Black Doves

Last updated

Black Doves
Black Doves.jpg
Genre
Created by Joe Barton
Written byJoe Barton
Directed by
Starring
Ending theme"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by Raye
Composer Martin Phipps
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
ProducerHarry Munday
Production location London
Cinematography
  • Giulio Biccari
  • Mark Patten
Editors
  • Simon Brasse
  • Richard Graham
  • Johnny Rayner
Running time52–56 minutes
Production companies
  • Noisy Bear
  • Sister
Original release
Network Netflix
Release5 December 2024 (2024-12-05) –
present

Black Doves is a British spy thriller television series created by Joe Barton. The series, starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, and Sarah Lancashire, is developed by Barton's production company Sister and Noisy Bear for Netflix. The series is about a spies-for-hire organisation that obtains secrets for the highest bidder. Ahead of its premiere on 5 December 2024, it was renewed for a second season. [1]

Contents

Critics mostly gave positive reviews, and Knightley received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Synopsis

Helen, the wife of the Secretary of State for Defence, learns that her secret identity as a spy is in danger after her lover is killed by London's underworld. Her employers, the Black Doves, a spies-for-hire organisation –that retrieves industrial, political or diplomatic secrets for the highest bidder –sends Sam, an old friend, to protect her. [2] [3]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"To Love Then"Alex Gabassi Joe Barton December 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)

Helen Webb is married to Wallace Webb, the Secretary of State for Defence. Unbeknownst to Wallace, she is a "Black Dove", a spy who has been giving information to a mercenary organisation that buys and sells information. At a Christmas party her handler Reed informs her that her lover, Jason Davies, has been murdered along with two others. Jason was a civil servant. Helen believes his death is unconnected to her, though Reed is not so sure.

Reed calls in Sam, a hitman who has been absent for seven years, to protect Helen and investigate Jason's murder. Sam discovers that shortly before his death, Jason was calling Kai-Ming, the daughter of the late Chinese ambassador to the UK. The latter's death may have been more complicated than originally reported.
2"A Little Black Dove"Alex GabassiJoe BartonDecember 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)

In the past, in 2014, Helen, going by the name Daisy, is recruited by the Black Doves. On her first job she has a one-night stand with Wallace but returns to his place when she realises she left her deceased mother's lighter in his room.

In the present, Helen learns that Jason was killed by a sniper named Elmore Fitch. He attacks her in her home seeking information about Kai-Ming and a mysterious video, but Helen fights him and ends up executing him.

Meanwhile Sam is approached by his former boss, Lenny Lines, who threatens to kill his ex and his daughter unless he finishes an assassination he abandoned seven years ago.
3"The Coming Night"Alex GabassiJoe BartonDecember 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)

In 2014 Sam begins working as a trigger man. In 2017 he is assigned to assassinate the Newman brothers, but fails to complete the job when he discovers one of them, Hector, is a child. Hector, though a child, sends assassins after Sam, destroying his life and forcing him to flee. In the present Sam teams up with Williams and Eleanor to kill Newman and rescue Kai-Ming.

Helen discovers that her friend Yarrick might be involved with Jason's murder. She has Sam steal his phone. Helen sends a message to a mysterious number on Yarrick's phone but as a result, Yarrick is tortured and later killed. His captors threaten to come after Helen.

Wallace learns through private Chinese backchannels that the ambassador to China may have been killed by the US with support from Britain.
4"Go Bang Time" Lisa Gunning Joe BartonDecember 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)

Sam is able to save Kai-Ming, whom he leaves in the care of Williams and Eleanor. They realise they are being watched. Sam pays a visit to his ex-boyfriend.

Helen learns Jason may have had another partner. Reed convinces her to infiltrate the American embassy to give CIA agent Cole Atwood money to betray his country. Cole reveals he did not kill Kai-Ming's father but was instead using the young woman to access her drug connection, Trent Clark, who is part of an international crime family. When Cole asks for his family to be released, Helen realises that she was set up.

Wallace learns that Yarrick is dead and struggles with what that means. Wallace’s recently hired secretary Dani, who Helen suspects was planted by Reed, flirts with Wallace. She alludes to Helen’s affair with Jason without naming him.
5"The Cost of It All"Lisa GunningJoe BartonDecember 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)

The Clarks kidnap Eleanor and Kai-Ming. With the wounded Williams, Sam, Helen and Cole flee to Michael's apartment. Reed tells Sam to kill Alex Clark.

Dani tells Wallace that Helen is having an affair. He tells Helen that he has always loved her. Dani later confirms to Helen that she is also a Black Dove, and is training to be Helen's replacement with Wallace. Dani and Helen get into a knife fight, with Helen winning, but sparing Dani's life.

