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Season 1 – Black Doves

Play trailer 0:59 Poster for Season 1 – Black Doves 2024 Action Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 72 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Helen embarks on a passionate affair with a man who has no idea what her secret identity is; caught in the crosshairs when her lover falls victim to the dangerous London underworld, Helen's employer's call in Sam to protect her.
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Black Doves — Season 1

Black Doves — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Blending multiple genres into a truly unique action-thriller, Black Doves hits its target dead on.

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Critics Reviews

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Inkoo Kang The New Yorker Black Doves is like a box of bonbons gifted around the holidays: pleasing, elegant, forgotten as soon as it’s consumed. Like so many spy tales, the show is driven by intricate plotting rather than by meaningful character development. Dec 31, 2024 Full Review Margaret Lyons New York Times Knightley and Whishaw are terrific here, playing all the layers of their characters’ lies and all the layers of their pains and joys. Dec 23, 2024 Full Review Carol Midgley The Times (UK) Joe Barton’s Black Doves (Netflix) is ultimately quite heartwarming despite the blood and gore. Rated: 4/5 Dec 17, 2024 Full Review Marta Medina mundoCine Black Doves struggles to find a consistent balance overall. (...) Some episodes are filled with slow, contemplative moments, while others hit the accelerator more effectively. [Full Review in Spanish] Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 20, 2025 Full Review Christopher Stevens Daily Mail (UK) Ben Whishaw is one of our finest actors, an A-lister who combines star charisma with a vulnerable charm, whether in Bond movies or Shakespeare, Dickens or Paddington. But even he can do nothing with the risible dialogue in Black Doves. Rated: 1/5 Aug 4, 2025 Full Review Neil Soans The Times of India With compelling performances, striking visuals, and a cheeky sense of humour, it’s an exciting addition to the genre and a must-watch for those looking for something edgier. Rated: 4/5 Jan 31, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Thinking M Convoluted mish-mash of attempts at personal relationships combined with brutal force and needlessly complex hidden forces that are driving…what? I don’t know, and I don’t care. Stopped watching after 3 episodes. Was not worth continuing. A waste of good acting in a pretty rudderless storyline. This show needed far better writing and directing. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/12/25 Full Review Jonathan K Absolutely awful! Still watched all of season 1 for some reason, but the script and story line really are terrible. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/25 Full Review Farah R Kiera Knightly is the only good thing about this absurd and unconvincing thriller. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/09/25 Full Review Stephen C 6 successful Netflix episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed on location throughout the United Kingdom and re-scripted in the United States of America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review LJ Schraner G Being critiqued highly by the professionals had my expectations outweighing my overall satisfaction. For one, it wasn't thrilling at all. I would describe it as a witty action/romance with a plot far more complicated than the way it was portrayed. I understand why it is both loved and hated, but more enjoyment may have been had if I streamed it with an open mind. Sarah Lancashire was superb and saved the ridiculous comedic portrayal of other characters, for what I thought was supposed to be a serious storyline. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review Steve S Loved this show! Stellar cast. Must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Black Doves — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Joe Barton

Creator

Keira Knightley

Helen Webb

Ben Whishaw

Sam Young

Andrew Koji

Jason

Sarah Lancashire

Reed

Tracey Ullman

Alex

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Dec 5, 2024 When politician's wife and undercover spy Helen Webb learns that her lover has been murdered, the Black Doves recruit an old friend to help protect her. Details Episode 2 Aired Dec 5, 2024 After reaching a dead end in the search for Jason's killer, Helen has to fight for her own life; Sam receives a threat from his former employer. Details Episode 3 Aired Dec 5, 2024 Memories of Sam's past come back to haunt him as he prepares to finish the job he started seven years ago; Wallace secretly meets with a Chinese envoy. Details Episode 4 Aired Dec 5, 2024 Investigations into the ambassador's death reach the highest corridors of power; Helen pays a visit to an old friend; Sam faces a tough choice. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 5, 2024 With danger drawing closer, Sam takes refuge in the only safe place he knows; Reed issues an ultimatum; Helen gets one step closer to the truth. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 5, 2024 In the Bleak Midwinter Armed with evidence and bent on vengeance, Helen goes searching for the Clarks; as the conspiracy starts to unravel, she has a decision to make. Details

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Black Doves — Season 1

Black Doves: Season 1 Trailer 2 Black Doves: Season 1 Trailer 2 0:59 Black Doves: Season 1 Trailer Black Doves: Season 1 Trailer 2:20 View more videos
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Black Doves — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Alex Gabassi, Lisa Gunning
Creator
Joe Barton
Executive Producer
Joe Barton, Jane Featherstone, Chris Fry, Keira Knightley
Screenwriter
Joe Barton
Network
Netflix
Genre
Action, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Dec 5, 2024
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