It’s been a while since a new series from Netflix has had such good reviews, but that’s exactly what happened with the new spy series, which has earned a 98% critic score across a few dozen reviews.

That series is Black Doves, the new Keira Knightley thriller that sees the actress returning in a big way, as she’s probably the most-watched actress in the country right now at #1 on Netflix’s Top 10 list is. unlike the central duo of Wicked in theaters.

Having watched Black Doves myself since its debut, I can understand why it scored so high. If you want to know absolutely nothing about the upcoming series, you can stop reading now, but I’m just going to skim the surface spoiler about its concept and implementation.

In “Black Doves,” Knightley plays a spy named Helen Webb, who, thanks to being a secret agent for ten years, now happens to be married to the British Defense Secretary and has two children with him. Ben Whishaw plays Sam, a killer who has had her back for years.

Helen’s cover is at risk of being blown after a man she was having an affair with, another spy, is found dead and a sinister force appears to be on the rise to take over the United Kingdom from within. When you start to understand who the real villain is here, it’s a pretty shocking revelation.

Black Doves stands out for several reasons. First, it’s a spy series that isn’t necessarily about advocating for the moral good, as Helen is employed by a completely independent organization outside of any government. That’s not entirely unusual, but they’re not particularly pure of heart, as shown by Helen’s boss, played expertly by Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire.

Furthermore, it is a series that is not afraid to deviate from a cold and calculating spy thriller and focus on human connection and emotion. Neither Helen nor Sam are heartless agents, both are dealing with respective stories of love and loss, and Helen’s mission is more about revenge than about following the law and the letter of the orders she is given.

It’s really great to see Knightley back in such a prominent role. It’s her most high-profile role in a long time and by far her biggest TV role ever, as she largely focuses solely on the film. Aside from narrating a series called The Sound Collector, she hasn’t appeared in a live-action TV show since 2002. Seriously. But the format definitely suits her. I can easily recommend Black Doves to any action or spycraft fan, and it seems like a series that is destined for more seasons.

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