Black Doves - Netflix 6 episodes

[tennissquare]

Anyone starting this today? All 6 episodes released today.
It's with Keira Knightley, Ben Wishaw and Sarah Lancashire - spy thriller.

I've started the first episode but had to stop and may go back to it tomorrow.

That’s what gives it a bit of unreality. It was totally realistic that a ministers wife would go to a Christmas Carol concert with other government people there but unrealistic husband would be at home with the kids. The family would be front and centre so she’d have about two seconds to meet Reed while pretending to go to the loo.
I also wondered about the gun scenes in the street etc No passers by in central London. No one ever recognising a government minister’s wife? Like the party flat full of people that is then empty and replaced by assassins. What did all the party people do next? So that is a repeated structural plot hole. But I really enjoyed it despite that.

I squealed with joy when Tracey Ullman appeared. She’s just so fabulous.

You do realise it wasn't a documentary?

🤣🤣

Loved it but the last episode drraaaaaggggeed and was more of a trailer for series 2 than a satisfying wrap up.

"3 How did blonde Trigger Girl suddenly miraculously recover from gunshot wound?"

and @coolmum123 "3 I have the same question!"

I'm rather late to replying as I'm only just catching up with this show.

To answer the question. There were two female assassins (they were both blonde). You saw them both at the door dressed as police officers. I think they were called Kent and Williams. One was killed and the other escaped.

Oh I’m confused. I tho if ht she was talking about the gunshot wound on the latter half of the show rather than the first episode?

OK, maybe I'm mistaken. I've only got up to episode three and that was the only gunshot that I've seen so far.

I'll look out for future gunshot wounds to see what happens.

I loved it. Total escapism and I stopped picking on the numerous plot holes because it was so entertaining. What a waste of Sarah Lancashire’s talent though.

Episodes 1 and 2 I was a bit meh. 3 and 4 were brilliant especially after the introduction of the 2 female assassins. Loved the comedy between them and Sam. 5 & 6 were disappointing. To find out the ambassadors death was an accident was a bit boring and I lost track why Jason, Maggie and the journalist were killed. And the Clarks were a huge disappointment. They were supposed to be some feared crime family and they were just like comedy gangsters. If they were that fearsome no way they would have let Sam, Helen etc...just walk out of there.

Have to say I enjoyed it . Not as good as Slow Horses but different to it .
I usually hate KK in anything as though she appears genuinely lovely & down to earth in real life , I find her a bit wooden . She was however well cast in this . I love Sarah Lancashire and enjoyed seeing her in this .
The stand out actor for me was Ben Wishaw , his character was so well drawn and his acting was brilliant .
There were a few twists that I didn't see coming and you certainly do have to suspend your incredulity for some of the shooting scenes .
As others have said I loved Tracey Ullman's appearance in the last episode .
I was a bit confused that they didn't have a nanny and that Helen was rushing out and leaving her kids alone . I may have missed it but the nanny only appeared twice that I saw and I assumed she was a baby sitter . I spotted her at the end with Mrs Reed .Why if there was a nanny was Wallace taking his 2 kids to 10 Downing Street when he had no child care ? Despite the fact that Helen didn't seem to be working he seemed to accept her explanations when she went AWOL .

Really liked that they didn't cast the PM as the standard middle class white man and thought they were aiming for a Rishi Sunak vibe .

There were also similarities to Killing Eve for the slightly OTT situations . Have checked and series 2,has already been given the green light . I will look forward to watching as I think the characters were interesting and funny and I would like to learn more of their back stories including the assassin girls , the crime boss and the Clarkes / Clarks .

The Mrs Reed character was a bit annoying and didn't do much. Lenny the wise cracking king pin was much more entertaining.
It was enjoyable though. Bit of escapism

I only saw it advertised tonight. I put it on my Netflix list.

It was ridiculous 😂

Still watched the whole thing though.

I think BW hair could have a show of its own. I didn't understand why SL was cast for this role.

Someone upthread said they loved all of KK wardrobe. But she wore the same outfit almost all the way through. A bright yellow scarf doesn't say subtle spy to me.

I did love the coat.

I’ve watched the whole thing now and it was fairly enjoyable. I do wonder if it’s one of the current glut of spy/politics/action dramas that all seem to merge into the same show and you get mixed up about what happened in which show - eg this and Mr and Mrs Smith and Day of The Jackal and The Diplomat.

The only one that stands out for me is still Slow Horses.

I agree the ambassador’s death being an accident was a letdown.
I also liked the Asian PM-great to see Adeel Akhtar in a different kind of role to what I’ve seen him play before. Although surely the PM himself wouldn’t be contacting gangsters on his mobile?! I think as a reviewer said, if you don’t think too hard it’s fine.

I do like Adeel , but his in everything lately !

I really like Adeel Akhtar so yes, it was great to see him and in a position of power, not as a somewhat downtrodden cop or something.

Also agree that I didn't care for Sarah Lancashire's portrayal, presumably as she was directed, but the stillness was wooden rather than disconcerting I thought.

Despite all its flaws, I still enjoyed it and there were some good twists as well as glaring plot holes.

I recall Sarah Lancashire played another disappointingly wooden role in MotherFatherSon a few years ago. In other ways (mostly Helen McCrory wearing some of the most perfect outfits I’ve ever seen on a TV screen, and being completely heartbreaking in every scene) it was an amazing series, but SL was just odd in it.

Happy valley was Sarah lancashire's masterpiece ( in my humble opinion !)
She didn't have too much to do apart from wrapping presents , which she did better than I ever manage

This post on Instagram made me laugh!

I totally agree with your opinions. I loved it and can’t wait for a series 2

She mentioned towards the end having to get home for the nanny. And he had to take the kids to work as the nanny had gone off for Christmas (or to visit Mrs Reed).

No idea where he thought she was all the time though 🤷‍♀️ or maybe he didn’t think?

I'm enjoying it but smoking was banned in pubs ams restaurants in 2007. I think you have to overlook the plot holes.

It was all a bit far fetched and unrealistic - even though i do love a spy drama. Lots of assumptions about cameras being wiped.

Where did everyone aka her dc and dh think she was all the time!

And a fair bit of top lip pouting.

I thought that but then I thought the places they were hanging out all looked a bit dodgy. Kind of places the owners and the clientele wouldn't give a toss if anyone was smoking.