Mentoring Authors One Scene at a Time – Thriller/Military/Non-Fiction/SF/Fantasy
Posted on December 26, 2019 by Randy
This week we will discuss the 5 Commandments of episode 7 of Amazon Prime’s Killing Eve. “I Don’t Want to Be Free”
Parul: You could say that the Inciting Incident is when Eve is ordered back to London, but I actually think it’s when they find out that Nadia has been killed and they are back at square one, and I think that Eve is only ordered back after that fact is discovered.
Parul:
Progressive Complications:
Turning Point:
Parul: Eve discovers that Carolyn met Villanelle in prison
Melanie: I think it’s when Carolyn tells Eve she can take her job away from her.
Randall: I think that Parul’s Turning Point is a good one, but it’s a Turning Point for a Crisis in the next episode, and there is another Turning Point within this episode that has a Crisis, Climax, and Resolution.
Parul: I think Mel’s Turning Point is a Progressive Complication.
Randall: I think it’s a Turning Point because of the fact that Eve disobeys a direct order from Carolyn, it builds on the character of Eve. Jack Ryan is a good example – if there is no Turning Point in the episode, then the episode is boring.
Melanie: So the Crisis Question is does Eve return to London and never find out the truth and possibly allow Villanelle to kill again because no one else can find her, or does Eve stay against orders, risking Carolyn’s wrath, but ultimately bringing her closer to answers. Is she a quitter or a rule breaker?
Melanie: Eve meets with Anna
Melanie: Anna identifies Constantin.
From Eve being upset that the Mission is over when ordered home – to – confident she is on the right track when she finds the passports and money and Anna – to – confused and betrayed when she finds out that Carolyn spoke with Villanelle in prison.
Polarity Shift: -/+/–
Melanie: As a Thriller, lots of death again because of Villanelle – kind of back to the roots of the series. Eve is continuing to follow her clues, a lot of red herrings. There is the threat of damnation, because if Eve doesn’t continue her job, if Carolyn fires her, Villanelle will continue to kill. Works for me.
Parul: Death, Death, Death. Of course, it works.
As a love story, it might have been a little dampened because of the real threat to Eve’s husband being killed and castrated.
Melanie: What about the image of Villanelle as a vampire? Sucking all the energy from Eve?
Randall: We are here at the end of the Middle Build. Eve knows Carolyn spoke with Carolyn, and that Carolyn had some relationship with Constantin, her world is collapsing, she doesn’t know who to trust. Internally, she thinks once again that she is the only hope in stopping Villanelle. Eve is kind of rogue right now.
It appears that Carolyn has betrayed the task force.
So, what other shows have a shapeshifter at the end, where a supposed ally betrays the hero?
Randall: Salt (Angelina Jolie), Something About Mary (Chris Elliot)
Melanie: Comic Books, Steve Rogers (Hail Hydra) because a traitor and betrays the Avengers; Lord of the Rings when Saruman betrays Gandalf
Parul: Designated Survivor; Mission Impossible
Can you think of any shows we missed?
Did this episode work for you as a viewer?
Leave your comments on our webpage at storygrid.com where you can also find links and additional material in the show notes.
Vote for our next television series to analyze at our website: www.sgshowrunners.com
If you want to see more applications of the Story Grid methodology, below are links to my analysis of various novels and television shows in blog posts and podcasts:
Story Grid Showrunners Podcast – Parul, Melanie, and I analyze hit TV series using the Story Grid methodology.
My blog posts analyzing other Television series – my person take using the Story grid 5 Commandments to look at my favorite TV series – Jack Ryan, Batgirl, For All Mankind, Hanna, and more.
Novel analysis – I analyze some of my favorite books using the Story Grid 5 Commandments and 6 core questions – First Blood, Old Man’s War, Waylander, and more to come!
Category: Authors, Screenwriters, Story Grid Showrunners Podcast, television, tv series, WritersTags: 5 commandments, 6 core questions, codename, jamie comer, Love Story, Luke Jenning, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Progressive Complication, Sandra Oh, Story Grid, thirller, villanelle
Afghanistan 2002.
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