Why this Brief Moment in Killing Eve's "Beautiful Monster" episode further proves Jodie Comer's acting is Unparalleled

This article contains spoilers from Season 3, Episode 7 of Killing Eve titled "Beautiful Monster."

The entire third season of this dark dramedy spy series I cannot get enough of has been a masterclass in highlighting the excellency of actress Jodie Comer.

Ask any fan of Killing Eve and they would most likely give you these two sentiments following their initial praising of absolutely everything co-lead Sandra Oh does on the show: 1) they would definitely kill whoever they had to kill for Carolyn's jacket collection and 2) Jodie Comer is an absolute revelation as Villanelle.

It's certainly no secret that the past two seasons have allowed audiences to witness the undeniably phenomenal capabilities of Comer's talent (winning both the Emmy Award and BAFTA for Lead Actress in 2019) with this recent season being no exception. Viewers were finally brought into the world of Villanelle's biological family and the genuine abuse she has suffered for the entirety of her existence. Comer has showcased every possible emotion one could experience through her journey of discovery ranging from a fleeting moment of genuine joy (that electric fan didn't win itself!) to a completely raw and broken down Villanelle never truly witnessed before until her declaration that she does not want to be in the game anymore.

Although I could gush about absolutely everything she has exhibited during this season (and I just might following the upcoming finale), I wanted to mention a particular instance that occurred in the penultimate episode that is a "blink-and-you-miss-it" moment.

The sequence begins when Villanelle and her legitimately monstrous mentor Dasha are golfing in Aberdeen. The duo discuss typical conversational pieces like missing one's birth country and how they'd go about killing an obnoxious American tourist.

Now I've played golf a whopping total of one time in my life and that was on a video game system that doesn't exist anymore so bear with me as I attempt my best at golf lingo.

Villanelle decides to lob her golf ball into the golf forest and the two await as Obnoxious Man drives over to assist them. She pulls out the 4000th accent held in her vast repertoire and - after I manage to catch my breath because accented Jodie Comer is frankly too much for my heart to handle sometimes - she asks OM to fetch her ball. Villanelle knows what makes a stranger tick and she has coined the characteristics of OM from the very start. She plays up the damsel angle and is able to come on just as strong as his misogyny.

Of course OM doesn't just agree to get the ball. He decries that "some girls" wouldn't ask a man for assistance as it's a "matter of principle" then boasts to the two about "promoting women on his board" because their "lack of know-how gives [him] an excuse to feel heroic." He then laughs as heartily a laugh as an Obnoxious Man could have.

The following moment then occurs which demonstrates brilliantly how much of an understanding Comer has for Villanelle's nuances:

It's brief, it's fleeting and yet I can't stop thinking about it.

In a span of less than 3 seconds, Comer flawlessly pulls off 4 completely independent facial expressions that again showcases the immense range she's able to convey as Villanelle. It goes from acknowledgement to an over-exaggeration to a polite smile concluding in a look of sarcastic disgust we've all displayed once or twice during a meeting that easily could've been done in an e-mail with a colleague nobody believes gives good input but since they adore the sound of their own voice, they suggest ridiculous ideas causing everyone to stay in the meeting longer than they should...

Comer's rapid ability to showcase these uniquely distinct expressions further illustrates her understanding of Villanelle as a character and just how unnerving it would feel having to consistently be prepared to swiftly adjust the subtleties of your face in order to satisfy whichever mark is in front of you. Villanelle understands a simple head nod may not have been a sufficient method to have Obnoxious Man feel completely at ease with them hence the exaggerated Jim Carrey-esque expression.

It's in the final shot where she realizes, as Arnold Schwarzenegger eloquently states in the Christmas classic Jingle All The Way, "this man is totally insane." She's planted the bait and indulged him enough that he's willing to head deep into the golf forest with two complete strangers. His beltless self crawls on all fours rooting around for her ball and as Villanelle prepares for a grand slam, she strikes Dasha in the back ultimately allowing OM to escape.

Damon Thomas directed this episode and a number of others that are my absolute favourites of the entire series. He seems to have complete faith and an understanding in Comer's impressive prowess and although I am ecstatic to see how the season ends, I'm dreading that inevitable 12-year wait for the next season... Honestly just leave me in the Hole until it releases.

The Season 3 finale of Killing Eve airs this Sunday at 9pm on amc.