BLACK DOVES. It’s best not to overanalyze the plot

Movies or series dealing with the theme of espionage generally fall into two categories. Either they are purely entertainment-oriented, where realism takes a back seat to spectacle and fun (or comedic elements), or the creators aim to faithfully portray the specifics of deep-cover agents’ work. The trailers for Black Doves, a Netflix production starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, suggested it would be part of the former category.

The plot starts intriguingly, though somewhat predictably. In London, just days before Christmas, three people are murdered. One of them, Jason (Andrew Koji), turns out to be the lover of Helen Webb (Knightley), the wife of a prominent politician who is even being considered as a future prime minister. Helen decides to find out who killed Jason. Since she herself works for a mysterious organization and spies on her husband, she has both the skills and resources to take on this task. She is assisted by Sam (Whishaw), a hitman and an old friend who had to flee England years ago. Following the best traditions of the genre, the initially trivial intrigue begins to expand into something much larger.

As I sat down to watch, I hoped the series would evoke the vibe of Guy Ritchie films, infused with a spy-movie flavor. To some extent, Black Doves delivers entertainment that echoes the works of the Snatch director. There’s a touch of London’s criminal underworld, a few quirky characters connected to it (such as two colorful assassins), strong language delivered with a delightful British accent, and some twists and turns—of varying quality. At the same time, the writers, likely trying to add depth to the characters and prevent them from being entirely one-dimensional, gave the main protagonists elaborate personal storylines. And here lies my main criticism of Black Doves: there is simply too much focus on the characters’ private lives, and these segments are not very engaging. As a result, during the first half (the first three episodes), the series struggles with pacing, moves too slowly, and can feel tedious at times. James Cameron demonstrated long ago with True Lies that such elements can be incorporated in an interesting way. Fortunately, in the second half, once the creators have conveyed the key aspects of the characters’ backstories, the main plot finally takes center stage, and the series gains momentum, becoming much more enjoyable to watch.

The acting is excellent. Keira Knightley and, especially, Ben Whishaw embody their characters flawlessly, capturing their emotional states with great nuance. In one episode, there is a scene where Sam confronts someone from his past, and Whishaw’s portrayal of his swirling emotions is simply breathtaking. He is slightly less convincing in moments requiring physical prowess, but this is not a significant enough flaw to diminish Black Doves. Keira Knightley is outstanding as a woman torn between her obsession with finding her lover’s killer and her family life. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that little is revealed about the organization Helen works for, represented by the enigmatic Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire).

Black Doves offers a fair amount of fun, as its strengths ultimately outweigh its weaknesses. It’s best not to overanalyze the plot and simply let it carry you along. Across its six episodes, viewers can expect some action, a touch of brilliant British humor, and a few intense moments. The Christmas atmosphere that pervades the frames adds charm to the whole. Unfortunately, there are moments of dullness, particularly in the slower first half of the season, which requires some patience to get through. A sequel is likely, as most plotlines are resolved in the finale, but a door is left open for further development. And I think I’ll tune in when it arrives.