Netflix's "rambunctiously entertaining" spy thriller lands near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score for season 2

Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw's Netflix spy series Black Doves is back with a bang as season 2 is firmly lodged into the streamer's top 10 – just like one of the multiple bullets fired in this new instalment.

Premiered on 5 November, the London-set thriller created by Joe Barton proved to be in top form for this fresh batch of episodes. The pulse-pounding, at times far-fetched plot and dark, witty dialogue remain consistently delightful, but the series leads with its heart more than ever before in a poignant, yet never exceedingly sentimental chapter.

Now living at 10 Downing Street with her newly appointed Prime Minister husband, spy Helen Webb (Knightley) sees her friendship with hitman Sam Young (Whishaw) grow deeper and more complex as a new threat comes between them. The show explores their past, present and future in a whirlwind season that also offers a look at Reed's (Sarah Lancashire) backstory in Berlin.

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Supporting characters are given time to shine and steal the show, with deadly duo Eleanor (Gabrielle Creevy) and Williams (Ella Lily Hyland) earning their MVP badges alongside new character Laila, played by One Day star Ambika Mod.

Digital Spy called Black Doves season 2 "unmissable telly", with our four-star review arguing that the show "delivers something stronger this time around".

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes appear to agree as the new season is currently at a near-perfect score of 94%, up from the already impressive 92% of season one.

Read on for more reviews of the Netflix series.

The Guardian

"Series two of this rambunctiously entertaining espionage drama might be implausible. But it's a magnetically acted tale of friendship, with moments of genuine poignance."

Metro

"Helen and Sam's friendship is the heart of this show. Without it, it wouldn't have become the phenomenon that it is. In a world dominated by death, their need to protect one another no matter the cost never falters, even when it can lead to devastating consequences."

The Hollywood Reporter

"What really sets Black Doves apart, though, are its lovable characters and its beguiling mix of laughs and tears, which flirt with existential despair without ever fully tipping into it."

The Irish Independent

"It's a comic book spy thriller stuffed with cartoonish violence."

NME

"Considerable suspension for disbelief is required throughout but it's a blast being dragged along for this dangerously enjoyable ride."

Black Doves season 2 is streaming on Netflix now. Season 1 is available on the same platform.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).