With “Slow Horses” series 5 on the horizon, premiering globally on September 24th, it’s time for a refresher on all the twists, turns, and betrayals that have defined this gripping spy drama. Based on the novels by Mick Herron, “Slow Horses” follows the misfits of Slough House, MI5’s dumping ground for agents who’ve made career-ending mistakes. But don’t let their lowly status fool you—these “slow horses” consistently find themselves embroiled in dangerous conspiracies that threaten national security.
This article provides a comprehensive recap of the first four series, highlighting the key events, character arcs, and shocking revelations that have made “Slow Horses” a critical and audience favorite. From false flag operations to sleeper cells and personal betrayals, we’ll delve into the intricate plots that have kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Get ready to dive back into the world of Jackson Lamb, River Cartwright, and the rest of the Slough House crew before the new season arrives!
Slow Horses Series 1: The Hassan Kidnapping and a Costly Mistake
Series 1, adapted from Mick Herron’s debut novel, introduces us to River Cartwright after a disastrous training mission at Stansted Airport. As punishment, he’s banished to Slough House, the dilapidated office overseen by the cynical and unkempt Jackson Lamb. Simultaneously, Diana Taverner operates from MI5 headquarters, ‘The Park,’ with her own agenda.
The series centers on the kidnapping of Hassan, a British-Pakistani student, by a white nationalist group. Initially appearing as a straightforward case, it soon becomes apparent that the kidnapping is a false flag operation orchestrated by Diana Taverner to gain favor with a Pakistani general. When the plan goes awry, Taverner attempts to bury her involvement, while Lamb and River take matters into their own hands to rescue Hassan.
The series also introduces other key characters, including Sid Baker, who is shot while surveilling a right-wing journalist, and Catherine Standish, whose former boss, Charles Partner, was allegedly killed by Lamb under orders from River’s grandfather, David Cartwright. The season concludes with Diana managing to suppress the incident by writing off Hassan’s student debt.
Slow Horses Series 2: Sleeper Cells and Russian Plots
Series 2, based on “Dead Lions,” begins with the death of Dickie Bow, a former MI5 agent, who leaves behind the cryptic word ‘cicada,’ hinting at a Russian sleeper agent. River goes undercover to investigate Dickie’s death, infiltrating a family in the Cotswolds, where the matriarch is revealed to be a sleeper agent, unbeknownst to her own family.
Meanwhile, Min Harper and Louisa Guy are tasked with monitoring a meeting with a potential future Russian president. Their investigation uncovers ‘Code September,’ a Russian plot involving a hoax bomb and the looting of a defector’s bank accounts. Lamb finds himself targeted by a Russian defector seeking revenge for the death of an informant. The situation escalates, involving River’s grandfather and a cover-up orchestrated by Diana and the Home Secretary.
“Lamb is at the centre of all this – he’s been targeted by Russian defector Katinsky as revenge for killing an informant years ago. Dickie’s poisoner arrives at the house of David Cartwright – River’s grandfather – to shoot him, but is killed by David. Later, Diana and Home Secretary Peter Judd agree to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.”
Slow Horses Series 3: Kidnapping, Tiger Teams, and Conspiracy
Series 3, adapted from “Real Tigers,” opens with the murder of an MI5 agent in Istanbul. A year later, Catherine Standish is kidnapped, leading River to break into The Park to retrieve sensitive material as part of a ransom demand. This event is soon revealed to be a security test outsourced to a private company, commissioned by the Home Secretary.
River faces punishment for his actions, and the tiger team, led by his nemesis Spider, seeks access to MI5’s Grey Books. Standish, disillusioned with MI5, aids her kidnappers, leading to a confrontation at a storage bunker. Diana is revealed as the mastermind behind a plot to topple Ingrid Tearney, the First Desk. The Slow Horses emerge with Project Footprint files, and Lamb reveals that Standish’s former boss was a traitor. River leaks the files, leading to Tearney’s resignation.
As punishment for breaking into the archives, River endures a beating from Nick Duffy, head of MI5’s muscle known as the ‘Dogs’. What’s more, River finds out that the tiger team was orchestrated by his arch-nemesis Spider, who now works for private security company Chieftain. But Standish’s kidnappers don’t release her as they’re supposed to, making Chieftain look bad – instead, they want access to MI5’s Grey Books, the documents detailing every conspiracy theory from the past century.
Slow Horses Series 4: Family Secrets and a Mercenary Father
Series 4, based on “Spook Street,” begins with a car bombing in London. David Cartwright is targeted by an impersonator, leading River to France to track down the assassin. The investigation leads him to Frank Harkness, an ex-CIA mercenary.
River uncovers a shocking truth: Frank is his biological father and is linked to the Westacres bombing. Frank attempts to recruit River, but he refuses. Meanwhile, Patrice kills Sam Chapman, an associate of Lamb’s, and the Dogs rush to find Frank. River confronts Frank, who surrenders, but the series hints at his potential release due to his ties to MI5. Marcus Longridge becomes a casualty during an infiltration of Slough House.
“After piecing together some evidence based on old birthday cards, River learns a horrible truth: that Frank is his biological father and he’s linked to the Westacres bombing. Frank’s gunman Patrice hijacks a car with River in it and kidnaps him, bringing him to meet Frank in a restaurant – who then tries to recruit him as a mercenary. River, naturally, rebuffs the offer. Meanwhile, Patrice kills Sam Chapman – an old associate of Lamb’s – as he could connect Frank to the bombings.”
How to Watch Slow Horses Series 5
Series 5 will premiere globally on September 24, with the first two episodes available immediately, followed by one episode weekly until October 22. You can stream series 1-4 now on Apple TV+ to catch up before the new season begins.
Conclusion: Ready for Series 5
As “Slow Horses” returns for its fifth series, viewers can expect more of the sharp writing, compelling characters, and intricate plots that have made it a standout spy drama. With loose threads from previous seasons likely to be tied up and new threats emerging, the misfits of Slough House are sure to face their most challenging cases yet. Get ready for another thrilling ride!
Leave a Reply