[Review] Slow Horses Season 5

Slow Horses premiered three and a half years ago and has now swiftly arrived at its fifth season. Compared to many series that take years between installments, this show’s production efficiency is impressive, and its standard of quality has never been disappointing.

Slow Horses adapts the Slough House novel series written by Mick Herron, with each season adapting one book. The stories are independent and complete, featuring very little direct carryover between seasons. Although the main characters experience a lot, their previous adventures don't seem to significantly influence the new season's plot. This is a major advantage—viewers don't need to remember past plotlines to jump into a new season. However, it’s also the show's chief weakness: the protagonists see little character development. Their personalities and performance in Season 5 are largely unchanged from the first season.

This season briefly references the experiences of River (Jack Lowden) and Shirley (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) from the previous season, with Shirley still struggling with that trauma, yet the show makes no effort to explore it in depth. While last season centered on River, this season seems to be about Roddy (Christopher Chung). But once the plot (and the villain) has finished using him, he appears to lose narrative value, and his character's deeper intentions are left unexplored. Nevertheless, despite this lack of character development, the season effectively utilizes the characters’ distinct personalities and inherent incompetence to deliver vivid, humorous scenes, ensuring that every episode remains highly entertaining.

This is the most overtly political season yet and the one closest to current societal realities. It weaves together elements of the left vs. right social divide, foreign influence, and conspiracy theories. However, as the show is fundamentally a spy thriller, it tackles these serious themes in a safe and predictable manner, mixed with its trademark comedic style. As a result, the plot offers no major surprises and may not be particularly memorable. Despite its cautious thematic approach, the season’s narrative is consistently smooth and fluid, avoiding any unnecessary tangents. It remains highly engaging and entertaining throughout. The season saves its finest moment for the latter half of the final episode. A simple scene serves as a powerful reminder that "the older, the better" — Gary Oldman's performance and the character Jackson Lamb remain the show's absolute best elements. This single scene, without a doubt, elevates the entire season.

Trailer:

Synopsis:

Everyone is suspicious when resident tech nerd Roddy Ho has a glamorous new girlfriend. When a series of increasingly bizarre events occur across the city, it falls to the Slow Horses to work out how everything is connected. After all, Lamb knows that in the world of espionage, the London Rules — cover your back — always apply.

Photo and Source: Apple TV+