Warning! This post contains spoilers for Black Doves.
Keira Knightley’s new holiday thrillerBlack Dovesis now streaming on Netflix, and it’s so much better than Knightley’s other spy thriller role from 2014.Black Dovesis a six-episode series starring Keira Knightley as Helen Webb/Daisy Bradshaw, a spy who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. In fact, despite being set during Christmas, the showis quite a brutal affair, with a number ofmajor deaths inBlack Dovesseason 1.
Black Dovesseason 2 is confirmed, so there is more to come followingtheBlack Dovesseason 1 ending. Even with the story continuing, though, this new show has already proven to be a major improvement on Keira Knightley’s previous thriller role inJack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, one of severalJack Ryan adaptations.AlthoughJack Ryan: Shadow Recruitis another spy thriller starring Knightley, it falls short precisely whereBlack Dovesreally shines.
Keira Knightley Played Cathy In Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Opposite Chris Pine
Unlike In Black Doves, Knightley Was Not A Spy In Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
InJack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Keira Knightley plays Cathy Muller, a med student whom protagonist Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) meets when he is being treated for injuries sustained during his time in the Marines. Ultimately, the two become engaged, but she has no idea that Jack is secretly working for the CIA. This is quite a reversal from Knightley’s character inBlack Doves, as, rather than playing the secret agent herself, she is the partner who has no idea her significant other has a massive secret.
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However,Cathy’s response to the revelation that Jack is secretly a CIA agent is surprisingly minimal. When Jack finally confesses that he is really in the CIA, Cathy says,“Thank God. I thought you were having an affair.“This response is in keeping with Cathy’s characterization throughout the movie, which sees her in a supportive girlfriend role, very quickly embracing Jack’s secret and wanting to help him. Clearly, this couldn’t be more distinct from Knightley’s role inBlack Doves, in which she is a highly skilled killer.
Keira Knightley’s Helen Hides Her Work From A Partner In Black Doves, Like Jack Ryan
Helen’s Job Is A Secret From Almost Everyone In Her Life In Black Doves
Part of the tension inJack Ryan: Shadow Recruitis regarding Jack’s fears about Cathy discovering his secret. The same is technically true ofBlack Doves, although it looks quite different in that show than it does inShadow Recruit. Ironically, given Cathy’s comments inShadow Recruit,Helen was having an affair inBlack Doves, and only one of them learned her secret. AmongBlack Doves’cast of charactersis Helen’s husband, Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan), and her lover, Jason (Andrew Koji).
With Wallace, Helen keeps her work as a spy entirely hidden, going to great lengths to make sure Wallace doesn’t suspect anything. Arguably, this is also because she and Wallace have two children together, and she is very concerned about keeping them safe. However,Black Dovesalso makes it clear that Helen has much stronger feelings for Jason, and while she doesn’t necessarily reveal everything to him, she does tell him that she has a false identity and indicates that she is not what he believes her to be.
Why Black Doves' Relationship Storyline Succeeds Where Shadow Recruit Failed
Black Doves Takes Its Time With Both Of Helen’s Relationships
Generally,Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruitwas not very well received, whereasBlack Doveshas proven very popular since its July 23, 2025, release. This comes down to a number of factors, although certainly one of them is the extent to which these relationships were realistically executed. InShadow Recruit, the revelation of Jack’s true job and Cathy’s response to this news both feel rushed. This couldn’t be further from the truth inBlack Doves.
Black Dovestruly takes its time, not only with Helen’s complex relationships with Jason and Wallace but also with the overarching mysteries. The show also takes the impact of this revelation much more seriously. InShadow Recruit, the fallout from Jack revealing his affiliation with the CIA is minimal, but inBlack Doves, Helen believes for most of the show that Jason must have died because she revealed more about her true identity.
WithBlack Dovesseason 2 coming, Helen’s relationship with Wallace could change.
In part, this could also be a matter of tone. Although bothJack Ryan: Shadow RecruitandBlack Dovesare considered spy thrillers,Black Dovesfeels like the much more serious of the two. Of course, withBlack Dovesseason 2 coming, Helen’s relationship with Wallace could change, perhaps revealing either a new layer to Helen’s deception or a change of heart regarding what she reveals to Wallace. Regardless,Black Dovesis a far superior spy story compared to Keira Knightley’s decade-old movieJack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.
Black Doves
Cast
Black Doves is a suspenseful thriller released in December 2024. It follows a spy masquerading as a politician’s wife who, after discovering her lover’s murder, joins forces with an old assassin associate to uncover the truth and seek revenge.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
The 2014 spy thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is the first original movie based on Tom Clancy’s famous character. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, it follows Ryan as he uncovers a Russian plot to crash the US economy. Chris Pine stars alongside Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, and Branagh.
