The Coming Night – The episode opens in 2014, with Sam (Ben Whishaw) sitting in the parking lot. When Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) closes the drapes, he leaves to deliver the hard drive to Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire). She informs him of receiving a call from Lenny Lines (Kathryn Hunter) who claims he asked her to take him on as a hitman. He says there is more he could be doing. She threatens to cut ties with him if he becomes a hit man. He assures her that it is something he wants to do and walks across the road to Poseidon’s Fish and Chips where Lenny is waiting. She says the target has been breaking business codes and must go. The scene switches to Sam wearing a helmet entering a Chinese restaurant. At Poseidon’s, Lenny suggests it is Sam’s first assassination. He assures her that he can handle it. At the Chinese restaurant, Sam locates the target, lifts his face shield, and fires his weapon. A woman screams as Sam races to his vehicle. Covered in blood, he removes his gloves to reveal his hand is shaking when his phone rings. He collects himself before answering the phone. Lenny asks if the job is complete. He says yes. She says it will be his most difficult assassin. He speeds away from the scene. Later, Sam appears to have a flashback of his father, Frank (Steve Wall).

Six Months Later – Sam tells Helen that he is going to train her to kill. At a restaurant, she asks how he became a triggerman. He claims his father was a legendary hitman. She suggests he is trying to earn his father’s approval. Neither of them knew their fathers. In a flashback, child Sam (Will Joseph) watches Frank clean his gun. In the present, Sam meets Michael’s (Omari Douglas) eyes across the room. Two women approach Michael. Sam looks away. Michael passes on his way to what appears to be the restroom. Sam follows him. At the Chinese restaurant, Sam and Michael are having drinks. Michael asks about his profession. Sam claims to work in insurance before saying he called because he wanted to see his eyes again. They hold hands. Sam trains Helen to throw a knife. She asks him about his male friend. He says Michael is an artist. She tells him about her impending trips to the Isle of Skye and Washington with Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan).

2017 – Michael and Sam are hosting a housewarming party. Zach (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) and Arnie (Adam Silver) give them gifts. Sam sees a breaking news report about the Conservatives winning the majority. Helen is with Wallace. At Poseidon’s, Sam gifts Lenny a water filter. She shows him photos of the Newman brothers, a new outfit south of the river. She says someone wants them removed, along with their other brother, Hector Newman (Luther Ford). Later, Sam pretends his vehicle is broken down. When a vehicle approaches, he fires three shots into the windshield and opens the door to see a young Hector covered in blood. He recalls Frank saying there is a wrong way and a right way. Young Sam asks if he feels bad for hurting people. Frank denies killing anyone who didn’t deserve it. Unable to shoot Hector, Sam returns to his vehicle. Lenny calls to see if the job is complete. He says yes but never mentions the boy. Michael is cooking when he returns home. The next morning, Sam is making coffee when he sees a reflection of someone in the pot and quickly takes action. A shot rings out. Michael stirs awake. Sam eventually overpowers the assassin. A frantic Michael remains in bed. Two vehicles pull up outside. Sam remembers the young Hector’s face.

Sam tells Lenny that Hector was gone when he arrived to find the place had already been hit. She suggests he is holding up in Peckham and urges him to recruit some muscle if he wants Michael to survive. She agrees to call it even if he kills Hector. Elsewhere, Helen recalls Jason (Andrew Koji) telling her that they could start over. She removes a passport for Daisy Bradshaw from a packed bag and places it in a drawer. Wallace tells her that Jason was a loner. She insists he not miss Jacqueline Webb (Charlotte Rice-Foley) and Oliver Webb’s (Taylor Sullivan) play. At a restaurant, Sam asks Williams (Ella Lily Hyland) and Eleanor (Gabrielle Creevy) to help him kill Hector. He warns them that it will be extremely dangerous. Eleanor suggests firebombing Hector’s place. He says there is a girl that needs to be rescued and if they are successful, their reputation will soar. She jots down a number. He reluctantly accepts the deal.

At Market Coffee House, Helen tells Sam that Wallace lied to her about knowing Phillip Bray. She says Phillip contacted Wallace about a recording of Stephen Yarrick (Sam Troughton) related to China. She believes Elmore Fitch was after the same recording. She claims to have heard Wallace accuse Yarrick of being involved in Phillip’s death. He stresses the need to talk to Yarrick. She says don’t hurt him unless absolutely necessary. Showing her the video of Kia-Ming, he suggests she is at a gang hideout in Peckham. She offers to help him to rescue her. He assures her that he has a plan. Elsewhere, Bill (Ken Nwosu) tells Wallace that he is to meet the Chinese at the Work and Pensions’ Christmas party. At the Christmas play, Helen escorts Emma (Justine Mitchell) to their seats. Holding Yarrick at gunpoint, Sam forces him into an empty room and asks about Bray’s recording. Yarrick denies any knowledge of a recording. Sam appears to pull the trigger and insists whatever it was got Ambassador Chen killed. While watching the play, Wallace tells Helen that he is meeting with the Chinese tonight. Sam orders Yarrick to unlock his phone and give it to him. Scanning his latest calls, he sees a series of calls and a text – “It’s done” – to a “Repair Shop” on the night Chen was murdered. Sam asks if it had to do with Phillip, Jason, and Jason’s murders. He threatens to call the Repair Shop. Sweating profusely, Yarrick says no and warns him to walk away. Sam hits him with his gun. Turning to look him in the face, Yarrick says if he was smart, he would have already walked away before leaving. Sam sticks Yarrick’s phone in Helen’s bag. Yarrick joins Emma to watch the play.

