TV Shows Like Black Doves
Black Doves is the latest thriller on Netflix, starring Keira Knightley in the lead role and chock full of thrilling set-pieces, woven into an intriguing story at its heart. If you’ve finished watching this one, or are looking for shows with a similar plotline, tone or theme, we’ve got you covered!
We’ve combed through the archives and picked out out top 10 picks for alternate viewing. Oh, and to keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve also added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Black Doves.
Killing Eve
Similarities – Characters & Action
Playing on the archetypal tropes you’d expect to see in the spy genre, Killing Eve confidently walks a fine line between dark comedy and gritty drama. The story predominantly revolves around two women; bored, excitement-starved MI6 agent Eve and illusive assassin Villanelle.
Their stories run parallel to one another during the opening few episodes before converging together in a deadly game of cat and mouse. This continues across the entire show’s run-time, with faint wisps of romance and thriller elements thrown in throughout.
Some excellent acting also helps, making this a unique slice of the crime drama pie. It’s not perfect, and at times the story does suffer from some serious contrivances – especially toward the end as the show does not have a particularly great conclusion. Despite that though, Killing Eve is a great option for anyone after a lively and dramatic crime drama.
You can read our thoughts on Killing Eve in our full season review here!
Barry
Similarities – Comedy & Drama
With a delicious blend of comedy and drama, Barry is uniquely placed on the small screen. It’s a delightfully paced and palpable show, that’s only been excelling from season to season.
The story centers on a hitman from the Midwest who moves to Los Angeles and ends up caught in the city’s theatre arts scene. Unfortunately, his past isn’t ready to stay forgotten.
To give much more away about the story would be a disservice but if you’re after a visceral, funny and well-paced series – this one’s an absolute must-watch.
Kleo
Similarities – Espionage & Female Protagonist
Set in Germany, right across 1989 and 1990 (during the time of the Berlin Wall falling), Kleo sets up a revenge thriller plot from the off, and season 2 continues that crusade. The catalyst for this drama though stems from a killing that goes horribly wrong. You see, Kleo is a spy killer and after being thrown behind bars, the fall of the Berlin Wall sees her released and she embarks on a revenge spree against the people who conspired to betray her.
Kleo is a deliciously dark revenge thriller, with a nice mix of dark comedy, big action set-pieces and character drama that should whet the appetite.
The Day of the Jackal (2024)
Similarities – Espionage & Action
The Day of the Jackal is a high-octane thrill ride, based on the riveting political thriller novel by English author Frederick Forsyth. The show has been reimagined for a modern audience but maintains the same high-stakes intensity.
The show focuses on an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. However, the Jackal soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer, who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.
This is definitely a fun, compelling thrill-ride, and worth sticking with for the long-haul. The second-half is much better than the first too, and there are some genuine nail-biting segments here too.
Nikita
Similarities – Espionage & Female Protagonist
Much like Black Doves, Nikita features a strong female as its central protagonist. The story itself does feel a little similar too, depicting a rogue assassin returning to take down the secret organization that trained her, while also juggling personal responsibilities too.
Where Nikita stands out though is with its action and there’s more than enough tension here to keep you watching through. With 4 seasons and lots of twists and turns along the way, this is definitely one of the more under-rated options out there.
The Little Drummer Girl
Similarities – Revenge Plot
BBC dramas can usually go one of two ways, they’re either really gripping and enticing… or they’re not. Thankfully, The Little Drummer Girl falls into the former category.
The narrative centers on a Palestinian assassin targeting prominent Israelis. In order to try and thwart that, a young English actress is recruited by Mossad to infiltrate the assassin’s terrorist cell. The only way for her to survive is to use all of her acting talents…but of course that also puts her at considerable risk.
Nail-biting and well written, this 6 episode series has enough depth to keep you watching until the end.
The Terminal List
Similarities – Revenge & Action
The Terminal List has all the ingredients to be a sure-fire hit. High-octane action, twists and turns along with enough treachery and intrigue to keep you guessing.
Our protagonist here is a former Navy SEAL officer called James Reece (Chris Pratt). The story opens with a tense, covert mission deep in enemy territory that goes completely awry, leading to his team being slaughtered.
With the plan a bust, the soldiers head back to US soil and are debriefed. When his friends begin to die in mysterious ways, Reece quickly learns that there’s a conspiracy going all the way up the chain of command. Naturally, Reece begins to investigate further, setting up a kill list as he begins going after those responsible.
Hunters
Similarities – Action & Dark Comedy
At the heart of the story lies Jonah, a 19 year old that finds his life turned upside down when his Grandmother Ruth is killed in cold blood by a mysterious figure in the middle of the night.
At her wake, Jonah is approached by a man named Meyer, an old friend of Ruth’s who becomes entangled in his story after he goes after the man responsible for killing her. What follows is a journey that sees Jonah join this misfit group of fighters who hunt down various Nazi targets, with The Wolf and The Colonel topping the list.
Hunters is a lot of fun. There’s some genuinely memorable moments here, some of the action is really well-shot and the early episodes do an excellent job bringing you into the world. If you’re looking for something with a great mix of comedy, drama and thrills, you should definitely add this one to your watch-list.
Gangs of London
Similarities – Fighting Over Territory
Gangs Of London is a thoroughly enjoyable crime epic and one that does a great job blending graphic violence and big action set pieces with an interesting story surrounding a power struggle in London.
The story centers on a man named Finn Wallace, the crime boss overseeing affairs in London who’s shot dead by two nobodies. With no-one at the top, a wrestle for power ensues between rival gangs.
While the plot does lose its way during the second half and a couple of the characters don’t get a great send-off, there’s enough to like about this one to make it well worth a watch, flaws and all.
Inspector Koo
Similarities – Strong Female Protagonist & Action
This K-drama is, in its simplest form, very close in style and tone to Killing Eve (which is also featured on this list.)
The plot shines a spotlight on Koo Kyung-Yi who’s in her 40’s. She’s a former police officer but now works as an insurance investigator as a private detective. With her smarts and intuition, she’s able to solve every case… until now.
When Kyung-Yi is faced with catching a serial killer – a female university student no less – past and present collide together as the sins of her past come back to haunt her.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Black Doves.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!