A suspicious Helen realises that the video recording everyone is looking for might be at the jewellery shop where Jason bought her Christmas present. She locates the recording and discovers that Trent is the one who killed the Chinese ambassador, albeit accidentally. The British Prime Minister was involved in covering up the crime.
6"In the Bleak Midwinter"Lisa GunningJoe BartonDecember 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)

Helen takes the recording of the murder to Alex Clark in exchange for freeing Sam, Eleanor, and Kai-Ming. Helen tries to kill Alex but discovers that she didn't order the hit on Jason and that it was Trent, trying to cover his tracks. To save Helen, Sam kills both Alex and Trent. He is warned by an anonymous voice that his executions have been seen.

Helen gives the recording of the ambassador's death to the CIA, who use it to clear themselves to China. It is implied that Wallace, who truly knew nothing of the Prime Minister's involvement, will be his replacement.

Reed welcomes Helen back to the fold, and informs her that Jason was actually a spy for MI5 sent to investigate Helen. Though she confessed to him she was a Black Dove, his final report cleared her of any wrongdoing.

Sam tries to reunite with Michael, but is offered a job by Hector Newman (who Sam refused to kill when Hector was still a boy), which he accepts. Helen invites him for Christmas, and he finally meets her family, including her two children with Wallace. He warns her that people like the two spies do not get happy endings.

Production

The project was announced by Netflix in April 2023. [4] Barton also produces through Noisy Bear, alongside production company Sister. [5]

Filming began in London in October 2023. [6] That month, Sarah Lancashire and Ben Whishaw were added to the cast, along with Andrew Buchan, Omari Douglas, Andrew Koji, Kathryn Hunter, Sam Troughton, Ella Lily Hyland, Adam Silver, Ken Nwosu and Gabrielle Creevy. [7] In March 2024, Adeel Akhtar, Tracey Ullman, Finn Bennett and Luther Ford were added to the cast. [8] In August 2024, ahead of its premiere, Netflix renewed the show for a second series. [9]

Barton derived the series name from the Black Dove, his local pub in Brighton. [10]

Release

The series premiered on Netflix on 5 December 2024. [11]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 94% based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Blending multiple genres into a truly unique action-thriller, Black Doves hits its target dead on." [12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 78 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [13]

Writing in The Guardian , Rebecca Nicholson described the series as "gleefully pulpy" and was mildly critical of Knightley and Whishaw's portrayals, but praised cameo appearances by numerous well-known actors in supporting roles. [14] In Digital Spy , David Opie singled out the on-screen depiction of Sam having gay sex in the first episode, stating that the series "ventures where James Bond would never dare go". [15]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2025 Best Actress – Television Series Drama Keira Knightley Nominated [16]
Critics' Choice Awards January 26, 2025 Best Actress in a Drama Series Pending [17]
GLAAD Media Awards March 27, 2025 GLAAD Media Award – Outstanding New Series Black Doves Nominated [18]

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References

  1. ↑ Bonner, Mehera (11 December 2024). "'Black Doves' Season 2 Has Already Been Green-lit and We Have a Ton of Plot Details". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  2. ↑ Ritman, Alex (26 April 2023). "Netflix Touts $6B Spend in U.K. Since 2020, Unveils 3 New Commissions Including Keira Knightley Drama". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Yossman, K.J. (26 April 2023). "Keira Knightley to Star in Netflix Series 'Black Doves' as Streamer Unveils New U.K. Productions". Variety . Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Tabbara, Mona (26 April 2023). "Netflix reveals £4.8bn investment in UK economy, teases upcoming slate". Screen Daily . Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Longeretta, Emily (9 October 2024). "New Fall TV Shows of 2024: Meet the Showrunners Behind Your Next Favorites". Variety. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Daniels, Nia (17 October 2023). "Keira Knightley drama Black Doves filming in UK". kftv. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Hibbs, James (25 October 2023). "Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire joins Keira Knightley in Black Doves". Radio Times . Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (22 March 2024). "Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw Joined by Adeel Akhtar, Tracey Ullman on Netflix Spy Series Black Doves". Variety. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Warner, Sam (21 August 2024). "Sarah Lancashire's London-set Netflix spy show Black Doves renewed for season 2". Digital Spy . Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  10. ↑ Dougary, Ginny. "Keira Knightley: 'Black Doves is a Christmas series – like Love Actually, but we kill everyone!'". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Franken, Claire (14 October 2024). "Keira Knightley's Black Doves Spy Thriller Gets Netflix Release Date, First Photos". TVLine . Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Black Doves: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Black Doves: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (6 December 2024). "Black Doves review – Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw's gleefully pulpy Christmas gift". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  15. ↑ Opie, David (9 December 2024). "Black Doves sex scene ventures where James Bond would never dare go - Consider us shaken (and stirred)". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Golden Globes: Eddie Redmayne and Keira Knightley among British stars nominated for awards". Sky.com. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  17. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (5 December 2024). "'Shōgun' Leads With Six Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations – Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Golden Globes: Eddie Redmayne and Keira Knightley among British stars nominated for awards". Sky.com. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
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