Irish TV thriller hailed one of the 'best dramas ever' is free to binge (2025)

An Irish thriller series with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season has been compared to another crime drama that left fans in awe.

In December, Keira Knightley’s new series Black Doves dropped on Netflix boasting an impressive 94% rating on the review aggregation website

However, some TV viewers think that they’ve discovered a show that’s even better.

Love/Hate, the Irish series which started back in 2010 and is available to binge for free on ITVX, is still to this day regarded as ‘one of the best dramas ever’.

The programme, created by Irish TV network RTÉ, is set in Dublin and follows the gangland tension in the Irish capital’s criminal underworld.

Starring Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Aoibhinn McGinnity, and Charlie Murphy, Love/Hate looks at the effects of gang violence on the perpetrators and victims.

The series came to a close in 2014 after five seasons, having won several awards, including 19 Irish Film & TV Academy awards.

On X, @Snowaldinho eagerly recommended Love/Hate to a mutual follower, calling the show ‘one of the best dramas I’ve ever seen.’

Elsewhere, @DeanoRifles said that, after being told to watch the series by his followers, he was pleased to report that they were indeed correct.

‘You were [all] so right! It’s the b******s too! Bloody nice one, everyone! Highly recommend this to anyone else who hasn’t seen it.’

One of the stars of Love/Hate is The Umbrella Academy star Robert Sheehan, who played Nathan Young in the E4 sci-fi comedy drama Misfits between 2009 and 2011.

Meanwhile, spy thriller Black Doves is similarly violent as it follows Keira’s character Helen Webb through the secretive and conspiratorial corridors of power.

Helen is the wife of the Secretary of State for Defence, but when her secret lover is killed by London’s criminal underworld, she finds out her identity as a spy is under threat.

@Fauzandr31 on X is a fan: ‘I hope more people watch Netflix’s Black Doves. It is so good! The chemistry of Keira Knightley & Ben Whishaw is just incredible.’

However, @Blueboy22M compared both shows and said he was more of a fan of Love/Hate: ‘Black Doves is rubbish… Have you watched Love/Hate –every episode is gripping.’

Fans of Black Doves are torn after it was announced that the Netflix series had been renewed for a second season despite wrapping up its story in six episodes.

‘Black Doves season two is coming, darlings,’ an announcement read, but the reaction among viewers was mixed to say the least.

‘Great acting, and intriguing build up, but ultimately disappointingly mediocre. Nonetheless I’ll watch a second season,’ Jonathan commented.

‘Please don’t,’ user @aayu joked, although superfan Louis was excited for more: ‘I felt there was unfinished business. Glad it’s coming back!’

This article was originally published on January 20 2025.

Love/Hate is streaming on ITVX. Black Doves is streaming on Netflix.

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