Slow Horses Season 6 Review

Introduction (Warning Contains Spoilers)

Apple TV’s Slow Horses is one of the best spy thrillers that television can offer. This mixture of espionage, humor, politics, corruption, and complex characters makes the series impossible to resist.

In season six, we have yet another thrilling storyline, which differs from the previous ones due to its particular approach.

In this season, the show doesn’t build its story from scratch but jumps straight into the thick of things. This results in an explosive six episodes filled with violence and surprises.

For me, this remains one of the best shows on television. Gary Oldman continues to make Jackson Lamb an unforgettable character.

The supporting cast also delivers plenty of memorable moments, including some genuinely painful losses.

Despite this, however, there were elements of character-driven storytelling that were absent from previous seasons which contributed to the creation of tension within the show.

The pacing is amazing, but sometimes makes the space for the characters to breathe a bit limited.

Nonetheless, season six offers brilliant acting, shocking revelations, and an ending that will make people crave for more.

Straight Into the Action

One of the main distinguishing factors of this season is the intensity that comes from it right away.

In previous seasons, there was a slow build-up of the situation and then it all started tightening up. Season six does not waste any time plunging its characters into trouble.

The character of Frank Harkness, portrayed by Hugo Weaving, is one of the driving forces of the season.

Not only does his appearance bring some dangerous situations for River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) personally but also his actions link the plot of the season with the personal problems of the characters.

The storyline includes an investigation of a corrupted intelligence operation, some Russian assassins, and the results of Diana Taverner’s (Kristin Scott Thomas) decisions.

What initially looks like another tough case for MI5 soon turns into a matter of life and death.

Such approach undoubtedly makes the season rather exciting. Every moment you can expect some new threats, revelations, and confrontations to happen.

Nonetheless, the fast pace sometimes comes at a price. Some new developments come too quickly and their emotional impact gets insufficient attention.

Sometimes I wished the series to slow down and show us how its characters were coping with it.

This is partially a compliment. The characters are developed enough so that the writers can go straight into the plot without dwelling on the details. We already know their connections, vulnerabilities and flaws.

Nevertheless, the series works best when action and character development go hand in hand. Sometimes season six focuses more on one aspect than the other.

Gary Oldman Remains the Main Attraction

The star of Slow Horses is still Gary Oldman, whose portrayal of Jackson Lamb continues to be one of the most outstanding character portrayals on television.

Jackson Lamb is crude, unkempt, cynical and completely disinterested in the well-being of others.

The man openly offends his peers and does not take care of his personal hygiene at all, considering it unnecessary. But behind that rough exterior there is an extremely smart intelligence officer.

Oldman perfectly understands every nuance of the character; Lamb may seem lazy at one point and several steps ahead of others at the next. The man’s indifference quite often masks his awareness of the dangers that threaten his people.

What makes Oldman’s portrayal so funny is his restraint. It only takes him a look, a brief pause or a quick insult to say more than many lengthy monologues. His comedy sense is excellent, but he never makes the character nothing but a collection of jokes.

Season six also reminds us that Lamb’s loyalty rarely looks conventional. While he can embarrass his fellow agents, he knows the dangers they face.

And when the stakes get high, Lamb’s instincts are usually sharper than those of his respectable superiors.

As before, Oldman steals the show. His presence infuses Slow Horses with its unique character, combining humor with menace. Without him, the show would not work as well.

Kristin Scott Thomas Gives Diana Taverner New Depth

Kristin Scott Thomas ensures that Diana Taverner remains an interesting character on the show. Being a senior member of MI5, Taverner knows that power means controlling the flow of information and appearances.

Her choices come under much scrutiny in the season. An operation gone bad and the consequences of a Russian spy’s death put the methods of protection into jeopardy. They put Slough House in grave danger too.

Taverner is no ordinary villain. She understands how the intelligence community functions and how easily political survival outweighs ethics.

She is confident enough to ensure that her decisions make more sense to her than those made by anyone else.

Scott Thomas makes sure that she has all the coldness and sharpness needed in Taverner. Taverner does not have to scream in order to assert her authority. Even if the situation gets out of hand, she finds a way to assert her superiority again.

