The new Netflix spy thriller Black Doves can feel awfully familiar in a lot of ways. The series is reminiscent of a number of other popular shows, and indulges in some genre tropes that have frankly been overplayed for a while by this point. Somehow, it’s a lot of fun regardless. A good cast, smart writing, and strong execution of the material can overcome any qualms about its possible lack of originality.
Specifically, Black Doves is built very much in the mold of Killing Eve, the off-kilter British thriller that ran four seasons on AMC here in the United States, and not-so-coincidentally has done quite well streaming on Netflix. You’ll also find recognizable pieces of things like Alias, 24, and plenty more. Even Netflix’s own conspiracy series The Madness, which debuted just one week earlier, shares some vibes with this, and makes a fine pairing if you finish one and move onto the other.
| Title: | Black Doves |
| Season: | 1 |
| Number of Episodes: | 6 |
| Release Date: | December 5, 2024 |
| Watched On: | Netflix |
Keira Knightley stars as Helen Webb, the wife of a prominent British politician who may one day be in line to run for Prime Minister. Helen herself is a doting homemaker, a mother of twins, an ardent supporter of her husband’s career, and a deep-cover spy whose entire life is an elaborate lie. She was placed in her position years earlier, seduced the mark she was assigned, and built a life and family with him for the explicit purpose of reporting all his secrets to an agency called the Black Doves, represented by her handler, Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire).
The Black Doves are not operatives of any particular government. They’re mercenaries that collect and provide information to the highest bidder, whomever that happens to be at any time. Helen is very good at her job, but has recently gotten a little sloppy. She had an affair with a man named Jason (Andrew Koji from Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins), and made the mistake of actually falling in love with him. Now Jason and two other people are dead – murdered, in fact – under troubling circumstances that suggest he may have also been a spy, which Helen didn’t suspect.
Furious at this, Helen wants answers, and revenge. To get both, she’ll need assistance from her friend and former partner, Sam (Ben Wishaw), a self-described “trigger man” whose proficiency with murder is matched only by the messiness of his personal life. The deeper they dig into this story, the more complicated it becomes, a multi-layered conspiracy involving several competing crime and spy organizations, at least three world governments, and just generally a whole lot of people who (like Helen) aren’t at all what they pretend to be.
Created by Joe Barton (of the Netflix series Girl/Haji), Black Doves tells an incredibly convoluted plot that can be difficult to follow and frequently defies plausibility. Its version of London is positively infested with spies and assassins at every level of society, all seemingly entwined with one another whether they initially understand how or not. Characters engage in regular demolition-derby car chases and epic gunfights, and typically walk away unscathed – at least, the important ones do.
Knightley works hard to sell the image that she could be a secret badass capable of holding her own in a brutal knife brawl against multiple assassins twice her size and weight. She’s good enough that I can suspend disbelief for it, even as tired as I may be of that particular genre cliché. Wisham isn’t exactly built like someone who’s ever been in a real fight in his life, either, for that matter. Both actors are compelling enough to override concerns like that.
The show has tons of colorful characters, clever dialogue, and a really entertaining streak of dark humor throughout. At just six episodes, the season makes a really quick and fun binge. The finale ends with a bit of an exposition dump that tries to lay some groundwork for a potential second season. If that should come to pass, I will happily watch again.
Video Streaming
The six-episode first season of Black Doves premiered on Netflix this past Thursday, December 5, 2024. The series streams in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos audio. In HDR, the 2.20:1 image runs a little on the dark side, but has sufficient shadow detail to prevent it from looking overly dim. The picture is otherwise satisfyingly sharp. Colors tend to be muted, but that feels appropriate for the material.
The Atmos soundtrack has very nice fidelity, especially with music. While the mix isn’t especially showy, it has a pleasing sense of immersiveness. The surround channels get a workout during gunfights, and your subwoofer will throb with bass in both the score and the occasional explosion.
Related
- Keira Knightley
The Video File Blog 
Glad you liked this. I was considering it for something to watch with the wife.
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Thanks for very good in depth review !
Keira Knightley is outstanding in this British spy thriller ! I pay for Netflix for years and rarely watch it . The last spy show that was this good was Netflix British thriller “The Body Guard” Also The show was produced by production company brought “Chernobyl” . I say keep your eyes out for this offering ! Black Doves is just as good ! I really hope it gets a physical release .
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OK just finished this series. Spot-on review. I went into this not having seen any of the shows you say this one mimics (not even 24). It was a decent distraction. But at least once each episode I said out loud “no way.” Example: the conceit that a character nonchalantly carries around another’s cell phone in 2024 without any concern about 1) it being remotely wiped or 2) its location being tracked. I also don’t understand what would motivate someone to be in deep cover for a decade or more. For a big payday at the end? Seems like it would be all toil and no reward. And all along the way your handler is making it clear that when you’re no longer of use, you’re just gonna get offed. Lastly the characters’ internal conflicts between love and their job makes it tough to root for them, no matter how nice the actors are to look at.
Also due to the setting, I wish we’d watched this in December instead of January.
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