Netflix's Action Spy Thriller Returns With Record-Breaking Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Published Nov 8, 2026, 1:14 PM EST Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019 and is now one of the leading contributors of the TV News team. Having written over 4000 news stories in that time , with his work cited in Buzzfeed and TV Insider, he's always bemoaning that there's too many shows and not enough time. You can contact him at: aalghamdi@hey.com. Netflix's returning spy thriller looks to be a good omen for the streamer. Despite its earned reputation as a hub for every genre, Netflix is running low on English-language spy sagas. The Night Agent season 4 will mark the show's end. Despite generally positive reviews and a charismatic lead performance from Noah Centineo, The Recruit was cancelled after just two seasons. Others, like the Charlie Cox drama Treason, were one-off limited engagements. That's where the returning Black Doves could make a difference. Created by Joe Barton and focusing on the secretive titular organization, the heightened thriller made waves when it premiered in December 2024 and nabbed almost 60 million hours viewed in its first week alone. New episodes have been released, and the trajectory looks good so far. Black Doves season 2 has debuted to a 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. That number represents an all-time high for the spy show, since season 1 came in at 64%. However, the audience assessment is based on fewer than 50 user-submitted ratings, so it could change if more Netflix subscribers catch up. The six season 2 episodes dropped on November 5. Compared with professional reviews, Black Doves season 2 started with a perfect 100% score. It has since slipped as more critics weighed in. Right now, the show has an average critic score of 94%. But clicking on the Tomatometer tells a more complete story. Of the 18 reviews counted so far, only one is categorized as negative. Black Doves focuses on Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) and Sam Young (Ben Whishaw), an agent and a hired gun, respectively, who connect to the spy-for-hire Black Doves organization. After the climactic ending to season 1, which took place over the winter holiday period, the latest installment deals with different crises. Helen still trades highly sensitive secrets, even as her husband (Andrew Buchan) is about to become Prime Minister. She's also dealing with a conspiracy that threatens her handler, Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire). Sam isn't doing so well either, at least personally, which explains why he's all too happy to link up with his close friend, Helen, and get enmeshed in a new mission. Kathryn Hunter, Ella Lily Hyland, Gabrielle Creevy, Agnes O’Casey, Molly Chesworth, Ambika Mod, Neve Campbell, Babou Ceesay, Sam Riley, Sylvia Hoeks, Goran Kostic, and Samuel Barnett fill out the supporting cast of Black Doves season 2, earning praise for enlivening their scenes. But the dividing line among audiences looks to be something else entirely. Some user reviews express their hopes for Black Doves season 3, which the series creator has signaled is possible. The split between those who appreciated the spy thriller's fun and those who were more reserved in their remarks seems to hinge on the plausibility of some events, particularly Helen continuing to act as a double agent despite her husband's political status. But for those hoping the lingering questions of Black Doves get answered, the real test of its renewal will be whether it exceeds, or at least doesn't fall too far below, its initial buzzy viewership performance. That will be worth tracking in the coming weeks. All episodes of Black Doves are now on Netflix. Release Date December 5, 2024 Network Netflix Directors Lisa Gunning