Parents' Guide to Black Doves

TV Netflix Drama 2024
Black Doves TV show poster: Keira Knightly poses with a pistol while standing in front of a burgundy car.

Common Sense Media Review

By Ty'Kira Smalls , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Sex, violence, drugs, swears in fast-paced spy series.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

The BLACK DOVES are a spy organization led by Reed (Sarah Lancashire) that steal and sell top-secret, crucial information to the highest bidder. This is a world that Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) stepped back from for seven years, becoming a dutiful housewife to defense secretary Wallace (Andrew Buchan) and loving mother to twins. But when the man she's had a three-year affair with is killed, Helen finds out it's connected to the death of a Chinese ambassador. Along with triggerman Sam (Ben Whishaw), a hitman running from his past and his heart, Helen follows a trail of evidence that leads to something much darker in the London underground. How much of Helen's picture-perfect life is she willing to sacrifice to avenge the man she loved?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 1 ):

The refreshing and poignant performances in this series are hardly top secret. Black Doves is gripping, complex, and emotional. In a genre where spies are typically stone cold, Knightley and Whishaw's performances create vulnerable layers to these trained killers. The mystery is intriguing, action scenes are impressive, and the dialogue has a bit of dark humor that flows with the narrative. The violence, drugs, sex, and language make this suitable for older teens only.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Black Doves focuses on interpersonal relationships. In what ways does it focus on them? How does Helen and Sam's relationship develop over the course of the series?

  • What are Helen and Sam's main character traits? Are you rooting for either of them? Outside of their jobs as trained assassins, do you think they're completely "bad" or "good"?

TV Details

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Black Doves TV show poster: Keira Knightly poses with a pistol while standing in front of a burgundy car.

What to Watch Next

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