‘Black Doves’ season two review: ludicrously enjoyable spy thriller continues

Black Doves was a surprise hit – with critics and audiences – when it dropped on Netflix in December 2024. Created by Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, The Lazarus Project), it was a bingeable treat with high stakes, nimble plotting and some brutal action. But what made it properly compelling was the pairing of Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw as Helen and Sam; she’s a spy for the black-ops organisation known as the Black Doves, and he’s a friend/mentor/hitman-for-hire. Helen also happened to be embedded in the upper echelons of British politics, having gone deep undercover and starting a family with politician Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan), who ended the first season on the cusp of becoming the British Prime Minister. READ MORE: The best TV shows of 2026… so far! After a two-year gap, you’ll find yourself looking for a dossier to help you recap the scandals of the first season that put him into Number 10. But that’s one of the only downsides to a second outing that clearly understands what made the first tick, and delivers more of the same with gusto. This new batch of six hour-long episodes is sharp, pacy and features even more explosive action than the first. What makes it such an easy-to-devour binge is the funny, likeable characters, led by tough, conflicted Helen and sad-eyed Sam, whose sparky repartee continues even when they’re taking heavy fire. This time out, we get to know them a little better too. Helen is navigating a relationship that contains some true feelings, even though it’s built on lies. Sam’s still haunted by his past and struggling to commit to a relationship while living out of hotels. Sarah Lancashire once again brings a froideur as blunt as her bob to Reed, Helen’s handler. Despite her glacial surface, she has more to deal with in this season, which plays out satisfyingly. Returning assassins Williams (Ella Lily Hyland) and Eleanor (Gabrielle Creevy) – stone-cold killers who dress like This Is England extras – are a blast in expanded roles, and Ambika Mod is a welcome addition as Laila, a Dove with the obligatory levels of insouciant sass. Other new faces in the mix include Neve Campbell and Sam Riley who add to the ‘premium TV’ gloss. There’s not too much that can be said about the plot without spilling state secrets, but an upcoming defence summit that Wallace is organising is a starting point. There’s momentum from the get-go, with six well-structured episodes that actually work like a satisfying series, rather than an overstretched film. There’s no real slack here and even the flashbacks feel essential rather than time-filling. There are welcome echoes of the Bourne movies and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in the highly skilled assassins, far-reaching conspiracies and shady organisations of Black Doves season two. The preposterousness is all part of the fun. Considerable suspension for disbelief is required throughout though, not least to accept how Helen manages to find time for so many dangerous excursions despite occupying such a visible role in British political life. But it’s easy to bat away such thoughts, as it’s a blast being dragged along for this dangerously enjoyable ride. ‘Black Doves’ season two is out on Netflix now