Black Doves season 1 episode 6 “In the Bleak Midwinter” marks the end of a season full of secrets, violence, and Keira Knightley proving once again that she is that girl. It also wrapped up plenty of mysteries while also setting the stage for season 2. Because the kind of violence that fell on the Clarks doesn’t just go away. That kind of ghost haunts you and the ones you love for decades to come. But it’ll be difficult to get to both Helen and Sam now that their future prospects have changed.
Helen is About to Be the PM’s Wife
The mystery of who killed Jason is finally over and done with. But it’s just gotten infinitely more complicated for Helen now. Because yes, she didn’t kill two of the Clarks and their hitman. But she was there. She took part. And there’s no way that the rest of the Clarks are just going to forget. They’re going to play dirtier, harder, and do whatever they can do destroy her husband before they come for her. Because she’s going to be in a position of power now that the current Prime Minister is going to “step down” and her husband is going to step up. Or we assume he will be. And it’ll be her saving grace but also make it harder to move around when things hit the fan.
I do think that the mystery of Jason is going to continue to haunt her even though we know what happened to him and that he himself was an agent who saw a mark in her. Just because she chose to throw away the drive with more information about him doesn’t mean that her actions won’t haunt her marriage, her children, or the way that she navigates through her life. Her trust is broken. And I have a feeling that she’s going to look inward and maybe, just maybe, actually fall in love with her husband for the first time, making whatever drama is coming in season 2 even more complicated. But it’ll be worth it and be on par with the complicated relationship we see between the married leads of The Diplomat.
As for her relationship with Sam, I think that’s more solid than ever. Helen did want to kill the murderer of her lover. But Sam stepped up because he loves her. And she repaid that kindness by making sure he isn’t alone on Christmas. Because even she senses that things are going to get more complicated so she wants to spend as much time as she can with him. It’s also a clever way for the writers to introduce Sam to Wallace, who will absolutely have more access to information as Prime Minister in season 2 and will cross Sam’s face in some debrief of another. And I bet you it will make him question who his wife is and who she keeps company with.
MORE: Kiera Knightley is that girl and we discuss that in our Black Doves season 1 review here!
Where Does Sam Go Now?
Sam is by far my favorite character on Black Doves. He’s also the one who frustrates me the most. Because I understand him and his motivations, particularly when it comes to Michael. He wants to be happy with the man he loves. He wants to live that happy life. And he sees Helen living it. So why can’t he? But he ignores that Helen has been unhappy for a very long time, having lost who she was or is. Because like the rest of us, he wants to live in that fantasy where he’s with the man that he loves. And I truly believe that if Hector hadn’t appeared, like the cockroach he is, Sam would’ve stayed.
Michael is Sam’s epic love. He’s also Sam’s tragic love. A love where Michael sees Sam for who is, the killing included, and still loves him. Sam’s never found something like that before and I don’t know if he ever will. But what Sam will do is protect it. Because if he can’t have this love with Michael, he’s going to make sure that Michael lives the life that he wants, without fearing over and over if someone will come for him from the shadows. And now that Hector knows where Michael lives… well, Sam is going to work even harder to protect the one he loves.
Talking about people he loves, something shifted in Sam this episode. He hesitated before with Hector because he was just a kid. But when the moment came, when Helen needed him, he took the shot and took care of the problem. And he did it because he remembered what his hesitation cost him in Black Doves season 1 episode 3 “The Coming Night.” Sam wouldn’t let that happen to Helen or her kids. Because like Michael, he loves Helen. Not romantically of course. But she’s his other half. And he will come for her and protect her, just as she would. Ultimately, Sam didn’t have to make a choice between Michael and Helen like I feared all season. He chose them both, something truly unexpected for a show about sacrifice, death, and love.
MORE: Want to read more about our favs? Check out our Black Doves season 1 review!
A Happy Ending for Williams, Eleanor, and Kai-Ming
As side characters, I was so worried for Williams, Eleanor, and Kai-Ming. Williams was definetly more hurt than she led on. Eleanor was kidnapped by the Clarks. And while Kai-Ming had also been kidnapped by the Clarks, she was at the center of an international incident while also being high as a kite. Point being, these three women had a lot going on and I was so sure that Black Doves was going to sacrifice one of them. But look at us now, at the end of Black Doves season 1 and none of them died.
This fear at them dying didn’t come out of nowhere either. Women are often the sacrificial lamb for men’s exploits. And it only gets worse if you’re not white, like Kai-Ming, or are giving queer vibes like Williams and Eleanor. But they all survived, proving that you can tell a compelling story and let your characters live to fight another day. Or celebrate together on a boat on Christmas Eve. Either way, they survived and I’m really hoping that season 2 sees them return. Because like I mentioned in part one of this review for “In the Bleak Midwinter,” things are about to get even more complicated. And you’re going to need people you trust on your side. Doesn’t matter if they tried to kill you before. Our group of killers has bonded.
Black Doves season 1 is now available on Netflix.
What did you think of Black Doves “In the Bleak Midwinter”? 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’
I’ve really enjoyed your episode commentary as much as I enjoyed the series. I hope you’ll continue with commentary on S2!