In the spy genre, the characters’ identities are a dangerous secret. Moreover, the one on whose revelation your life may depend. This is the premise Black pigeons from Netflix, a combination of action, drama and thriller. The plot centers on Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), the exemplary wife of a prominent English politician. Only, as the plot reveals almost immediately, there are many more layers to the character’s life. Or rather, what it hides. The most difficult element: she is a spy, part of the Black Doves, an organization without dogmatic affiliation that sells information to the highest bidder.
Director and showrunner Alex Gabassi uses snowy London to deliberately disorient the environment in which Helen moves. The snow-covered streets on which his figure appears and disappears become a combination of details that emphasize his mysterious appearance. So, the production immediately puts an end to it. Helen must fight to not only stay alive, but also to keep the secrets she hides. Moreover, when, as the plot shows, it is difficult a network of connections with the organization to which he belongs and the British authorities.
Joe Barton’s script makes good decisions when exploring Helen’s motivations for doing something like this. An excuse that extends to the rest of the Black Doves. Halfway between practical understanding of the value of information, mass manipulation and subversive overtones, the group tries to maintain a neutral goal. What this argument explores is the idea that all governments abuse power, instruments of influence and privilege. regardless of your political position. This makes the very existence of the Black Doves necessary.
At the center of politics, a drama to be resolved
The above allows the story to almost immediately play with the idea of not fully knowing what each of its characters is hiding. In fact, much of the effectiveness of the plot Black pigeonscomes from his ability to be ambiguous. Particularly when Helen must act to avoid being discovered or, worse, killed. At the same time, she strives to maintain her image as an ideal wife and mother in front of Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan). An interesting element of the series is its ability to double and triple read the motives of the actions of the main characters. Using Helen as the focal point, the script reflects on loyalty in the modern world, as well as the political value of information.
All complex themes that the plot manages to mix into an inevitable and almost predictable hunt. When Reed (Sarah Lancashire), another member of the subversive group, informs Helen of three murders that appear to be connected to her, Helen must make some decisions. But he’s also trying to figure out the extent to which his identity—and what that implies—is in the killer’s hands. Moreover, one of the victims is his beloved. Jason (Andrew Koji) then asks himself not only an unanswered question, but also a starting point for Helen is trying to find the culprit behind the death.
The idea may seem cliché—and to a certain extent it is—except for the way the show explores the psychology of its characters. Black pigeons It’s more about success in crafting a credible script than it is about spy genre clichés. The plot manages to move away from clichés, giving the conflict emotional and realistic depth. Helen sells information, but at the same time she is part of the family she loves. Thus, the gap between both parts of her life forces her to choose all sorts of difficult alternatives. most of them despaired and only a few succeeded.
Great actors for unusual characters
One of the series’ strengths is its ability to weave together the threads of different scenarios with risky decisions. Like hiding what his main characters can or can’t do. Both as spies, and as members of families or organizations that do not know their true intentions. So Keira Knightley plays Helen with her vulnerability. What allows that the character moves between mysterious and even dangerous ambiguities.
The same goes for Sam (Ben Whishaw), the subversive group’s bodyguard of sorts. Little by little, this elite assassin, who is also Helen’s reliable supporter – or should be – becomes something more opaque. This allows the series to move on to hint at a plot that deals directly with politics, influence, and divided loyalties. Part of the success Black pigeonslies in his ability to explore the idea of ambition and greed, as opposed to very ordinary heroism.
Step by step, the show manages to explore the less dramatic moments – the ones it forgets a bit – to focus on what lies behind the series of deaths Helen is investigating. It loses some of the tense atmosphere of the early episodes to delve deeper into the terrain of action or drama in the later ones. thriller more traditional. More, Black pigeons They have enough intelligence to get bigger and bigger harder and weirder than just dedicating yourself to closing open ends.
Which, of course, leads to a second season – already confirmed – and proper development of its characters. There’s no doubt the series could have been much longer, but its six chapters explore an interesting world that will likely be expanded upon in future chapters. The most interesting promise that the series leaves behind.
Source: Hiper Textual
