Chris Connor reviews Netflix’s new spy thriller series Black Doves…
2024 has proven to be a year to remember for espionage TV with Slow Horses’ acclaimed fourth season, a stratospheric launch for The Day of the Jackal, and an all-star adaptation of The Bureau (The Agency) led by Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright and Richard Gere.
The latest to grace our screens is Black Doves from Lazarus Project and Giri/Haji writer Joe Barton, another starry affair with Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire and more. As expected with names of this calibre it has the highest possible production values and as fans of Barton’s previous work might expect there is no shortage of high-octane, visceral action, keeping the audience hooked from the offset.
One of the keys to any successful spy show is a compelling mystery and Black Doves has its share. What links the recent death (potential murder) of a Chinese diplomat and a series of seemingly random deaths across London with people who at face value, have little in common. This is further complicated by the fact that one of the victims, on the Southbank, was having an affair with Helen (Knightley) the wife of the Defence Secretary, who in turn has been selling secrets for a decade as a spy.
It is a compelling storyline that at times verges into cliché but is kept engaging by the quality of its cast and the layers of its storytelling. We frequently cut back to Helen’s recruitment as a titular black dove and what drove Sam (Whishaw) out of the country, making quite a splash on his sudden return.
Nothing is quite as it seems with the web constantly expanding and danger seemingly on every street corner. Knightley and Whishaw are believable as action stars, something the pair clearly relished. Sarah Lancashire steals every scene as the mysterious, cutting handler Reed, never short of a scathing put-down. With a December release, the show adds a festive feel to it, with its present mystery taking place in the run-up to Christmas, helping differentiate it from other espionage shows. The supporting cast consisting of the likes of Kathryn Hunter, Adeel Akhtar and Sam Troughton, ensures there is no weak link.
The action is thrilling and brutal but never distracts from the story, feeling organic. Even though the episodes are on the lengthy side it is addictive viewing, with audiences peeling back the layers of the mystery. With a second series confirmed, we will likely see more of Helen, Sam, Reed and company so we can expect more thrills and mysteries to come.
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Chris Connor
