Black Doves Season 1 Episode 3: The Coming Night - Helen and Sams Lethal Dance

In the third installment of Netflix's pulse-pounding spy thriller "Black Doves," the shadows of the past stretch across the present, enveloping Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) and Sam (Ben Whishaw) in a deadly game of espionage and betrayal. Episode 3, titled "The Coming Night," delves into the origins of their covert careers, revealing the events that shaped them into the operatives they are today.

The episode rewinds to 2014, where Helen's life intertwines with Wallace's in a hotel room, a moment of respite before the storm. As Helen stays with Wallace, Sam finds himself in the company of Reed, handing over the pilfered laptop files that Helen so skillfully stole. Reed's conversation with Sam takes a dark turn when she reveals Lenny's proposition for him to become a triggerman. Despite Reed's refusal to employ killers, Sam's path is set, leading him to Lenny's lair, where his first assignment unfolds in a Chinese restaurant with a single, fatal shot.

Six months on, Sam's transformation into a seasoned operative is evident as he trains Helen in the grim arts of combat and subterfuge under the arches of a bridge. Their bond strengthens over shared secrets and survival skills, with Sam confiding in Helen about his father's past as a triggerman, a revelation that casts a long shadow over his present. As Sam's past catches up with him, he meets Michael for the first time, setting the stage for a complex relationship that would be tested by the realities of Sam's double life.

Fast forward to 2017, and Sam's life with Michael is a stark contrast to his deadly assignments. As the Conservative government takes power with Helen by Wallace's side, Sam's world is rocked by the appearance of the Newman brothers, a new threat on the horizon. Lenny's warning about the brothers sets Sam on a lethal mission that ends with a fateful decision, sparing the life of a child, Hector, and setting off a chain of events that would come back to haunt him.

The present day brings a new set of challenges as Sam recounts his botched attempt to kill Hector, the ensuing bloodbath, and the footage of Hector's escape. Lenny's directive to finish the job sends Sam to Hector's hideout in Peckham, but not before he enlists the help of Williams and her partner, Eleanor, to even the odds.

Meanwhile, Helen's life as a suburban mother is a facade that conceals her secret identity as a Black Dove. As she contemplates a life on the run with passports in hand, flashbacks to Jason's offer to escape together resurface, a lifeline she once considered. Her discussion with Wallace about their children's nativity play contrasts sharply with her covert meeting with Sam to discuss Stephen Yarrick, aka Sy, and her plan to attend the nativity play to confront him.

At the nativity play, Sam's confrontation with Stephen under the guise of a phone call leads to a tense standoff, with Sam planting Stephen's phone in Helen's daughter's bag, setting a trap for Helen. The text exchange that follows is a dangerous game of cat and mouse, with Helen's life and identity hanging in the balance.

Wallace's meeting with the Chinese envoy at Christmas drinks introduces a geopolitical twist, with the threat of war looming over the disappearance of crucial military contacts and the involvement of Cole Atwood, Kai-Ming's boyfriend and a CIA agent. The stakes are raised as Helen receives a series of gruesome videos of Stephen's torture, culminating in his murder. Suspicions about Wallace's new assistant, Dani, arise as she utters a phrase that echoes Reed's words from Helen's past, "A door closes, a window opens," raising questions about her true allegiances and her role in the unfolding drama.

The episode reaches its climax as Sam, wounded and on the run, calls for Helen's help. Their escape is fraught with danger, with Helen emerging as Sam's savior, a role reversal that underscores the depth of their bond. As Helen negotiates with Reed for an exit strategy for Sam and protection for Michael, she commits to a life within the Black Doves, a decision that would have far-reaching consequences.

"The Coming Night" is a gripping exploration of the characters' pasts and the choices that have led them to the precipice of danger. As Helen and Sam navigate the treacherous world of espionage, their actions reverberate through their personal lives, blurring the lines between duty and survival. The episode leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, eager for the next chapter in this high-stakes game of shadows.

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