Keira Knightley’s Black Doves was one of the best thriller TV series of 2024, and luckily for us, a second season is just around the corner. Returning us to the streets of London, Knightley once again plays formidable spy Helen Webb, who continues in Season 2 to covertly work for the Black Doves organisation. Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire is also back as her handler, Mrs Reed, as is Ben Wishaw (Paddington, Skyfall) as Helen’s close friend Ben. More intrigue and espionage await- here’s everything you need to know about Season 2:

What is Black Doves season 2 about?

In a world where Slow Horses is on TV, it’s not easy to compete in the spy genre- but Black Doves succeeded in carving out an identity of its own when it debuted on Netflix in December 2024. You might recall (assuming you watched that first season) that Helen is the wife of the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan). Despite her lofty position, Helen in fact works as a spy, passing on state secrets to the Black Doves despite the fact that she’s betraying her nation as she does so. You might also recall that things went sideways for her when her lover, Jason, was found murdered. Fast forward through plenty of scenes of spies and secrets, and it’s revealed that he was killed by the son of a crime boss. Trent (Angus Cooper) did it to cover up for the accidental murder of an ambassador, and before Helen can exact revenge, Trent is shot by Sam instead.

Season 2 takes place a year following these events, with Helen bracing for the fact that her husband is now set to become Prime Minister. The pressure is even higher for her to keep her work a secret, made more difficult by the discovery of a plot to bring down her Black Doves handler, Mrs Keller. Sam, meanwhile, has lost most of his lucrative contracts as a hitman, leading him to once again join Helen as she investigates the plot. Spy and assassin search for answers and wonder who, if anyone, they can trust, as it becomes apparent that there’s a conspiracy that will ensnare them and everyone they love if they don’t act fast. As Netflix’s official synopsis states, their mission “leads them back to old friends and enemies, through the dark decisions and painful sacrifices of their pasts, and right to the heart of the Black Doves.”

What else do we know, and is there a release date?

Filming is currently ongoing on Black Doves Season 2, and it’s expected to arrive on Netflix late next year. There’ll also be a few new faces joining in the espionage, including Neve Campbell (Scream), Ambika Mod (One Day) and Sam Riley (Firebrand).

Culture, Films & TV

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