Black Doves starring Keira Knightley follows in the same vein as Netflix’s very own The Diplomat. In that show, Keri Russell is kind of messy, determined, and somehow always in control of what she does next. It’s a portrayal of women that we often don’t see enough of. And Black Doves excels in giving the viewer the same kind of woman that feels raw, honest, without going to extremes as if women can only be one extreme or another. Knightley’s Helen is everything and then some. And this is only season 1 episode 1 “To Love Then.”
Helen the Spy
The way that Helen was introduced painted one picture of what women can be. She was a put together mother who ran her house like a well-oiled machine. She doted on the kids, had banter with her husband, and arranged the annual Christmas party. We’ve seen this woman on our screens over and over again to the point where if I didn’t know that the show was about Knightley, I would assume it was about her husband. But it’s not.
When Reed, played by Sara Lancashire, stepped into the picture, we saw a visceral but also controlled shift in Helen. And I couldn’t take my eyes off of Knightley because of how easily she slipped into being a competent spy. Then into a grieving woman. And then finally into a deadly weapon. If Reed stepped an inch out of line in “To Love Then,” Helen would have taken her down, hidden her body, and then gone upstairs to finish up the party without a hair out of place. And the fact that we can have that in a woman character, it reinvigorates something in me to ask for more. Because it’s proof that A) Keira Knightley can act and B) that telling complex stories about women isn’t as hard as Hollywood wants to make you think it is.
Another favorite part of this episode when it comes to Helen in “To Love Then,” is how she dealt with being a mother in the middle of possibly being killed. You never see guys going through this. Even if men have kids, the kids don’t call them in the middle of a dangerous event right before bedtime. Which is kind of embarrassing for men because they also love their children but that’s a whole other post. Helen has children and she’s manages selling government secrets, having a long-lasting marriage, getting her revenge, and also making sure her kids are taken care of. She’s the definition of the many facets of the modern woman.
MORE: We learn more about Helen’s backstory in Black Doves season 1 episode 2. Read our review!
Then There’s Sam
The introduction of Ben Whishaw’s Sam could have led to a character arc that was done and over within the span of 10 minutes. He could have come in to keep an eye on Helen, take out the threat, and then somehow died, becoming another person Helen lost. Instead what Black Doves season 1 episode 1 did is establish who Sam is in very subtle but character defining ways.
Even though Sam is very reserved, the bit with the champagne makes it very clear he doesn’t want to wait for the good moments to drink something he likes. The sex that follows that scene, and how bluntly he invited that guy up to his room, also shows that Sam seeks pleasure when he wants it. A character description like this could easily spiral into a frat boy loser archetype. But that’s not Sam. He’s observant, knows what he wants, and he moves through life with purpose. And at the moment, his purpose is to figure out if someone is hunting Helen in the first place.
Another thing that I wanted to point out about Sam before we move on, is that Black Doves is doing a great job at teasing that there is something horrible that Sam is holding close to his chest. No one leaves the home that they love, the man they love, and the friends they’ve made, out of nowhere. There is a reason. And in season 1 episode 1 we got to see a violent and tender series of flashbacks that speak to an unimaginable pain. But it also shows that there is a reason for Sam being quiet and watchful. He’s experienced a shocking loss and he’s not looking to form meaningful connections again that could lead to future heartache.
MORE: Already watched Black Doves season 1 episode 2? Read our review!
Helen and Sam
It goes to show you how used to TV going a certain way that I thought Sam could be a potential romantic partner for Helen. Black Doves does something better by making these two family. Now, apparently Knightley and Whishaw are besties in real life. Maybe they’re bringing that same energy to the characters they play. Which, if that’s what’s happening then both of them are killing it. But it could also be that these two are great actors with a tremendous supporting cast and script with some phenomenal writing.
If we’re talking about the characters themselves, Helen lit up when she reunited with Sam. She was covered in the blood of an assassin and she still looked delighted for a second. That kept going throughout that episode, these two seamlessly falling into a friendship that hasn’t seen the light of day in like 10 years or so. Helen wants him to meet her children and they have some raw and honest conversations about love and the sticky situation that Helen has found herself.
As for Sam, even though he holds everything close to his chest, he would do anything for Helen. It’s the reason why he came back and the reason why he is staying. It’s giving found family of the highest order, with two black sheep. Or black doves if we’re being title accurate. And Sam chooses her in small but significant ways that let Helen know she’s not alone in this. They have each other. And I’m hoping that Black Doves season 1 episode 1 continues to build on them. Because I don’t care about the whole background plot. That feels like necessarily plot devices for us to see two besties be spies.
Black Doves season 1 is now available on Netflix.
What did you think of Black Doves “To Love Then”? Let us know in the comments below!
Need more Black Doves? Read all of our reviews for season 1!
- Black Doves Season 1 Episode 1 Review: ‘To Love Then’
- Black Doves Season 1 Episode 2 Review: ‘A Little Black Dove’
- Black Doves Season 1 Episode 3 Review: ‘The Coming Night’
- Black Doves Season 1 Episode 4 Review: ‘Go Bang Time’
- Black Doves Season 1 Episode 5 Review: ‘The Cost of It All’
- Black Doves Season 1 Episode 6 Review: ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’
Is no-one going to mention Rat Scabies’ turn as the record shop guy?