Utilizing Yarrick’s phone, Helen sends the Repair Shop a text that reads, “We have Yarrick’s phone, and we will find you.” A text – “Not unless we find you first” – pops up on the phone. En route to Peckham, Williams criticizes Sam for not killing Hector when he had a chance seven years ago. He assures her that he wouldn’t do it now if she wasn’t threatening to kill Michael. Eleanor tells them about her first contract killing. Wallace and Helen arrive at the Work and Pensions’ Christmas party. She is introduced to Dani. Bill pulls Wallace aside. Helen briefly speaks to Dani before taking a call from the “repair shop”. The contact tells her that whoever has the phone is in trouble because they’ve picked up a rock with a snake underneath it. Helen suggests meeting face-to-face, but the man on the other end refuses. They show Helen a video of Stephen Yarrick being tortured. Wallace approaches Chang Hao (Dan Li) and Wu Lin (Tai Yin Chan). Wu has been investigating the murder of Ambassador Chen. Wallace suggests that their investigation is unauthorized since he doesn’t have the permission of the Metropolitan Police. Wu explains they believe the Met is complicit in the crime. He shows Wallace a video of Cole Atwood fleeing from Kai-Ming Chen’s flat. Cole (Finn Bennett) is Kai’s boyfriend and a CIA agent. They’ve managed to track Cole to the American Embassy, but they have not seen him leave.

Chang points out that Wu was unable to find CCTV taken around Kai-Ming’s apartment when the killing occurred. Helen watches Stephen being tortured. Chang alleges the UK’s closest ally committed an act of war against them and the government is covering it up. Wallace claims this doesn’t prove anything. They want him to ask the Americans if Cole Atwood is with the CIA. Chang says there are a number of proposals from their government to various British companies concerning Category 1 military contracts. The proposals have been denied and they’d like to have them reevaluated. Chang says they’re offering him an opportunity to avoid a catastrophic escalation of violence. Helen watches Stephen die. Dani (Agnes O’Casey) checks on her. Wallace interrupts to tell Helen they need to go. Before they leave, Dani says “A door closes, a window opens.” Later, Helen meets Reed to say she wants out because of the babies. Reed explains they’d have to get someone else in with Wallace.

Reed says, “A door closes, a window opens.” Once Helen is home, Sam calls her to ask how pregnant she is. He explains that he’s compromised, and he needs Helen to get Michael out of there. Sam tells Michael to get dressed. He tries to lead Michael out past the gunmen. They stop midway through their exit for a romantic moment. As they step through a door, Sam is shot. The gunman attempts to shoot him again, but Helen arrives and shoots the man multiple times. Michael tries to stop the bleeding for Sam. Helen says she will fix this. She urges Sam to run before leaving with Michael. It appears a young Hector sees them. As Helen drives away, she calls Reed to tell her about the bodies they left behind. She asks for an exit strategy for Sam and protection for Michael. Reed says something like that would be expensive so it’s not a service she would provide to anyone. Helen promises Reed that she can trust her. Reed agrees to make some calls and talk to her on Monday.

Helen wants Michael to tell his friend that Sam had a breakdown and had to leave. He needs to follow Reed’s instructions when she calls. Helen tells him she’s having a boy and a girl. Next, Helen is shown writing a card to Stephen and Emma. Sam travels with Williams and Eleanor. Sam says he promised his friend they’d find the girl. Lenny says there is a guy who has been breaking the codes. She explains that this man has to go. Sam goes into the restaurant to confront Frank. He shoots him in the head. In a flashback, Sam does not kill young Hector (Billy Hickey). Sam is told he can still back out but he said he can’t. He prepares to kill Hector with Williams and Eleanor.

 

Black Doves Review

Sam’s first assassination is riddled with errors. He shoots his target while wearing a motorcycle helmet which he sheds as he is leaving. His face and hair are clean but when he enters his car, they are covered in blood. Helen watches Yarrick’s torture video at a crowded party without concern about anyone overhearing it.

The content is becoming more and more repetitive. Flashbacks are utilized to create entire scenes which seems such a waste when the series is only six episodes. The sound effects are silly and annoying.

The layout of the story is not ideal making it difficult to know exactly what is happening in the present and in the past. In addition to that, there are multiple stories being told in the past further complicating matters. The series would’ve been much better if the story had been told chronologically.

For instance, it took an entire episode to reveal the details of Frank’s death and Sam’s breakup from Michael. These scenes are juxtaposed in an intentionally confusing way that hinders any progress and cohesion. It’s questionable whether this even needed six episodes.

Anyone looking for an authentic, realistic spy thriller will have to look elsewhere. After all, these killings are taking place in London which is covered in CCTV cameras and the Met is pretty much nonexistent. Messy is the best way to describe Black Doves.

Get more Black Doves recaps here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. See what others are saying here.