‘Black Doves’ ending explained: who killed Jason?
Spoilers ahead
by Adam Starkey · NMEBlack Doves delivers a spy mystery against the backdrop of the festive season.
Created by Joe Barton, the Netflix series follows professional spy Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) who finds herself entangled in a wider conspiracy with hitman Sam Young (Ben Whishaw) following the death of her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji).
Other cast members include Sarah Lancashire, Andrew Buchanan, Omari Douglas, Kathryn Hunter and Sam Troughton.
Netflix renewed the show for a second season ahead of its debut on December 5, 2024.
Who killed Jason in Black Doves?
In the final episode, we discover crime boss Alex Clark’s son Trent ordered the hit on Jason, along with Maggie and Phillip. Trent ordered the attack to cover his tracks after accidentally killing Chinese ambassador Chen during an argument.
In a heated confrontation with Alex, Helen Webb pulls out a gun and threatens to kill her to avenge Jason. After a chaotic shootout, however, Sam ends up being the one who kills Alex and her son Trent, a move which puts him in a precarious position moving forward.
Who actually was Jason?
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While Helen was haunted by her decision to tell Jason she was a spy prior to his death, it turns out Jason was an MI5 agent all along. As we discover in an exchange between Helen and Reed, Jason was investigating Helen over concerns she was leaking government secrets but, to protect her, he never revealed her involvement in the Black Doves.
After the revelation, Reed hands Helen a hard drive containing everything she knows about the “real” Jason. Helen, however, tosses the drive into the River Thames, affirmed that she already knew, and fell in love with, the real Jason.
What happened between Sam and Michael?
After killing Alex Clark and her son, Sam is in dangerous territory and can no longer be with Michael. He returns to Michael’s flat where they have a last dance together, before Sam is confronted by Hector who gives him an ultimatum; either he works for him and remains in the criminal world, or he leaves London behind altogether.
While his decision isn’t explicitly said outright, either option is a dead end for his future with Michael – who is last seen in a montage with his friends on Christmas Day.
What has the creator said about Black Doves season 2?
Black Doves writer Joe Barton has teased Helen Webb will be “pulled deeper into the world of spies” in season two as her husband Wallace’s career leads to 10 Downing Street.
“Just seeing the tension of that, seeing Sam back in London… I would like to see more Eleanor Williams, Kai-Ming, all those people,” Barton told Tudum when asked about the second season. “I’d like to start to throw them up against one another again, and maybe make things more dangerous and challenging for them.”