‘Slow Horses’ season 5 left me stunned — here’s why Apple’s spy thriller is one of the best shows of the year through four episodes
I’ve certainly been a fan of “Slow Horses” season 5. Granted, I’ve always been a fan of the British spy thriller. Just about every year, it’s in my top 10 shows of the year. But season 5 has been particularly good, with an explosive season premiere and an acting masterpiece from Sir Gary Oldman in episode 3 that had me ready to give him an Emmy.
And yet, the latest episode of the Apple TV Plus original show is the season’s best, and might be the best ever from the show. It lacks the gravitas of Oldman’s monologue in “Tall Tales,” but from start to finish, it’s a masterclass in script writing.
As with my past articles regarding this season, there are spoilers ahead. So if you haven’t already, make sure you’ve watched “Slow Horses” season 5 on Apple TV Plus. Otherwise, let’s dive into why this episode is so good, and why I now have this show rated as one of the best shows of the year.
Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm has been with Digitpatrox since 2023, covering the latest in streaming shows and movies. He watches over 50 new shows a year, and has long contested that “Slow Horses” is one of the best shows on TV right now.
Spoilers ahead for “Slow Horses” season 5 episodes 1-4
‘Slow Horses’ is a masterclass in writing
Typically, the most memorable episodes of TV shows stick in our minds for one of two reasons. Either they have an incredible moment that blows you away, or they grab you from the start and never let go.
Last week’s episode, “Tall Tales,” was the former, but this week’s episode, “Missiles,” falls firmly in the latter camp. From the jump, we’re thrown into a game of wits between Roddy (Christopher Chung) and Emma Flyte (Ruth Bradley), and Emma pretty quickly hands Roddy a loss. But of course, she finds herself still on the losing end when she arrives at the home of Roddy’s possible terrorist girlfriend and finds Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) already there.
This sequence works so well because we know it’s coming. At least, we know the final move it’s coming. Of course, Lamb is going to be one step ahead of everyone else, because that’s what he does. And that’s why it’s so satisfying when the reveal is delivered.
Conversely, though, there are two moments you don’t see coming in this episode, and yet they’re even more satisfying than Lamb outfoxing Flyte.
First up, there’s Claud Whelan’s (James Callis) dismantling of Dennis (Christopher Villiers) and Dodie Gimball (Victoria Hamilton). As far as dislikable characters go in “Slow Horses,” Whelan is almost at the top of the list. But he’s a frankly sympathetic character when pitted against the vile, racist Gimballs.
So it’s so satisfying when Whelan not only takes them down a peg but also uses their racist beliefs to essentially destroy their marriage. When he reveals Dennis to be secretly part-Turkish, he forces Dodie to choose between sticking with her husband and being a hypocrite or leaving him and being a disgrace.
Of course, though, if you’ve seen the episode in full, you know she’s not going to have to deliberate on that decision for long. That’s because later that night, karma strikes Dennis Gimball in the form of a paint can to the head that nobody saw coming until it was far too late.
If Lamb outfoxing Flyte is satisfying because you can see it coming, and Whelan dressing down the Gimballs is satisfying because it’s a total shock. This moment is the perfect blend of both. You’ve let your guard down because the assassination attempt on Gimball never came, and the attempt on Mayor Jaffrey (Nick Mohammed) is thwarted. But the second that paint can is jostled by Coe (Tom Brooke), you know the proverbial other shoe has just dropped, and it’s come straight for Gimball’s head.
To deliver these moments takes expert writing, something “Slow Horses” has made its calling card through four seasons. Now in season 5, it’s still as potent as ever, and it’s why this show is now firmly among the best of the year so far.
Watch ‘Slow Horses’ on Apple TV
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