eve receives her stolen luggage filled with amazing clothes and a bottle of perfume name "Villanelle", with a quick note of "Sorry Baby"... it's so personal, romantic and slightly unnerving cause it speaks to so much: Villanelle knows where Eve lives, that she has been following her and a note of romantic interest sending her clothes that are gifts you'd give to a lover or significant other. And Eve knows all of this.... and it scares her for it could mean for the future.

And we found our mole... Eve's former boss who she can't stand cause he's a douche. Which is the same target as Villanelle's team. Sounds about right.

This show's writing just keeps on giving. Every meeting, every glance, every hidden word has a payoff. The other assassin is Villanelle's ex. Oh, and Villanelle's real name is Oksana. And Oksana has amazing game cause she just got her ex to kill the 3rd assassin/ex's new lover. All of this while on the hunt for their targer. Like I said, so much freaking game. And two seconds later, Villanelle runs over the poor smitten girl, who should have know better really. This is the stuff i expect from great writing and great dark humour. You don't see it coming, but when It arrives, it wouldn't have worked any other way.

Fav moment: "Are you running or crying?" Both.

If i thought Villanelle was going to be obssessed with Eve, well... surprise! Eve is just as obssessed. The way she was describing Villanelle was almost the way you describe someone you have a crush on; all dreamy and full of detail that you get from having someone's image in your head all the time.

And the pace of this just keeps on speeding up. The MI6 teams finds out that Villanelle knows about Eve and the team investigating her. She leaves a breadcrumb at her latest assassination. And Villanelle is roleplaying with a random hookup, asking the older woman to play as Eve. Oh, yeah, Villanelle is defenitely smitten with Eve.

The breadcrumb leads Eve and her old boss (Bill) to Germany, trying to find more info about their target, but they play straight into Villanelle's sights. She watches them from afar. She is the cat and she's playing with her hunt. Remember, it's a game and she's the chessmaster. If Eve doesn't liven up, she's going to get eaten alive. And Villanelle is hungry. As the Villanelle continues her hunt, poor Bill gets caught in the chase, trying to track down Villanelle, but unfortunately for him, she is leading him to a dead end... where he ends up dead.

Villanelle lures Bill into a crowded club, a place where he'll think he has the advantage, but when it's too late, he'll realize she's the hunter and he can't get out of the club fast enough. She kills him in middle of the club... and Eve who was trying to meet up with him, watches as his body collapses in the middle of the crowd, unable to do anything, not eve reach him. Visually, it was stunning... using the faceless crowd as a barrier but also a way to fill space. It's brilliant..

After the incident with the Witness, plus Eve's intellect and curiosity (she tracks murders and has come up with the theory of a female assassin being the culprit of these murders, even going as far as being impressed by her) has lead her to a secret investigation of the assassin and who she works for. It's Eve's dreamjob handed to her on a platter.... now what will be the price of this dream job?

Special shoutout to the Villanelle (assassin) wardrobe. Her clothes are great! She pushes for high fashion, expression and playing with aesthetics... but no matter what she looks amazing (whether everyday casual or party ready). Her pink dress with the black combat boots is ICONIC.

In her therapy session we learn to important things: Villanelle has an important history with someone names Anna, somebody that she is clearly emotionally connected to. And that her handler is he r only constant emotional connection. These two pieces feel like important part of the game that will be played against Villanelle.

With each new kill, we see how ruthless and smart Villanelle is. And it's so much fun to watch her. Her cleverness, to see her playful and in awe in the face of the death she deals.

I love Villanelle's excitment and pride in having an investigation set up just to find her... but what I love more is her shock when she learns that the pretty woman from the hospital who she had her speechless and brain malfunctioning and was very much into is the one leading the investigation. This is the kind of twist that throw our leads into chaos, that throw them off their game and that's when things get interesting, when they have to deal with being pushed, and Villanelle having the hots for the lead invetigator will force Villanelle many places, even places she never expected to go emotionally.... and I can't wait to watch it all unfold with the our two wonderful, talented and amazing leads.

Only two episodes in and this show has given us so much. It feels more like 4 episodes, and it's all due to the no filler attitude of the writing and that every shot has a purpose.