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Killing Eve Accused Of Queerbaiting After Sandra Oh Dismisses Show's Lesbian Undertones

Sandra said the idea of a romance between the two leads is not a “focus or message” of the series.

Killing Eve has been accused of queerbaiting after one of its stars, Sandra Oh, dismissed the lesbian undertones of the show.

The hit BBC drama focuses on Russian assassin Villanelle and MI6 agent Eve Polastri and their apparent infatuation with one another.

The ‘will-they-won’t they’ plot even came to a head in last episode of the first series when both characters laid down on a bed together seemingly about to give into their desires before Eve stabbed Villanelle (Jodie Comer) in the stomach.

Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer as Eve and Villanelle
BBC
Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer as Eve and Villanelle

However, in an interview with Gay Times, Sandra, who plays Eve, said the idea of a romance between them is not a “focus or message” of the series.

“You guys [Fans] are tricky because you want to make it into something… but it just isn’t,” she said.

“That’s also why I think sexuality and discovery of the wider reaches of sexuality is the theme of the show – why it’s interesting to people. It’s not one thing or another.”

Following the publication of the interview, some fans have said that the show is guilty of queerbaiting.

The term refers to the practice of targeting something towards an LGBTQ+ audience without properly exploring the issues that come with that.

However, there were some who defended the show from the accusations made against it given that Villanelle is an outwardly queer character.

The second series of Killing Eve has already aired in the US and arrives on UK screens this Saturday.

While the episodes will air weekly, they’ll also all be dropped on iPlayer shortly after the premiere – so if you want to binge watch the lot, you’ll be able to.

A third series of the show has also been confirmed, with another writer – Fear The Walking Dead’s Suzanne Heathcote – taking over the story.

Killing Eve returns on Saturday 8 June at 9.15pm on BBC One.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.