Courtesy of Netflix
Black Doves comes from the mind of Joe Barton, who conjured up Banshee and The Lazarus Project featuring Paapa Essiedu. Keira Knightley might already be in line for a Golden Globe, but the Oscar adjacent actor gets overshadowed by Ben Whishaw throughout. Known to certain film fans as Q from the Daniel Craig era of Bond movies, and to others for voicing Paddington in two hugely enjoyable films and an adequate threequel – Black Doves really belongs to him.
Of the two roles on offer, taking Sarah Lancashire out of the equation, both Sam and Helen would seem to bring their own challenges. One is a mal-adjusted assassin with attachment issues, while the other is entrenched in British government with no way out. However, what becomes clear early on is just how easily this former quarter master is suited to killing people at close range in between sipping champagne. Blase to the point of professional indifference, Sam carries an understated cool with him irrespective of the situation. Whether he is hooking up with random men in hotels, or charging in all guns blazing to save Helen, this is an assassin with kudos to spare.
Courtesy of Netflix
Lifting liberally from the first Mission: Impossible in those opening minutes, Black Doves sets out its stall very quickly. Shots ring out on the Southbank, three victims fall in quick succession, and covert countermeasures are drafted in to track down the culprits. With the future of international relations at stake, and Helen Webb corralling her Secretary of Defence husband around London, Black Doves gets off to an interesting start. What Joe Barton has done by casting three extremely gifted character actors against type is buck conventions. Black Doves has the same easy charm and laid back demeanour which makes Slow Horses on AppleTV+ such a runaway success. Taking the academic edge off Ben Whishaw and burying him under inches of stubble might seem like a quick fix, until you layer his interpretation of Sam on top.
Despite the ramshackle exterior, Whishaw still manages to seem suave and self-assured. A cold-blooded foil under fire, gifted some killer lines delivered with impeccable timing. Keira Knightley on the other hand is hamstrung by an exquisite English accent and chiselled feminine features. However hard she tries to shake off the shackles of an auspicious career in period dramas, she never truly fades from view and lets Helen take over. Sarah Lancashire suffers a similar fate, although Mrs.Reed is an icy blast of authority on high from the get-go. However, between them, Black Doves has stormed its way to a Season 2 renewal before one minute of this espionage thriller had even aired. Excuse enough you might think to track it down.
Black Doves is available to stream on Netflix now.