Netflix's new #1 series is one of my favorite thrillers of the year - and it's 98% based on Rotten Tomatoes

Netflix’s recent original series have been mixed, and I’ve had my fair share of disappointments. Shows like A Man on the Inside and The Madness recently took the top spot, but both took a backseat in my psyche (although A Man on the Inside definitely earned its crown).

And yet there is one show that is just as deserving of a place at the top, and that is Black Doves. This thriller, which hit theaters on December 5th, wasted no time in shooting straight to #1 on the Top 10 list, and after giving it a try, I can confidently say that it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite shows of the year has become.

With a solid 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that Black Doves is something special. Kiera Knightley’s impressive fight sequences alone are worth seeing, showcasing her action talent in a way we’ve rarely seen before. If you’ve been disappointed by Netflix’s recent offerings or have been looking for a series that will keep you clicking “next episode,” Black Doves might be right up your alley.

Here’s why this thriller deserves its top spot and why you should watch it next on the streaming service.

Black Doves is an action-packed and surprisingly emotional thriller

Black pigeons | Official Trailer | Netflix-YouTube

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I’m pretty picky when it comes to shows, but after watching the trailer for Black Doves and seeing that it scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes when it first aired, I knew I had to give it a try. And I’m glad I did because I screwed it up so quickly.

Black Doves is about Helen (Kiera Knightley), a woman who leads a double life. She is having a secret affair with a man who has no idea who she really is. In reality, Helen is a professional spy who secretly passes on confidential information from her powerful politician husband to an organization called the Black Doves. But things take a dark turn when her lover is found dead and Helen’s carer, the mysterious Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in an old friend, Sam (Ben Whishaw), to protect her.

Spy thrillers often follow the same formula, so I approached Black Doves with cautious expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it breathes new life into the genre, and that’s largely due to its unexpected emotional depth. On the surface, Helen seems to be a tough, no-nonsense spy, but as the episodes progress we see that the layers of her character reveal a woman with a surprisingly big heart. She’s also a mother and a wife, and when you see her leading a double life and trying to protect her family, you feel pity for her, despite her ruthlessness.

Sam, on the other hand, has much deeper wounds. When he returns to London after a failed mission forced him to leave years ago, he is drawn back into a world of danger while helping Helen. I found his story the most interesting as we see his suffering, vulnerability and dark side. Above all, Helen and Sam are just two friends who get along, and it’s refreshing to see that dynamic in a spy thriller.

Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley

(Image credit: Netflix)

Of course, “Black Doves” offers plenty of thrilling action right from the start, so fans of adrenaline-charged thrillers won’t be disappointed. The series wastes no time diving into intense sequences, and in the first two episodes alone we see Knightley show off her impressive fighting skills when two assassins catch her snooping around her secret lover’s house. There is no shortage of violence, but it is never free. Just dark enough to keep you hooked as the stakes get higher.

There is one scene that has stayed with me. It’s a flashback to the time when Helen was pregnant with her two children and about to give up her life as a spy to give her family a safer future. At that moment, Sam’s mistake pulls her back into the dangerous world she wanted to escape. That’s why “Black Doves” works so well and became one of them My Favorite shows of the year.

I also have to give a special thanks to Williams (Ella Lily Hyland) and Eleanor (Gabrielle Creevy), two freelance assassins who are absolute masters at their craft. Their sharp wit and effortless chemistry provide the perfect amount of comedic relief, lightening the mood when the plot veers into darker territory. The balance of humor, action, mystery and romance makes Black Doves an addictive binge-watch that offers something for every viewer. Even better: the series has already been renewed for a second season.

You need to watch Black Doves on Netflix

Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley

(Image credit: Netflix)

If you haven’t seen Black Doves yet, you’re missing out on one of Netflix’s most exciting thrillers of the year. The 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is well-deserved, and it’s no surprise that this spy thriller took the number one spot after catapulting through Netflix’s top 10. I’m not the only one who is impressed either.

Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson said, “Black Doves puts matters of the heart on a par with all the bloody intrigue.” The characters’ idiosyncrasies and cheeky humor in the face of deadly risk are charming, where so much else in the mini-genre of “spies with private lives” is charming. “Black Doves feels like a revelation in a genre that’s getting more and more boring by the year.”

The Age’s Craig Mathieson had exactly my thoughts: “Black Doves is the British spy thriller I didn’t know I needed.”

As you can see, “Black Doves” made quite an impression. Whether you’re looking for fast-paced action, clever banter or suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this show has it all. And it’s definitely worth binge-watching this week.

Keep streaming “Black Doves.” Netflix at the moment.

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Netflix’s new #1 series is one of my favorite thrillers of the year – and it’s 98% based on Rotten Tomatoes

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