IIt’s been a big year for big names tackling espionage on the small screen, but Black Doves may be its biggest year yet. Starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire, this Nightmare Before Christmas puts a festive twist on the spy genre as the eponymous shadowy mercenary organization finds itself embroiled in a conspiracy that – as such things always do – is bigger than you first think it will be.

With this stellar cast and the dark trailers, I was expecting it to be a serious thriller. In fact, the result of the carnage that takes place before the opening titles begin is pulpy popcorn TV. Knightley plays Helen Webb, a spy who infiltrated the highest levels of the British government by assuming a false identity and marrying a man who would later become Defense Secretary. Her position at the heart of the establishment gives her ample opportunity to joke about how boring Tory wives can be and to help the Black Doves pass state secrets to the highest bidder. Whishaw is Sam, a sensitive triggerman (which is a nice way of saying assassin) who kills people on orders and for a lot of money, but is conflicted about it. And Lancashire – with a sharp bob, a strong cut and a deadly whisper – is Reed, the icy boss and overlord of the Black Doves.

When the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom is found dead of an apparent heroin overdose and his party-loving daughter goes missing, a chaotic chain of events ensues that eventually winds its way through Downing Street, gangland London and the government agencies of various nuclear weapons. armed nations all threatening war. With such a heady cocktail of ingredients, it’s odd that the series is a slow burn at first – even more so considering it’s only six episodes long. But once Helen and Sam get the old band back together for one last job etc, it finds its footing again. The realization that this isn’t entirely serious and is in fact quite archaic and cartoonish gives the whole thing a lift and reveals a cheeky personality that underpins some of its more shaky narrative foundations.

Creator Joe Barton is also responsible for The Lazarus Project and Giri/Haji, and like both series, this one has a strong graphic novel-style aesthetic, sometimes at the expense of a fully coherent plot. But it’s the kind of show that’s best not to think about too much, because it revels in being so stupid and over the top. “Black Doves” is set in a neon-lit, noir-style London where machine guns are rampant, mass shootings take place on every street corner that onlookers barely bat an eyelid at, and people are frequently blown to pieces leaving bloody residue left on Helen’s face.

It’s full of fantastic performances, although I’m not entirely sold on Knightley’s character. Helen is both incredibly tough and incredibly gentle, an uneasy mix that doesn’t always work when she’s supposed to be a ruthless killer. The same goes for Whishaw’s Sam, whose conscience only comes to the fore when it’s consistent with the plot. However, it’s almost lavish with its supporting cast and characters. Poor Things’ Kathryn Hunter is predictably fabulous as Lenny, a sort of tracksuit-wearing power broker to whom Sam is indebted, while Gabrielle Creevy and Ella Lily Hyland play a younger, hungrier pair of trigger men (that’s the term gender neutral). we are reliably informed) and do a darkly comic double act. Cameo appearances are so casual that several well-known actors are introduced, as if one were about to sign major newcomers before quickly and unceremoniously ousting them. This makes it feel pleasantly light-hearted.

In the third episode, I was won over by his cheerful excess. This will inevitably draw comparisons to the other big spy shows of the year. It’s not as laid-back or funny as “Slow Horses” and not as self-aware as “The Day of the Jackal,” but it finds its own voice amidst the chaos. This voice is sometimes garbled, but it’s better not to think about it too much. This is a schlocky thriller packed with action, twists and a good sense of humor. Netflix has already commissioned a second series, so the ending may feel drawn out and left open. Obviously it’s playing it safe. But if your idea of ​​festive fun includes guns, blood and more white powder than a Lapland snowstorm, this spy extravaganza should be at the top of your gift list.