As a longtime admirer of Keira Knightley’s acting prowess and a devoted fan of gripping, character-driven thrillers, I must say that “Black Doves” has truly captured my heart (and not just because it features a Keira Knightley knife fight!). The series masterfully weaves together the lives of its complex characters, creating tension, suspense, and a healthy dose of dark humor.
Happy holidays, you get a spy show! As we round out the year, an array of espionage is at your fingertips: Eddie Redmayne is having a blast under old-man prosthetics on The Day of the Jackal; Ted Danson is creeping around a retirement home in A Man on the Inside; there’s heady, slick dialogue about spycraft on The Agency and heavy-handed, tiring dialogue about spycraft on Lioness. These series each have their selling points, but only one meets all the genre requirements and also throws in a few delightful extras: spirited characters and lively world-building, frenetic action and fizzy conversation, Ben Whishaw’s luscious hair, Keira Knightley smiling like she wants to rip you apart with her teeth. Black Doves is the platonic ideal of a spy thriller, all of its elements fully in sync for a fun time.
The series “Black Doves,” produced by Joe Barton who has experience in crime-related productions like “Giri/Haji,” is named after a shadowy organization that deals with selling secrets and information globally, on behalf of the highest bidder. The story revolves around Helen (Knightley), a deep-cover spy, her associate Sam (Whishaw), and their handler Reed (Sarah Lancashire). In the first episode, Helen’s lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is murdered, leaving her distraught and seeking answers and revenge. Her longing for vengeance is so intense that she even risks exposing her decade-long cover as a content housewife to the U.K.’s Defense secretary. To maintain Helen’s discretion, Reed summons Sam, who had left the U.K. seven years ago following an operation gone awry.
With the duo re-united and Reed always watching their backs, “Black Doves” races and tumbles through a delightfully intricate web of mysteries. Flashbacks reveal how the trio first joined forces, scenes of action that will make you exclaim, “Wow, Paddington is great at lethal encounters,” and an outstanding finale that promises Netflix’s second season. What more could you ask for in a spy thriller?
Spoilers follow for Black Doves, including the ending, but we’ll keep them vague.
1.
All that criminal underworld-building
In the series Black Doves, politics aren’t entirely absent. Over a decade ago, Helen was coerced to seduce and marry Wallace within the Black Doves, who has since risen through the British Conservative Party to become Defense Secretary. Meanwhile, Helen has been secretly providing information to Reed about the U.K.’s diplomatic dealings with countries like Saudi Arabia, China, and others.
The dynamic between Knightley and Whishaw is crucial to the series’ appeal. In both contemporary and flashback scenes, they share a sharp, witty, endearing relationship that infuses humor into both intense action sequences (such as Sam saving Helen by shooting an enemy next to her) and more introspective moments. A recurring theme throughout their friendship is Sam’s constant promise to Helen (“Darling, I will certainly endeavor to try”), adding a charming touch across the years.
2.
Ben Whishaw’s broken heart
In “Black Doves,” the political aspects remain shallow, enabling a deeper exploration of characters. Whishaw skillfully shapes Sam into the heart of the series. The plot is propelled forward by Helen’s pursuit of Jason’s murderer and their motives, but it’s Sam who embodies the consequences and repercussions of these events. We witness how his background as an assassin’s son sparks his desire to prove himself to his father, how his initial assignment hardens him, and how his tender romance with the artist Michael (Omari Douglas) crumbles under the brutal reality that Sam is not a simple insurance agent. A heart-wrenching scene shows Sam’s vision of a peaceful future being shattered before his eyes.
In a natural and easy-to-understand manner: Whishaw’s ability to swiftly transition from a hangdog expression to a mischievous one showcases the danger lurking in all of this for Sam, Helen, and everyone connected to them, even when things go smoothly or grudges are forgotten. Not every spy story requires an ethical compass, but if a character is expected to shoulder such emotional burdens and express the loneliness that comes with it, there aren’t many performances as compelling as Whishaw’s portrayal of a man who is drained by this career and these individuals, yet finds no other way to exist.
3.
Every single thing Sarah Lancashire does
In every undercover operation, there’s a seasoned supervisor who seems to be growing weary of their young agents (much like Martindale in ‘The Americans’ or Gary Oldman in ‘Slow Horses’). Lancashire skillfully portrays Reed, exhibiting a sense of calm authority and mounting exasperation in every scene. Whether she’s expressing frustration with Helen and Jason’s romantic entanglements or setting up one of her agents for a double-cross, Reed remains unfazed. Yet, Lancashire never raises her voice, keeps an unwavering gaze, and maintains perfect posture. She’s the embodiment of a firm yet gentle leader, serving as an ideal anchor for Helen and Sam to interact with in ‘Black Doves’.
4.
Keira Knightley knife fight!
In contrast to some women’s preference for a favorite lipstick, Helen Webb has a unique affinity for a knife. As a nurturing wife and mother, she exudes warmth, friendliness, and comfort, always inquiring about her husband Wallace’s day and coming up with creative projects for her twin children. However, as an accomplished Black Dove operating within the government, she is sharp-tongued, clever, and driven by vengeance. This dual nature makes her an intriguing counterpoint to the cautious Sam. Furthermore, Helen’s combat scenes are among the series’ most thrilling: whether it’s her agile fight against two assassins in the opening episode or her menacing display toward a home invader using household items, including a chilling “I have a NutriBullet” threat that is both casual and terrifying.
In the second-to-last episode, the most captivating scene unfolds as Helen confronts her husband’s assistant who has been inappropriately flirtatous towards her, and whom she correctly deduces is one of Reed’s Black Doves. This jewelry store showdown mirrors the intense fight scenes from “Kill Bill,” with both women trading sharp words before launching into a fierce, relentless battle. They hurl each other about glass displays, employ the shop’s merchandise as weapons, and steer clear of the injured store owner. However, it’s when we witness Helen come to terms with the fact that this murder isn’t worth her time that provides an intriguing insight into how she evaluates potential threats and rewards. Her call to Reed to reprimand her for sending a minor to attempt her assassination conveys Knightley’s casual annoyance, hinting at the substantial harm Helen has inflicted with that knife.
5.
There’s more to come!
In a skillful manner, the story of “Black Doves” concludes with a series of surprising revelations, primarily through Reed’s explanations and a sequence of flashbacks. Knightley’s facial expressions, shifting from shock to despair, fear, and eventually wistfulness, provide a powerful anchor. The plot structure is well-executed, and the emotional progression feels authentic. However, there are two significant events towards the end of the final episode “In the Bleak Midwinter” that hint at substantial alterations for the upcoming second season.
Initially, Sam, who was once a freelance assassin and later Helen’s companion, accepts an assignment from someone he was initially meant to kill years back but couldn’t due to a moment of doubt, which ultimately strained his relationship with Michael and propelled this individual into prominence within the London underworld. The question arises as to why Sam would choose to work for him. Is it a bid to elude the Black Doves or because he was tired of Lenny using that past failure against him? Regardless of the reason, Sam’s new role suggests a significant shift in the second season, especially considering how integral their dynamic was to the first.
After that, there’s a final scene with Reed, who is seen enjoying the company of a young woman in her glass-encased home (a spy needs to keep an eye out from all angles!). There’s no dialogue between them, but it’s clear that this could be another Black Dove, someone whose presence in the Webbs’ life Helen may not detect as quickly as she did with Wallace’s new assistant. What other challenges does Reed have planned for her former protege? These are queries that will be addressed in the second season of Black Doves, and we can’t wait for it to arrive!
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2024-12-06 18:54