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S01.E06: In the Bleak Midwinter


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Sam returns his favor to Helen by killing Alex Clark and Trent Clark for being responsible for Jason’s death. He makes himself a target for Clark family to get revenge on because he swears to protect her. This comes at the cost of his own happiness.

 

OVERALL:

I have been waiting for Black Doves because I love Joe Barton’s previous series — Giri/Haji.

After 6 episodes, am disappointed TBH. The main problem with this show is that it doesn’t really know what it wants to be — a spy thriller, a murder mystery or a love story.

Tonally, it has a weird mix of genres. At times, it feels like this show wants to imitate the playfulness of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen.

As the narrative unfolds, it’s hard to ignore the accumulated plot holes and why some characters do things that don’t make sense.   
 

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I absolutely loved this entire series. I watched specifically because of Sarah Lancashire, who I have adored in many other shows. I loved the whole thing - especially Williams, her partner, and Kai-Ming...Michael/Sam....Helen fighting with Wallace's assistant at the jewelry store....and everything Reed. 

So looking forward to the next season. 

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(edited)
On 12/9/2024 at 12:04 AM, dancingdreamer said:

I actually  loved this, even  though  it was trying  to be everything  to everyone.

Ditto. It was also nice to have a Christmas theme at this time of year.

The plot and tone got more unhinged and chaotic as the story progressed.  The acting, staging and cinematography managed to keep things from tipping into utter ridiculousness: untraceable cell phones? leaving fingerprints everywhere? Husband never ever questioning why stay-at-home wife is AWOL for huge amounts of time?

One minor gripe was the introduction of new characters near the end. The drug dealer had been mentioned - but we were losing track of names at one point.
Was Tracey Ullman supposed to be a surprise cameo?

Edited by shrewd.buddha
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It was worth it to watch just to see London at Christmas time.

I've learned with these type of shows you just have to accept plot holes and things that don't really make a lot of sense.   As someone said above Helen disappearing from home at all hours of day and night.  Or that the affair with Jason was only 3 months.

I did like the last scene with Sam coming to Helen's house for Christmas dinner.

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I finished last night and enjoyed it.  

I did wonder how Helen kept going out for hours and never having to explain it. Until the other Black Dove (which was so obvious) told Wallace Helen had been cheating on him.  

I read online that this story is based on real events.  Not exactly but the idea came from this: 

https://ew.com/black-doves-netflix-true-story-8759440#:~:text=Is Black Doves based on,Ben Whishaw.&text=Barton told Radio Times that,Doves — and he's absolutely right.

I got "The Gentlemen" vibe as well. Especially from Williams and Eleanor.  Enjoyed them partying with Kai-Ming at the end. 

Ben Whishaw is just the best.  I have enjoyed him since I first saw him in "Skyfall".  

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Do we know who that young woman was who was sitting on Reed's couch at the end?  I suppose she is Reed's new back-up replacement for Helen if need be?

I loved this.  Always been a Keira fan and have looked for all things Sarah since Happy Valley but Ben Whishaw was a revelation for me.  I adored this guy!  What an absolute charmer. 

Edited by Cementhead
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   17 hours ago,  violet and green said: 

That was Keira Knightley's character Helen's nanny, I think.

Oh, wow.  Thank you.  So the plot thickens..
 

Yeah most likely either she’s already a spy backup, or Reed has something on her and she’s now being “recruited “. 
 

I really hope if they have another season it won’t be Sam having to take out Helen. .

 

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(edited)

I think Helen told Wallace that she had been out with Sam (who is gay) and he is an old friend having boyfriend or partner problems as an excuse for being out a lot. 

Glad they had Reed explain everything at the end, kind of needed it.  I guess Jason didn’t blow Helen’s cover.  
 

and Sam looks to be staying and working for Hector.  

Edited by Hanahope
On 12/10/2024 at 9:12 AM, shrewd.buddha said:

Was Tracey Ullman supposed to be a surprise cameo?

Tracey Ullman was credited at the end of Ep5 (at the very end of the actors' credits), for the very brief & only in the shadows appearance.  So, if she was meant to be a surprised cameo, that was blown; though I suppose the expectation may've been that most people don't stick around for end-of-ep credits long enough to have seen it.

Was anyone expecting Sam to say to Lennie/y as he walked away from their last meeting something like "see you around, Mum"?  Just me?

 

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On 12/14/2024 at 12:42 AM, Cementhead said:

Ben Whishaw was a revelation for me

I've been a fan since 'The Hour' which was an absolutely fantastic show with a brilliant cast (Whishaw, Peter Capaldi, Dominic West, Romola Garai, Anna Chancellor). There was a brief scene with Capaldi that still haunts me. I'm still miffed at the BBC for cancelling the show after only two seasons. It takes place during the Cold War - so lots of espionage going on. Spies and Paddington are the constants in Whishaw's resume.

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after some reflection, i thought the story was pretty good.  taking it from Helen's POV for the most part (with a bit of Sam's at times), it did a pretty good job of laying it all out. so of course we needed Reed's explanation of the whole story at the end to fill in the bits neither Helen nor Sam saw.  

One could see where Reed was a bit worried about Helen's loyalties to the Doves' when she started seeing Jason and it sounds like Reed didn't know Jason was MI5 until she got the whole story at the end.  Who did she get that bit of info from?  But Reed was worried about losing her spy that was getting close to #10.  Still, i think she played her cards too soon with Dani.  Once Jason was dead, sure Helen wanted vengeance, but that didn't mean she was now going to leave Wallace.  and how long as the nanny been a Dove?

I do wonder how Helen can explain all her late night outings to Wallace on ...what helping Sam with...something?  I guess Helen must have done all her christmas shopping done early since she clearly wasn't doing shopping during these outings.  

And really, the dead Chinese ambassador's daughter isn't immediately flown back to China when she's found, but can spend christmas with two assassins?  sure.  or is she still "in hiding?"  i guess that wasn't really explained. 

wasn't that a nice bit of coincidence that the only survivor of that big shoot out was Cole Atwood.  You really think he's not going to want to use his bit of knowledge about Helen in the future sometime?  

and even if Jason reported to MI5 that Helen wasn't a spy, shouldn't MI5 still be worried that the wife of the defense secretary and now eventual PM is at risk for having affairs?  

 

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