It’s an argument that seems to crop up every December, is the Bruce Willis thriller, Die Hard, actually a Christmas movie? Now, a similar debate looks set to open up around Black Doves.

The new eight-part Netflix series, which was released last Thursday and scored a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes just one day after its launch, is a thriller starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw.

But despite featuring spies, murders and assassins, the show has been labelled a ‘Christmas series’ by delighted viewers, who claim the festive soundtrack and setting gave them the ‘Christmas feels’.

Set in London in December, ahead of the big day, the thriller follows Keira’s character Helen Webb as an agent passing on secrets she’s managed to uncover from her politician husband (Andrew Buchan) to the Black Doves organisation.

Helen has been giving the firm – headed up by the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire) – political information for 10 years, but her position is compromised after the mother-of-two’s secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated.

Yet all the fighting and killing in the series isn’t enough to stop fans from branding it a festive offering, thanks to the Christmas tunes played in the background and the timing of the drama.

One person wrote on X: ‘Black Doves is a Christmas movie, a six hour Christmas movie,’ while another said: : ‘Black Doves gave me all the Christmas feels I need this year!’

+2
View gallery

It’s an argument that seems to crop up every December, is the Bruce Willis thriller, Die Hard, actually a Christmas movie? Now, a similar debate looks set to open up around Black Doves (pictured)

A third wrote: ‘Black Doves is a Christmas streaming series in the same way Die Hard is a Christmas movie.’

A fourth added: ‘Did not expect Black Doves to be the perfect Christmas viewing. Ben Whishaw walks away with the best-written character on the small screen this year. So much fun.’

When Helen’s secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, Reed informs her that her position in the organisation may have been compromised.

Her theory is proved right when Keira is attacked by assailants, only to be saved by a friend from her past, Sam Young, played by Ben Whishaw.

As his past threatens to catch up with him, his task is to protect Helen as she investigates who killed Jason and why.

Helen then makes Sam promise to keep her alive and keep her family safe, so she has time to find out who killed Jason and take her revenge on them.

Viewers took to social media to rave about the show after it dropped, with one writing: ‘Binged #BlackDovesin 24 hours. Brilliant!’

Another said: ‘Last night I binge watched the new British Netflix spy thriller Black Doves and wow, what a series. Kiera Knightley and Ben Wishaw both should get some sort of acting awards for it. Mind blowing and brilliant. Gobsmacked.’

+2
View gallery

The new eight-part Netflix series, which was released last Thursday and scored a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes just one day after its launch, is a thriller starring Keira Knightley (pictured) and Ben Whishaw

Reaction: Despite featuring spies, murders and assassins, the show has been labelled a ‘Christmas series’ by delighted viewers, who claim the festive soundtrack and setting gave them the ‘Christmas feels’

A third added: ‘Am I already on ep 4 of #BlackDoves? Yes I am, thank you very much. #glued.’

‘I was going to watch one episode of Black Doves and now I’ve watched them all. Absolute excellence from Joey Barton and everyone involved in the show. More please Netflix!,’ said a fourth.

Another person wrote: ‘Black Doves is a really good spy show. I just had to binge it. Keira Knightley is everything in this role, she’s fantastic! I want many more Helen Webb adventures.’