From the creator of “Giri/Haji” comes an international-intrigue drama full of smarts, thrills and great performances by Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw.

A bearded man and a woman whose face is bloodied in a car. Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley in “Black Doves.”Credit…Ludovic Robert/Netflix

We’re in a spy-show boomlet, and the Netflix series “Black Doves,” starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, brings us a jazzy, Christmas-y iteration, full of fun fight scenes and stylish dialogue. Even when the plot holes widen, the performances are strong enough to bridge the gap.

“Black Doves” was created by Joe Barton, whose previous shows include “Giri/Haji,” another international-intrigue drama replete with smarts and violence. Knightley stars as Helen, mother of twins and wife of a politician whose star is rising (Andrew Buchan). But she isn’t really Helen; Helen is the creation of an international spy ring called the Black Doves, a group that sells intel to whomever is willing to pay for it, not beholden to any single nation’s interests.

Whishaw plays Sam, her “triggerman” and eventually close friend, who tried to leave the Black Doves but gets sucked back in. The show bounces between the present-day investigation into the murder of Helen’s secret love (Andrew Koji) and flashbacks to how Helen and Sam got into their line of work and formed their deep bond. Panting, gunshots and knife sound effects abound.

Knightley and Whishaw are terrific here, playing all the layers of their characters’ lies and all the layers of their pains and joys. Sarah Lancashire is similarly alluring as Reed, a boss in the Black Doves organization. Part of the fun of a spy show is that side characters are never quite just that, and “Doves” happily — well, murderously and dangerously, but, you know — gives everyone his or her moment.

 

There are six hourlong episodes in this first season, and the show has already been renewed for a second.

SIDE QUESTS

All spy shows make me think about “The Americans,” and “Black Doves” made me think about it most often in scenes with Reed, who reminded me a lot of Margo Martindale’s character. “The Americans” is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, one I think about all the time, and it gets better with each rewatch. That’s on Hulu. It’s an undertaking! But man, what a ride.

“Giri/Haji” is on Netflix.

If you want a different high-end spy show set in London, “Slow Horses” is on Apple TV+.