Indeed, her interaction with Lamb is highly amusing because they are aware of each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and their willingness to break the rules. Although neither of them trusts the other, they realize that sometimes they have to cooperate.

Season six places many tasks on Taverner in connection with the emerging situation. Her ambitions and desire for self-preservation contribute to the plot development, and her cleverness prevents the character from being easily dismissed.

River Cartwright Faces His Darkest Season Yet

One of the most emotionally complex characters on the show has always been River Cartwright, played by Jack Lowden.

This character is skilled, determined and courageous but often lacks common sense, which gets in the way of his confidence.

River faces a very personal problem in the sixth season when he has to deal with his father, Frank Harkness.

This man is not only another opponent but someone that could provide River with the knowledge about a father that never treated his child normally.

Hugo Weaving gives a frightening character to Frank Harkness. This person may appear to be friendly, practical and talkative at times, which only enhances the feeling of horror about him. Moreover, it is known that he used his children to commit violent actions against others.

The conversations between River and Harkness become some of the most interesting parts of this season.

It seems like River wants to find out something about their possible relationships. However, Harkness does not reassure River.

Lowden manages to solve this dilemma quite well. River may be a professionally trained agent, but his skills will not help him cope with his personal weaknesses. His search for answers leaves him emotionally vulnerable at the very wrong times.

The season also delves into his relationship with Sid Baker, played by Olivia Cooke. Her reappearance in the show comes at an apt time, considering her prolonged absence from the series.

Their relationship is still complicated by the dangers that they face. However, the scenes with the two characters still bring a touch of emotional comfort, making the final twist of the episode even more tragic.

Lenny Rush Is a Welcome Addition

One of the season’s most enjoyable additions is Lenny Rush as Reece Nesmith. The young witness becomes embroiled in the violence after his father is killed by Harkness.

Reece gets put under the protection of Slough House, but the whole procedure turns out to be as crazy as one would expect.

Some of his encounters with Roddy Ho become the funniest parts of the season.

Rush shows a lot of confidence and excellent comic timing. Reece is quite witty, argumentative, and very capable of being difficult for the adults. His conflicts with Ho make for some of the funniest parts.

I loved the scenes with him and Gary Oldman. There is an excellent dynamic between the young and grumpy man.

These conversations are natural because neither of the characters is prepared to show any respect to each other.

Rush manages to give Reece enough of his own personality so that he does not turn into just a comic relief character.

The young boy finds himself in very unpredictable and dangerous circumstances, and his humor helps him cope with fear.

A Devastating Loss for Slough House

This season becomes much darker in how it treats well-known characters. The deaths of Struan Loy, acted by Paul Higgins, and David Cartwright set the tone for something dangerous very early on.

Nevertheless, there is no denying that the death of J.K. Coe hits hard. It would be fair to say that Tom Brooke made Coe one of the memorable parts of the ensemble. He was a quiet and disturbed man with a traumatic past and lethal skills.

Indeed, Coe was not the most talkative of all. However, this made him even more fascinating than other characters.

It became clear quite soon that Coe was a highly traumatized person who had a complicated past.

In time, J.K. Coe turned into one of the favourites of the series. He was capable of saying a lot with little explanation due to his humorous nature and skills.

In the end, Coe’s death is brutal because it is both sudden and absolutely final. The series has always put its characters under danger, however, this particular loss makes the danger more real.

One cannot believe that being a well-established part of the ensemble saves them from danger.

The death also changes the emotional atmosphere for the remaining Slow Horses. Their work has always involved professional humiliation and personal failure.

Now, they must also deal with the consequences of losing someone who had become part of their dysfunctional family.

Coe’s departure is one of the season’s hardest moments. It reinforces the danger surrounding the team while reminding viewers how much these characters have come to matter.

The Supporting Cast Keeps the Series Alive

The ensemble cast has always been the greatest strength of the show and season six is no different as the cast is comprised of actors who can make even the simplest of scenes stand out.

Saskia Reeves continues to excel as Catherine Standish. Catherine is usually seen offering some form of calmness amidst the chaos in the department as she is experienced and emotionally intelligent.

Rosalind Eleazar continues with yet another challenging arc for Louisa Guy as Louisa finds herself in danger that results in a gunshot wound to the stomach.

