I’m a sucker for British spy thrillers, so when I saw all the ads for the new Netflix series Black Doves, I couldn’t wait to dive in. Netflix drops all episodes in a season at once, so we gobbled these up like candy. But I realized why they do that…if you stop too long to think about the story/plot, it might not taste as sweet. But those empty calories sure are yummy when they are packaged as well as this show is, so, if you like great performances, action-packed spy thrillers, and can overlook some really bad writing, Black Doves is just as much for you as it was for me.
Black Doves stars Keira Knightley as a spy whose been deep undercover in London for 10 years, working for a secretive agency, and Sarah Lancashire plays her even more secretive handler. Ben Whishaw plays an assassin who’s been brought in to protect Knightley’s character, who has potentially been compromised. That’s really all I can tell you, or else, well…you know.
There are so many cool vibes reminiscent of other shows and movies in Black Doves, from The Americans to Mission: Impossible to James Bond to Killing Eve, including a multitude of tones. This is a very dark and violent show, but there is a lot of dark comedy and even a few one liners that liven up the mood a bit. If you are a fan of Killing Eve, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Ella Lily Hyland and the great character actress Kathryn Hunter provide much of this comic sidetracking, but it doesn’t detract at all from the mood of the series, in fact it really helps.
Knightley is serviceable, although I will forever think someone else could have done it better, and I wish we could have gotten more from Lancashire, who’s performance in the series Happy Valley will long be one of my all-time faves. But what makes every minute of Black Doves, in all its violence and massive plot holes and story convolutions that you shouldn’t even try to keep up with worthwhile is Ben Whishaw.
Ben Whishaw’s character and performance in Black Doves is a thing of heartbreaking beauty. Full stop. Whishaw is an actor who has already shown us his full range, from voicing Paddington bear to GPS-tracking James Bond to taking dictation for a religious sect, but you have never seen him like this. As Sam, a reluctant but excellent professional hit man, Whishaw taps into every conceivable human frailty and puts it on display with an aching realism. I don’t want to tell you too much about his character or what happens, but let me just tell you that he is far from the emotionally-distant, robotic assassin we may be used to seeing. He is a deeply-flawed and deeply-feeling human being who happens to be a professional hit man by trade. When those elements combine in a human being who is portrayed by an actor with the ability to translate pathos, depth of feeling, texture and humanity the way Ben Whishaw can, it makes for some pretty memorable viewing. If you aren’t interested in seeing Black Doves for anything else, see it for Ben Whishaw’s performance. It makes everything else worth it.
Even without Ben Whishaw, Black Doves would be an enjoyable enough spy thriller, especially for those who dig these kinds of series. Netflix spared no expense in producing it, and it certainly doesn’t lack for action, which is, really, what you’re here for. The story is ridiculous and impossible to follow, so don’t even try. But once you just give up trying to figure out what’s happening and enjoy the characters and their relationships with each other, Black Doves will win you over with its fast pace, its winning performances and that London setting that is irresistible, especially at Christmas time. Come for the action, stay for the Whishaw.
Netflix has renewed Black Doves for a second season.