Big Screen

The Six Triple Eight

Need to Know
The Six Triple Eight is a 2024 American War Drama film released on Netflix. It depicts the plight of World War II’s only all-black women’s battalion that was tasked to carry out a mission deemed impossible.
Director: Tyler Perry
Cast: Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian
Why Is It Worth Watching?
Looking for unknown stories from World War II? Then this is a must-watch. Writers Kevin Hymel and Tyler Perry have brought to life a story and, more importantly, characters, who played a small but mighty role in propelling the US Army during the war.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, led by Captain Charity Adams, played by Kerry Washington, is responsible for sorting through a three-year backlog of undelivered mail, sent by American soldiers and their families to each other. The women of the military division are faced with the mammoth duty of going through the mail – a staggering 17 million pieces – within six months. And it is not the only challenge the women confront.
Being all-women and black, the contingent faces discrimination and misogyny. That’s where Captain Adams steers the squadron to not only accomplish their mission but do so within 90 days. Armed with a steely resolve and a never-say-die spirit, she is a figure of furious femininity and ruthless leadership.
Watch it for one of Kerry Washington’s career-best performances and a story that needs to be heard and known for the crucial contributions of a ‘cog in the wheel’ that deserves its due credit in the pages of history.
Black Doves

Need to Know
A spy story with a difference – these guys are not working for their country but rather for the highest bidder. When a dangerous situation implodes, vengeance is called for.
Creators: Joe Barton
Cast: Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire
Why Is It Worth Watching?
Helen, played by Keira Knightly, is a mother of twins seemingly happily married to the British Minister of Defence until an apparently random murder on the banks of the River Thames brings her world crashing down.
It quickly emerges that the man is Helen’s lover and she is anything but the archetypal politician’s wife but rather a member of the Black Doves, a paid spy! A visit from her ‘controller’ during a swanky party introduces us to the oddly menacing Reed, Sarah Lancashire, whose performance really shows the depth of her talent. When Helen and her family come under threat, Reed brings in Helen’s old colleague, Sam, to protect her and hunt down the killers and the diplomat’s wife turns highly-skilled avenger in the quest for her lover’s killers.
The series cleverly weaves in both Sam and Helen’s back stories, explaining how they came to be involved in high-stakes political intrigue and violence. And, though we know we should not, we actually find ourselves rooting for the spies turned assassins.
Like any good spy story with a twist, Black Doves is not just about intrigue, it takes on the big issues of love, loyalty and global politics with aplomb.
If you try it and love it as much as we did, you’ll be glad to know Season 2 had already been commissioned before the first show ever hit our screens.
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