While surviving does not make her ordeal any less challenging, the fate of Louisa with Slough House becomes uncertain.

Christopher Chung also continues to offer great entertainment through Roddy Ho. The arrogant and self-centered Roddy makes for hilarious moments but also finds the chance to be courageous when needed.

Aimee-Ffion Edwards is still successful in the portrayal of Shirley Dander who, despite being tough, may be vulnerable inside.

It is also the interaction between her and the other members of the crew which helps maintain the special chemistry of the team.

Ruth Bradley is great as Emma Flyte as well. Being an ex-head of the Dogs, she has a certain level of authority in her role and a different attitude towards the intelligence institution. In the end, her story turns out to be one of the most dramatic episodes of the season.

The comeback of Olivia Cooke as Sid Baker is also worth mentioning as it connects River with some of the things from his past life and adds a new emotional meaning to their relationship.

All this makes the show enjoyable regardless of the breakneck pace of its plot.

A Bloody Finale With Serious Consequences

The final episode “Judgment Day” merges the different conflicts of the season into one big conflictive explosion.

The Slough House team is faced with an unstoppable threat, and for their part, Lamb and Taverner have to deal with their complicated collaboration.

Violence is extreme, and the number of deaths creates a particularly dark ending for this season. It is especially disappointing because Flyte disappears, which means one less member of the cast who has started to gain a place in the overall cast.

On the other hand, Louisa’s injury creates another question. She will live through her experience at a very high price, and her future with Slough House becomes unpredictable.

Additionally, River’s encounter with Harkness turns out to be particularly unpleasant emotionally.

The reconciliation between them would require more than just one discussion, there is too much irreparable damage done and Harkness will always be a threat.

All in all, the end of the season doesn’t give viewers the expected happy ending but it is appropriate for the show that usually provides victory with high costs.

The final moments are especially effective because they shift the atmosphere from relief to horror. River appears to have found a reason for optimism, only for the story to pull the ground from beneath him.

It is a brutal ending, but an effective one. The cliffhanger ensures that the wait for season seven will feel considerably longer.

What Works and What Could Have Been Better

Season Six thrives due to the strong performances, forward momentum and risk-taking with familiar characters.

The drama is intense, the comedy is as brilliant as ever, and there are enough political plots and subplots to give it an appropriately sinister tone.

Gary Oldman still performs fantastically, with Kristin Scott Thomas doing well to maintain Taverner’s charisma.

Jack Lowden provides River’s dilemmas with real gravitas. There is also Lenny Rush, who makes a fantastic addition to the cast.

The familiar faces bring consistency and comfort, but the new additions and fresh challenges keep things interesting.

The death of the main characters shows that the series is ready to make tough decisions.

My main reservation is the pace. I enjoyed being thrown straight into the action, but occasionally missed the slower character development of earlier seasons.

Some emotional moments could have benefited from more room to develop.

The numerous threats and conflicting loyalties can also make it appear quite messy sometimes. There is a lot to comment on the issue of institutional corruption, broken families, and dangers of espionage.

However, the positive features of the TV series still outweigh its flaws. It has a unique mix of black humor, political cynicism, and sudden bursts of violence.

Very few spy series manage to combine entertaining incompetence and realistic dangers at the same time.

Overall Verdict

Slow Horses season six is another outstanding instalment in one of television’s finest dramas. It is tense, funny, violent and frequently heartbreaking.

The focus on immediate action is done very well, although I feel like I missed some of the character building that was characteristic of the series before.

The already existing ensemble is definitely a great asset, and the new characters add much needed life.

Gary Oldman keeps playing the role of Jackson Lamb brilliantly. Kristin Scott Thomas adds new political danger to Diana Taverner, and Jack Lowden makes River’s personal issues increasingly interesting. Lenny Rush is an especially fun addition.

The deaths of some of the most important characters make the storyline truly serious. Then the season’s finale ends with a cliffhanger that makes River’s future uncertain and starts a new chapter.

For me, Slow Horses is one of the best series on TV. It has memorable characters, wonderful humor, and unpredictable stories about spies. I can’t wait to see what will happen next.