TV Review: ‘Black Doves’

The new show from Joe Barton, the creator of ‘Giri/Haji’ and ‘The Lazarus Project,’ also stars Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire.

Keira Knightley in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

Launching with all six episodes on Netflix on December 5th, ‘Black Doves’ almost feels like it could be a crossbreed between an expensive BBC drama and a Shane Black movie.

The former for the production values and starry British-led cast (with the financing instead coming from the world’s biggest streaming service) and the latter for the chewy, satisfying dialogue, occasional bursts of violence and Christmas setting.

Does ‘Black Doves’ fly high?

Ben Whishaw in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

‘Black Doves’ is the latest series to hail from Joe Barton, a TV veteran whose career to date includes the excellent, if little-seen (and quickly cancelled) ‘Giri/Haji’ and more recently twisty sci-fi thriller ‘The Lazarus Project.’

We’d predict that ‘Black Doves’ probably gave him less of a headache to figure out than his last gig, which is not to say that it doesn’t include its own twists and turns as Keira Knightley’s character delves into a mystery with some international implications.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

Barton also wrote all six scripts (probably another reason this feels so very British –– it had a singular vision guiding it from the executive producer’s office), and that gives the whole show a cohesive feel.

This is a propulsive, darkly funny action thriller sliced up into episodic chunks, and for the most part works really, really well. The set-piece fight scenes are impressive but not overused, and the conversations feel authentically human even as they involve geopolitics or the enshrouding main mystery.

Yes, there are certainly some trope-heavy moments common to so many thrillers in this genre, but few feel so predictable as to ruin the effect.

Directors Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning took three episodes each, and as with Barton’s writing, they all feel of a piece. The action is dynamic, and the show as whole looks beautiful. It helps that the backdrop is a twinkly London at Christmastime, but this is no shiny rom-com.

Performances

With Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw as the focus, the whole cast has something to contribute.

Keira Knightley as Helen Webb

Keira Knightley in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

We’ve seen Knightley do action in the past, but her character here is more layered and nuanced than many of her movie roles. Helen is a woman with a checkered past and whose life is split between family and duty –– even if that duty is to a mercenary espionage outfit rather than her country.

Here, the actor has the chance to combine her natural charm with a steely edge that works well for her. And she’s a great double-act with Whishaw.

Ben Whishaw as Sam Young

Ben Whishaw in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

With espionage experience under his belt (albeit more as the tech-happy Q in the Daniel Craig Bond movies), Whishaw taps into something primal for ‘Doves’ Sam –– he’s a man who accepts the life of a fixer for the organization, while also showing a vulnerable side that aches to get back to a normal life with his ex, Michael (a superb Omari Douglas).

This is a different side to Whishaw than we’re used to seeing on screen, and a welcome one.

Sarah Lancashire as Reed

Sarah Lancashire in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

Lancashire, British acting royalty at this stage partly thanks to her commanding work in ‘Happy Valley,’ is a convincing blend of imperious handler to Knightley’s Helen and ice queen operative.

She may not get her hands bloody directly (she has people for that), but she sweeps into scenes and delivers what could be tough exposition with grace and style.

Kathryn Hunter as Lenny Lines

Kathryn Hunter in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

Hunter has become a reliable scene-stealer, and here plays the hard-nosed crime boss Lenny, who rules with an iron hand. Her scenes, particularly with Whishaw (whose character once worked for her), are always crackling with energy and danger.

This is an actor who can do so much with even the smallest role.

Tracey Ullman as Alex

We won’t exactly specify Ullman’s role, as it’s something of a spoiler, but suffice to say when she shows up, she really has an impact.

Other Notable Characters

(L to R) Gabrielle Creev, Katherine Hunter and Ella Lily Hyland in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

The rest of the ‘Doves’ ensemble is a reliable bunch of British (and American) performers, with Gabrielle Creevy and Antonia Campbell-Hughes both excellent as chatty assassins, while Andrew Buchan is stalwart as Helen’s politician husband, who gets to do more than just be her other half.

If there’s one actor who seems shortchanged by his role, it’s Andrew Koji, who mostly appears in brief flashbacks and mostly serves as a plot point rather than a character.

Final Thoughts

Ben Whishaw in 'Black Doves'. Photo: Netflix.

It’s not every spy thriller you could conceivably see slotting into your Christmas re-watch list. And while ‘Black Doves’ may not be perfect –– slipping as it does into cliché occasionally –– it’s still a very entertaining example the genre, with great writing and good performances.

‘Black Doves’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

Black Doves

TV-MA2 SeasonsDecember 5th, 2024

Watch Black Doves Online

What’s the story of ‘Black Doves’?

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, ‘Black Doves’ is a story of friendship and sacrifice.

It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for: the Black Doves.

When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe.

Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.