TV Review: ‘Slow Horses’ Season 5

Landing on Apple TV+ on September 24th with the first episode (five more follow at the rate of one per week) is the fifth season of ‘Slow Horses’, which draws from Mick Herron’s source novel ‘London Rules’.

​Landing on Apple TV+ on September 24th with the first episode (five more follow at the rate of one per week) is the fifth season of ‘Slow Horses’, which draws from Mick Herron’s source novel ‘London Rules’.   

Landing on Apple TV+ on September 24th with the first episode (five more follow at the rate of one per week) is the fifth season of ‘Slow Horses’, which draws from Mick Herron’s source novel ‘London Rules’.

With regular showrunner Will Smith (‘The Thick of It’) back overseeing the show, the cast includes regulars Gary Oldman (‘Darkest Hour’), Jack Lowden (‘Dunkirk’), Kristin Scott Thomas (‘The English Patient’), Rosalind Eleazar (‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’), Saskia Reeves (‘Luther’) and Christopher Chung (‘Waterloo Road’) joined by Nick Mohammed (‘Ted Lasso’) for this season.

Related Article: TV Review: ‘Slow Horses’ Season 4

Initial Thoughts

Proving itself to be something of a slow-burn sensation, ‘Slow Horses’ has been gaining in pop cultural awareness and adulation across the last couple of years, with awards coming its way and more promotion.

There are, naturally, more eyes on Season 5 than ever before (even if the running joke is that Apple has excellent shows precious few people watch or know about beyond the megahit ‘Severance’), and thankfully, it is more than deserving of the attention.

Script and Direction

Smith and his writers continue to mine Mick Herron’s book series for comic brilliance and suitably twisty spy tales. This season’s story, set as a mayoral election grips London and shocking violence roils the capital, is loaded down with trademark quips and naturally great roles for its main cast.

There is, in fact, even more focus on the denizens of Slough House than ever this year, and it really works.

Returning director Saul Metzstein, has a clear eye for how the show works visually, and if it’s lighter on action compared to other shows, that’s not the real focus here.

Cast and Performances

Oldman continues to prove he’s the perfect Jackson Lamb (there is a joke about penguins and Batman that is so perfectly delivered, it might make you pause the show from laughing), and as usual he anchors the ensemble.

But everyone is on their A-game here, with a welcome boost of screen time for Christopher Chung as arrogant, nerdy tech expert Roddy Ho. While he’s the sort of character you usually prefer in small doses, Chung makes him likeable enough that it works to have him enjoy more of a spotlight.

Final Thoughts

‘Slow Horses’ remains one of the best shows on TV –– streaming or otherwise –– and Season Five is just more proof of why. Perfectly pitched in terms of tone and character, it’s a sweary, funny treat.

‘Slow Horses’ Season 5 receives 87 out of 100.

What’s the plot of ‘Slow Horses’ Season 5?

In Season Five, everyone is suspicious when resident tech nerd Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) has a glamorous new girlfriend, but 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 (Gary Oldman) knows that in the world of espionage, the London Rules – cover your back – always apply.

Who stars in ‘Slow Horses’ Season 5?

Gary Oldman as Jackson LambJack Lowden as River CartwrightKristin Scott Thomas as Diana TavernerChristopher Chung as Roddy HoRosalind Eleazar as Louisa GuySaskia Reeves as Catherine StandishNick Mohammed as Zafar Jaffrey

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