Black Doves/Netflix
Despite initial skepticism surrounding Black Doves, the new series starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, it has quickly proven to be a hit, garnering glowing reviews after its debut. What appeared to be another potential miss for Netflix is now receiving rave praise from critics and audiences alike.
Currently, Black Doves holds an impressive 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 31 critic reviews, with only one negative review. This kind of praise is rare for new Netflix releases, especially when compared to The Madness, which is currently ranked number one on the platform’s Top 10 but holds a more modest 76% from critics.
While the audience score for Black Doves is lower at 67%, it’s still early, with only a few reviews in as of this morning, and many viewers likely haven't had a chance to finish the series yet.
Ben Whishaw as Sam Young in “Black Doves.” Image source: Stefania Rosini/Netflix
The official synopsis of Black Doves reads:
“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 calls in Sam to protect her.”
What makes Black Doves particularly interesting is that it isn’t based on an existing book or franchise. The series was created specifically for Netflix by Joe Barton, the writer behind the critically acclaimed Giri/Haji. Even before the first season aired, Netflix had already renewed the show for a second season, signaling confidence in its success. And so far, critics seem to agree.
Here’s what some of them are saying:
Decider – “Black Doves isn’t going to blow you away with some revolutionary spy story. But the story is intriguing enough, and is improved by the chemistry between Knightley and Whishaw, with a big assist from Lancashire.”
Chicago Sun-Times – “There’s a lot to unpack in “Black Doves,” but the various machinations and shock-developments are handled in a clear-cut fashion that makes it relatively easy to follow along.”
Vanity Fair – “On Black Doves, matters of the heart stand toe-to-toe with all the bloody intrigue. Characters’ idiosyncrasies, their pert humor in the face of mortal risk, are charming where so much else in the spies-with-personal-lives mini-genre feels canned.”
In addition to the leads, Black Doves features a talented supporting cast, including Andrew Koji from Warrior and Sarah Lancashire from Happy Valley, both of whom have garnered praise for their performances in past shows. This has certainly piqued interest for many viewers, making Black Doves a show to watch in the coming weeks.
