Pigeons in plot holes: My quick take on web series “Black Doves” (Netflix)
If you’re expecting Black Doves to be a sleek, pulse-pounding spy thriller, adjust your expectations—preferably downward. What we have here is a six-hour exploration of love, betrayal, and spy games that seems to have been written with a dartboard of random plot points.(I took more than 3 days to sit through 6 episodes)
The story introduces us to do jasoos. First, there’s Helen—no, not of Troy, but a Trojan horse conveniently planted in the British secretary’s house. She’s part of a shadowy espionage group called “Black Doves,” which sounds menacing until you realize it’s headed by a white-wigged, slightly tired-looking boss, Reed. (Seriously, was the dove metaphor chosen for subtlety or irony?) If you’re hoping for a Red Sparrow-style “sexpionage” drama, think again—these doves don’t dabble in seduction. Instead, they’re more into relationship drama, with gay abandon (yes, pun intended).
Helen is accompanied by our second spy, a hitman-with-a-heart. He’s a trigger-man with heart who’s decidedly not trigger-happy and spends most of the series trying to protect Helen while questioning his life choices. Together, they navigate a convoluted plot involving the murder of Helen’s lover, which forces her to dive deep into a case with all the urgency of someone solving a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. After nearly six hours, the big revelation? It’s the cinematic equivalent of “khoda pahad, aur nikla chuha.”
The editing doesn’t help either—it’s as jumpy as a caffeinated rabbit, with flashbacks and timelines so blurred they’d give Christopher Nolan a headache. The spy thriller eventually veers into relationship melodrama, with an emphasis on “manly” relationships that might not resonate with everyone.
But wait, there’s a silver lining: the action set pieces! These moments of adrenaline almost make you forget that the plot is held together with duct tape and wishful thinking.
Despite my complaints, Netflix has announced a second season. Apparently, Helen’s Trojan horse might find its way to 10 Downing Street in S02. If that doesn’t spell intrigue, I don’t know what does. Maybe the doves will finally land—or at least figure out their true mission.
For now, though, apun ke bheje mein kuch bhara nahi, bhai. I’ll leave this one to the fans who cracked the “code” and somehow enjoyed this cryptic ride.
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