The cast-offs from Slough House are called back to work when a bomb attack occurs. I was allowed to review the first season of Slow Horses. At the time, I was pleasantly surprised about a series that was unknown to me. After watching the first season, it turned out to be a true gem of Apple TV+. The seasons follow each other in rapid succession and I devoured them all as quickly as possible. I recently watched the fourth season. This season also shows that Slow Horses is of a high quality.
Based on the books by Mick Herron, Slow Horses follows the adventures of a group of failed MI5 agents who are banished to Slough House, a department where the "discarded" spies spend their days doing boring administrative tasks. But as always, nothing is as it seems. This season opens with the shocking murder of a former MI5 agent, forcing the Slow Horses to team up with former enemies.
A major plot point is the return of former MI5 agent Frank Harkness, played by Hugo Weaving. Frank is now a notorious mercenary. His involvement brings with it a series of dangerous confrontations. This is especially true for River Cartwright who has a personal connection to Frank. Tensions rise when Frank threatens to reveal sensitive information about MI5, which could seriously damage the reputation of the service.
When reviewing Slow Horses you can't avoid praising Gary Oldman.
This season the focus is mainly on River, because besides the above he also has a hard time with his grandfather David Cartwright. He is starting to get dementia and the consequences of this are disastrous. River does everything he can to protect his grandfather. It is nice to see that the characters undergo deep character development. The dynamic between Jack Lowden as River and Jonathan Pryce as David is nice to watch. At the same time it is confronting to see when the person you love starts to fade away more and more.
When reviewing Slow Horses, you can't help but praise Gary Oldman. Gary Oldman shines once again as the cynical and brilliant Jackson Lamb. His portrayal of the foul-mouthed and unconventional leader of Slough House remains a highlight of the series. Gary Oldman uses his nuance and depth to create a character that is both repulsive and irresistible. His ability to balance humor and seriousness makes Jackson Lamb one of the most memorable characters on screen.
What makes this fourth season so strong is the way it intertwines storylines with current issues. The show intelligently comments on political intrigue, power games and the moral ambiguity of espionage. The writers succeed in building the tension with unexpected twists and well-crafted plot developments that keep the viewer on the edge of their seats. The music, composed by Daniel Pemberton, adds an extra layer of tension and emotion, making each scene even more impactful.
In short, the fourth season of Slow Horses is once again a pleasure to watch on all fronts. With an excellent cast, led by the always impressive Gary Oldman, and a story that is both exciting and deep, the series remains a must-see for fans of the espionage genre. This season once again confirms why Slow Horses is one of the best series in its genre. The good news is that we can enjoy it for at least two more seasons.
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
