Slow Horses - A Trot, hopefully before the next gallop

Slow Horses

English - Spy / Thriller
6 Episodes ~45 min
Apple TV

 

Every season of Slow Horses has centered around one of Slough House’s misfits stepping, often unwillingly, into the spotlight. This time, it’s the turn of everyone’s favorite insufferable egoist — Roddy Ho. His romantic pursuit unwittingly become central to a terrorist plot across London.

While the show retains its signature tempo — the sardonic wit and the grimy realism of British intelligence — this season is definitely a speed bump. The generic plot and the lack of a strong villain are probably the cause. There is one genuinely excellent episode, another that is above average, and the rest feel like competent carry-ons which hold up the season.

In an interesting twist, the team, normally the underdog heroes — manage to hold up to Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman)'s belief that they are truly useless this time. Their bumbling interventions do more harm than good, leaving Lamb to step in (again) and save MI5’s collective blushes.

Oldman continues to be magnificent. An embodiment of weary brilliance and unfiltered disgust. His chemistry with Saskia Reeves, who plays the endlessly patient Catherine Standish, remains one of the show's quiet joys. 

Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright takes more of a backseat this season, re-emerging meaningfully only toward the finale. Kristin Scott Thomas is her usual ice-cool self as Diana Taverner — dependable as ever, with very little thrown her way.

James Callis, as the slightly daft yet oddly competent MI5 chief Claude Whelan, gets far more to do this time — and he is a hoot. His blend of bumbling arrogance and panic is one of the sparks of this uneven season.

So yes, for one of Apple TV's best shows - this is a mid-tier outing. It stumbles where previous seasons strutted, but still manages to land on its feet by the end — especially with that tantalizing Season 6 tease. The return of one of the series’ best villains promises redemption on the horizon.

For now, though, it is fair to say the Slow Horses have earned this one slow trot.