Will There Be A Black Doves Season 3?

Keira Knightley is back on our screens as politician’s-wife-slash-gun-wielding spy Helen Webb. After that breath-catching season 2 finale, the question left on everybody’s lips is: will there be a third instalment? Here’s everything we know about Black Doves season 3.

What Is Black Doves About?

By day, Keira Knightley is the perfect politician’s wife. Hosting lavish galas, looking after her two darling children, and doing all that she can to support her husband Wallace’s (Andrew Buchan) career. By night, she’s spilling his government secrets to the Black Doves – a ‘spies-for-hire’ organisation that retrieves confidential information for the highest bidder. When her lover Jason Davies is killed by a member of London’s criminal underworld in series 1, her identity is put in danger. 

(© Ludovic Robert/Netflix)

What Happened In Season 2? (Spoilers Ahead…)

In season 2, we see Helen’s husband Wallace ascend to the role of Prime Minister, raising the stakes higher than ever before. The finale opens with Sam (Ben Whishaw) finally settling his debt to Patrick (Sam Riley), the emissary who’s been blackmailing him with incriminating footage of Helen. After Sam delivers Helen’s handler Reed (Sarah Lancashire) to Patrick alive, Patrick agrees to delete the footage, leaving Reed held hostage.

At Wallace’s peace summit, violence erupts as agents, from rival terrorist organisation the Kestrels, ambush the event to take two hostages. Meanwhile, Patrick’s forces overtake the Black Doves headquarters with inside help from Dani (Agnes O’Casey), who has turned on the organisation that sidelined her. Kestrel head, Katia (Sylvia Hoeks) reveals that her true identity is Vita, Reed’s long-lost daughter. Raised in a Soviet orphanage without a name, Vita wants revenge on Reed for abandoning her all those years ago. 

Her goal is to compromise the Black Doves by forcing Helen to kill Wallace at the peace summit. Trapped in a corner, with her children being used as leverage against her, the choice seems impossible. With Katia monitoring her, Helen reaches Wallace through a hidden earpiece iand reveals (some of) the truth. She shoots at the window just behind Wallace, rather than at him, convincing Katia that the deed is done. 

Back over at the Black Doves headquarters, chaos erupts when Eleanor (Gabrielle Creevy), Williams (Ella Lily Hyland), and Laila (Ambika Mod) enter the fold to rescue Reed, triggering a gunfight. When the dust settles, multiple Black Doves are dead, including Cecile and the backstabbing Dani, and Patrick has escaped. Fatally wounded, Vita dies as Reed tells her that she never stopped loving her.

In the aftermath of the attack, Sam and Helen meet at Trafalgar Square for a bittersweet farewell. Fearing his presence puts those he loves in danger, he decides to return to the Italian village where he once sought refuge.

Left without her platonic other half, Helen goes home to her husband Wallace who demands the full truth from her. ‘Let’s start with your name and work from there,’ Wallace says. But the credits roll before we receive Helen’s full confession. 

(© Ludovic Robert/Netflix)

Will There Be A Black Doves Season 3?

Whilst Netflix has yet to officially renew Black Doves for a third season, creator Joe Barton has confirmed that the writers’ room is already mapping out potential future episodes. The first series went number one on Netflix, so if this second instalment enjoys anything close to the first’s success then we’re sure this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Helen Webb. 

Kiera Knightly in Black Doves. (Netflix)

What Will Happen In Season 3?

With the Black Doves damaged and low on numbers, they will be forced to rebuild. ‘It’s fun to imagine how that organisation might reinvent itself,’ teased Barton. ‘In the first season, it’s a capitalist organisation instead of an ideological one. What does that mean in today’s world, and how can they continue to ply their trade without being too evil?’

Helen, meanwhile, is still the wife of the Prime Minister, who now knows even more of her true identity than he did before. She’s no longer just a political asset, but someone who could shape the future of the Black Doves. ‘As we see, her secret is out with Wallace,’ Barton explains. ‘She can’t be the spy wife anymore, but she’s still a super capable agent. I think it’s about trying to find evolution in the character and then the dynamics in the organization.’ And of course Patrick is still on the run, leaving plenty of work left for Helen and her crew.

Black Doves Season 3 Release Date

Black Doves season 1 was released on 5 December 2024, meaning there’s just been under a two-year gap between the first and second seasons. If that track history is anything to go by, we’re guessing it will be a late 2028 release date for a potential season 3.

How To Watch

Season 2 of Black Doves is now streaming on Netflix. 

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