Black Doves (Netflix, 2024)

A magnificent Keira Knightley leads the way in new espionage series Black Doves, with able support from Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancaster.

The trio are part of a covert intelligence operation who basically sell their services to the highest bidder, even if they do at times observe some moral and ethical boundaries.

The new Netflix series was created by Joe Barton, who is also known for Giri/Haji (2019) and The Lazarus Project (2022), while the various episodes were directed by Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning.

Knightley plays Londoner Helen Webb, who is married to a British government official, that she regularly pumps for information. She also has a secret lover on the side, but when he suddenly gets offed, it sets off all the alarms.

Especially when Helen is told by her boss, the somewhat mysterious Reed (Lancaster, of Happy Valley fame) that she may well be next. 

Good for her, then, that her old mate Sam (Whishaw, the actor known as Q in the James Bond movies) is roped back, more or less against his will, into active service.

Why is this all happening? The main plot, it must be said, is a bit par for the course. It has to with corrupt officials and their dodgy dealings, and the less said about it the better.

What does make this six part series worthwhile is the interplay between the three leads, cause between them they do weave a very tangled web. 

There is also a strong supporting cast, including Omari Douglas (from It’s A Sin) and there also various sub plots, some of which are better resolved than others. 

But ultimately it’s Knightley’s show. The actress, who was also great in the Brit thriller Official Secrets, plays a very complicated character, with lots of gray areas, and she has hardly been better.

Black Doves has already been renewed for a second season, and even though the story could have been a bit more original, it’s an easy binge, because, well, the actors are so captivating. 

I give it 4 stars!