Barthes Semiotics theory

Semantic codes

The semantic code refers to additional meanings or connotations created by specific signs, symbols, or stylistic elements, hidden meanings. 

For example, Villanelle’s use of bright, luxurious clothing carries connotations of confidence, danger, and rebellion against traditional feminine roles.
Similarly, colour symbolism — particularly red and pink — represents both passion and violence, linking femininity to power rather than weakness. These semantic elements help construct Villanelle as a complex anti-heroine who challenges gender stereotypes

Hermeneutic Code (Enigma Code)

The hermeneutic code refers to the mysteries and unanswered questions that drive the narrative forward.

In Killing Eve, much of the intrigue comes from the enigma surrounding Villanelle — who she really is, why she kills, and what her ultimate goals are.
Throughout the series, audiences are kept guessing about both Eve’s and Villanelle’s motives, particularly as Eve becomes increasingly obsessed with Villanelle. This constant sense of mystery sustains audience engagement and suspense, making viewers want to “decode” the truth.

Proairetic Code (Action Code)

The proairetic code relates to actions or events that build narrative tension and push the story forward. 

In Killing Eve, the numerous assassinations, chases, and confrontations between Eve and Villanelle serve as key action codes that drive the plot.
Each time Villanelle commits a murder or Eve gets closer to catching her, the audience anticipates what will happen next, creating excitement and tension typical of the thriller genre. These sequences also reflect the physical manifestation of the psychological “cat and mouse” relationship between the two women.

Symbolic Code

The symbolic code involves deeper themes, binary oppositions, and symbolic meanings that underpin the narrative.

In Killing Eve, the central opposition between Eve (the investigator) and Villanelle (the assassin) symbolises the blurred line between good and evil, control and obsession.
As the series progresses, these opposites begin to collapse — Eve becomes increasingly fascinated and morally compromised, while Villanelle shows moments of vulnerability and emotional depth. This subversion of traditional binaries reflects modern, post-feminist ideas about identity and morality.

Cultural (Referential) Code

The cultural code draws on shared cultural knowledge, genre conventions, and social ideologies that help audiences interpret the text.

Killing Eve references the conventions of the spy and crime thriller genres — secret agencies, assassins, and moral ambiguity — but reinterprets them through a feminist lens.
By placing two women at the centre of a genre usually dominated by men, the series challenges cultural myths about gender, power, and violence. Audiences familiar with these genre conventions recognise how Killing Eve plays with expectations, making it both familiar and subversive.

Hermeneutic Code (Enigma)

• The mystery of the Pellegrini family’s crimes and the fate of Assane’s father keeps viewers guessing.

• Audiences are continually trying to figure out who will get caught, how he will execute his next heist, and whether justice will prevail.

Proairetic Code (Action)

• Assane’s heists, chases, and clever manipulations build tension and suspense, driving the narrative forward.
  
  

• Each clever move and its consequences forms a chain of cause-and-effect that makes viewers anticipate the next event.

Semantic Code

• Certain objects and visual cues carry deeper meaning, e.g., the Louis Vuitton briefcase or the Pellegrini mansion symbolize wealth, privilege, and corruption, while Assane’s masks symbolize cunning and rebellion.
  
  

• These signs add layers of interpretation beyond their literal function.

Symbolic Code

• The central binary oppositions — rich vs poor, law vs crime, justice vs revenge — highlight the deeper themes of social inequality and morality.
  
  

• Assane embodies the “trickster” hero, and the symbolic code frames his cleverness as both entertaining and ethically complex.

Cultural Code

• Lupin relies on the audience’s cultural knowledge of the Arsène Lupin stories, heist films, and the idea of the clever thief.
  
  

• Recognizing these references enhances understanding and enjoyment, as viewers see Assane as part of a broader cultural tradition of charismatic rogues.