The ending of 'Black Doves' explained, as it leaves things open for Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw's spies in season two

Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley in “Black Doves.” Ludovic Robert/Netflix

Netflix’s “Black Doves” is the latest buzzy espionage TV drama to get audiences talking in 2024 after the likes of “Slow Horses,” “The Day of the Jackal,” and “The Agency.”

The show follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a spy who seeks revenge over the death of her lover, Jason Davies (Andrew Koji), who is assassinated on London’s South Bank during the show’s opening sequence.

Webb works for a private espionage organization, the Black Doves, and her boss orders hitman Sam Young (Ben Whishaw) to protect her because she’s also a potential target as the wife of the British defense secretary.

By the end of the six-episode series, Webb and Young figure out who killed Davies and why. Here’s what happened.

Trent Clark killed Jason Davies to cover up the accidental murder of the Chinese ambassador.

A man with long dark hair and short facial hair is wearing a long black coat. He's holding a phone to his right ear, and is turning around to face the camera while walking across a bride. There ae a number of tall buildings in the background. There is also another man in the background with his hands in a dark coat and has a scarf wrapped around his neck, covering his mouth.

Andrew Koji as Jason Davies in “Black Doves.” Netflix

During Webb and Young’s investigation into who assassinated Davies, they discover that it’s closely linked to the death of the Chinese ambassador in London.

The coverup around the incident brews a potential war, because the Chinese government believes the U.S. and Britain planned the attack. However, the truth is much different.

Webb and Young discover that Trent Clark (Angus Cooper), the son of the powerful Clark crime family in London, accidentally killed Ambassador Chen (Andy Cheung) in a moment of rage. The high-ranking official confronts Clark, who has been supplying his daughter, Kai-Ming (Isabella Wei), with heroin.

Clark pushes Chen during the argument, causing him to fall and hit his head — killing him.

Davies and his associates record the whole incident and plot to release the footage to expose the Clark family and the political corruption they were involved in.