Black Doves season 1 episode 4 “The Cost of It All” has tied the mystery of it all with my favorites Helen and Sam so well that I don’t even remember just caring about our murder besties. I’m invested in all of these stories and how they come together and this writing, acting, and show in general continues to reach the same height of love that I had for The Diplomat. Pity there is only one more episode after this. But at least we already have a season 2 confirmation.
The Sh*t Hit the Fan, Officially
My assertion that Mrs. Reed is the actual villain of Black Doves just got more complicated in “The Cost of It All.” Because yes, she is moving against Helen. And yes, she’s been keeping secrets from Helen. But it’s because there’s something bigger at stake. And as a viewer and critic, I love that we’ve been taken on a journey where even Mrs. Reed is more than just a caricature. She’s a layered women who is a leader, boss, and strategist all in one. And she might be the bad guy in Helen’s story. But she’s looking at the bigger picture. That matters.
The Prime Minister was involved in the death of the Chinese Ambassador. Councilman Yarrick helped cover it up after Trent Clark accidentally killed him when he was confronted about giving his daughter drugs. Yarrick then called the Prime Minister. So he knew. The entire time the Chinese were trying to figure out what happened to their own, the Prime Minister was in on it. That’s why he wanted the video camera in the Ambassador’s home. It would implicate him and the British government, leading to the disaster that Mrs. Reed is trying to avoid.
All these revelations in Black Doves season 1 episode 5 “The Cost of It All” makes me infinitely more interested in who the Clarks are. Because they have the Prime Minister in their pockets. They also knew that someone like Sam would be sent to kill Alex Clark, Trent’s mother. That’s someone with power, influence, and someone watching in every corner of the world. And it’s the reason why I, as a viewer, am looking at everyone around Helen a little closer. Because if they have the Prime Minister in their pocket, what’s to say they don’t have Wallace or had Jason? And when it comes to Sam, what is Helen willing to give up to save him? Because that recording might be the difference between Sam’s life and finding out who killed Jason.
Michael and Sam Moving Forward
As much as I want Sam and Michael to make it… I’m scared for them. Part of it is due to the Bury Your Gays trope. It’s a trope for a reason. Our communities and the relationships within them see one or both in a couple killed at a higher rate than heterosexual couples considering we barely have LGBTQ+ relationships on TV. But my fear for Sam and Michael also rests on the fact that the Clarks are dangerous. They will take anyone down, threaten who they want, and they have the Prime Minister in their pocket for sure. No one can stop them.
Then there’s the simple little matter of the Clarks now have Sam. There is no way, based on what we’ve learned about these people, that they don’t know all about Michael. They’ve probably been watching Michael for ages, someone tipping them off about Hector’s revenge and how it led to Sam fleeing. And if the Clarks haven’t caught onto Michael yet, they were certainly tipped off by Mrs. Reed, because she knows that Helen will do anything for Sam, including staying in a loveless marriage and giving up that video.
Keeping all of that in mind, I do admire Michael for being willing to talk and take back Sam. It speaks to the writers ability to make it abundantly clear that relationships are more than just black and white. There are shades of grey where we understand the darkness that someone has and welcome it (in measure) alongside the light. That’s what I feel like Michael is doing with Sam. So I’ll just sit here, closing my fingers that they make it out alive and that Michael’s daughter isn’t left an orphan.
Side-note on the Murder Duo & Possible Lesbians
I finally figured out why I connected so much with Eleanor and Williams in Black Doves season 1 episode 5 “The Cost of It All.” They remind me of my Killing Eve days. And it’s not because one is blonde and one is brunette. It’s also not because I think they’re at the same level as our beloved Eve and Villanelle. The reason why Eleanor and Williams made me think of Killing Eve is because we don’t see enough dangerous women on our screens. Women who will kill, cause mayhem, and still have this connection between them that can’t fully understand.
For Eleanor and Williams, I’m not 100% if they’re together in a romantic sense. They’ve only known each other since Williams lost her partner after Sam shot her in the face. But things move differently in this environment. You can die tomorrow. So if you feel a connection, even if physical, and you go for it. And I feel like Eleanor and Williams went for it. That’s why they had that conversation about keeping it “every woman for herself” before the showdown with the Clarks, Eleanor called Williams “babe,” and why they were complaining like an old married couple about Williams moving her things.
I need Eleanor and Williams to survive. I also need Williams to confess whatever feelings are brewing within her. Because it’s like that saying, “Drunk words are sober thoughts.” And Williams wasn’t necessarily drunk, but she was in pain and high as a kite on pain pills. She feels something for Eleanor. I also need Williams to not die because we haven’t understood the full extent of her injuries because she’s hiding. Truly can’t take one or both of these women dying especially after they reminded me of Killing Eve. And we all know how that show ended….
Black Doves season 1 is now available on Netflix.
What did you think of Black Doves “The Cost of It All”? 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’
