Black Doves
During the holiday season, audiences are always looking for something with a clear festive spirit to make their Christmas-watching fun and nostalgic.
Ironically, one of this year’s most popular options is Netflix’sBlack Doves, a gripping espionage thriller series starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw.
Although its story is quite dark and gritty at times,Black Doves’soundtrackfeatures some classic holiday songs that help create a wintery atmosphere throughout the story.
Hawkeyeis another recent example of a streaming-released festive TV show that became essential viewing for the holiday season, and this year, it may be competing withBlack Dovesfor those viewing numbers.
These are two excellent series, and whileHawkeyecertainly ranks among theMCUs best TV shows,Black Dovesis an equally strong option for this year’s Christmas viewing parties.
Keira Knightley’s Black Doves Is An Action Series That Takes Place Around Christmas
Black Doves' Festive Season Is Important To The Story
WhileBlack Dovesmay not seem like the most Christmas-y and sentimental of shows on the surface, its setting of Christmastime does play a rolein the otherwise gritty and intense story.
The narrative centers around two ex-spies, played by Knightley and Whishaw, whose old lives finally catch up with them when the former’s lover is killed by a mysterious hitman with apparent connections to their past.
What ensues is a deadly game of cat-and-mouse as the main characters attempt to solve the mystery in the shadows.
Black Doves creator Joe Barton discusses season 1 ending with a major character death while explaining Sam’s ultimate decision in the final episode.
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.
Thestory ofBlack Dovestakes place just before Christmas, with Knightley’s protagonist Helen being torn between enjoying the festivities of the season with her family and exacting revenge against the people who’ve put their lives in danger, even if it means being absent.
It creates plenty of interesting drama among the characters, speaking to the importance of family during the holiday season, a recurring theme in Christmas offerings.
Hawkeye Is A More Christmas-Themed Show (But Black Doves Could Pull A Die Hard)
The MCU’s Hawkeye Is A More Traditional Holiday Series
Admittedly, those looking for something more traditional for their holiday watch party would likely be more interested inHawkeye, which places the holiday season front and center of the narrative.
The show follows Kate Bishop upon her encounter with Clint Barton, an old member of the Avengers, and her becoming his pupil when dangerous forces begin to hunt them from the shadows.
Butdespite the danger,Hawkeyealways maintains a comedic toneand keeps the story lighthearted,which makes it a fun and breezy Christmas watch.
However, that doesn’t mean that Christmas films and series have to be lighthearted.Black Dovesis dark, but so are films likeDie HardandBlack Christmas but these make for great holiday screenings all the same.Die Hardis also famously the ultimate “Christmas movie that isn’t really a Christmas movie,” another themeBlack Dovescould tap into.
It merely comes down to preference, as these two shows have both sides of the holiday coin safely covered.
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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.
Still reeling from the fallout of Avengers: Endgame, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is drawn back into an urgent mission as the ghosts of his past threaten to destabilize his peaceful family life. Thrust into a new dynamic with young upstart Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the original Avenger must escape a hit, uncover the secret of Kingpin’s return, and get home in time for Christmas.
Still reeling from the fallout of Avengers: Endgame, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is drawn back into an urgent mission as the ghosts of his past threaten to destabilize his peaceful family life.
Thrust into a new dynamic with young upstart Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the original Avenger must escape a hit, uncover the secret of Kingpin’s return, and get home in time for Christmas.
