Keira Knightley leads Netflix’s critically acclaimed new spy series Black Doves, which provides a thrilling watch before the highly anticipated return of the hit action show The Night Agent. After debuting in March 2023, Netflix’s thriller series The Night Agent became a massive hit, racking up record-breaking viewership numbers for the streaming service. The success of the show, which follows FBI agent Peter Sutherland as he uncovers a dangerous conspiracy in the White House, not only led to Netflix’s speedy renewal of The Night Agent season 2, but also a wider search for similar enthralling spy thrillers.
As it turns out, Netflix has answered its own call in the time since The Night Agent season 1’s ending. While Prime Video has excelled with thriller shows like Reacher and Mr & Mrs Smith, Netflix itself has dropped similar genre hits like The Diplomat after The Night Agent’s debut. Now, with The Night Agent season 2 being set to release on January 23, 2025, Keira Knightley’s Black Doves premiering on December 5, 2024 comes at the perfect time, and even gives the 2023 show a run for its money with the potential to become Netflix’s biggest spy thriller yet.
Netflix’s Black Doves Is Another Terrific Spy Thriller To Watch Before The Night Agent Season 2’s Release
Keira Knightley Leads Netflix’s Critically Acclaimed Spy Thriller
Starring two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley, Netflix’s new Christmas-set spy thriller Black Doves premieres at an opportune time to captivate The Night Agent fans ahead of season 2’s release. Black Doves follows Helen Webb (Knightley), the wife of the UK’s Secretary of Defense who hides a secret life as a spy for the illusive organization known as the “Black Doves.” When the man who she had been having an affair with winds up dead at the same time as the Chinese Ambassador, Helen is reunited with her old triggerman colleague Sam (Ben Whishaw) to uncover a deadly, dangerous conspiracy.
Related
Black Doves Review: Keira Knightley’s Ambitious & Crafty Spy Thriller Is A Genre-Blending Success
Keira Knightley is perfectly cast in Netflix’s ambitious and engaging spy thriller that packs uniquely strong punches with a few forceful whiffs.
Rather than a low-level FBI agent at the lead like in The Night Agent, Black Doves’ story follows an experienced agent whose spy status is put in jeopardy while tracking her lover’s killer. However, both The Night Agent and Black Doves share comparable plots with governmental conspiracies at their highest levels while trying to protect those whose lives are at risk from menacing, powerful groups. The tense story and twists that made The Night Agent season 1 such an engrossing narrative are similarly found in Black Doves, with the added advantage of an A-list star leading the 2024 Netflix series.
Black Doves’ Reviews Give The Night Agent Season 2 A Bigger Challenge
The Night Agent Season 2 Has A Challenge To Improve Its Critical Response
Black Doves’ success had already been apparent ahead of its release, as the show debuted with incredible reviews from critics. Black Doves holds a 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, an impressive feat that immediately sets it apart from many other Netflix thrillers. The 2024 Keira Knightley-starring project has received high praise for cast performances and chemistry, its smart and suspenseful action-heavy plot, entertaining character dynamics and comedic edge, and its poignant themes and exposition that break away from the typical spy thriller formula.
|
Show |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
|---|---|
|
The Night Agent season 1 |
74% |
|
Black Doves season 1 |
100% |
The phenomenal reviews for Black Doves give Netflix a certified hit with critics, but they also increase the expectations for the streamer’s other series in this genre. The Night Agent season 1 holds a 74% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which is significantly lower than Black Doves. Therefore, Black Doves’ 100% rating gives The Night Agent season 2 an added challenge to increase its positive critical reception, hopefully working out the kinks from season 1 while taking some formula-breaking risks that made Keira Knightley’s show all the more refreshing.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
-
The Night Agent is a Netflix original series based on the novel by Matthew Quirk. The show centers on a young entry-level FBI agent named Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) who handles a hotline in the basement of the White House that never rings. When the phone finally does, Peter finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy that climbs all the way to the top.
-
Black Doves is a drama series that centers on the complex interplay of espionage and personal relationships. Focused on Helen Webb, a seasoned spy striving to balance her covert missions with a turbulent family life, the series delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice. Starring Keira Knightley, it examines the moral ambiguities faced by those who live double lives in service to their countries.
