Slow Horses is based on a novel by Mick Herron of the same name. It is part of his Slough House series. The story is about British intelligence agents who made big mistakes. They now work in a less critical MI5 department called Slough House.
The show Slow Horses is a British spy thriller. It debuted on Apple TV+ on April 1, 2022. The second season, Dead Lions, came out on December 2, 2022. The series got renewed for a third and fourth season in June 2022. The third season, Real Tigers, aired on November 29, 2023. The fourth season, Spook Street, premiered on September 4, 2024. In January 2024, the show was renewed for a fifth season. This season will be based on the fifth book in the series, London Rules.
What is Slow Horses about?
Even though life in Slough House is dull, the spy agents often get caught up in dangerous situations threatening Britain. Slow Horses focuses on these agents, led by the cynical and harsh Jackson Lamb, as they tackle high-stakes and surprising challenges. It mixes suspense with clever dialogue and dark humor, offering a fresh take on the spy genre.
Slow Horses Season 1
Season 1 introduces us to the Slow Horses, MI5 agents who made big mistakes. They work at Slough House under Jackson Lamb, and River Cartwright is sent there after a training error.
The team investigates a kidnapping and discovers it's linked to far-right extremists. But there's more to the story, including a plot within MI5 itself. The Slow Horses have to work fast to save an innocent man.
Slow Horses Season 2
In season 2, an old spy named Dickie Bow dies on a bus but leaves a clue about "cicadas." This leads to a hunt for Russian sleeper agents. The team investigates a meeting at The Glasshouse. Things get complicated when their agent, Min, is killed. They uncover a big Russian conspiracy, which involves fake defectors and a planned attack. The Slow Horses race to stop the attack and catch the real mastermind.
Slow Horses Season 3
Season 3 starts with a kidnapping. Sean Donovan takes Catherine Standish and wants secret files from MI5. River tries to steal these files to save Standish. The team discovers it's all part of a bigger plan.
A private security firm is trying to take over MI5's work, and Donovan has his agenda: seeking justice for a dead agent. The Slow Horses must navigate this complex web of lies and betrayal.
The season ends with a dramatic showdown. The team fights to protect the secret files. They uncover a dark secret about MI5's past. River leaks this information to the public, which causes big changes in MI5's leadership. Some team members face personal challenges, too. Standish leaves Slough House after learning a painful truth.
Slow Horses Season 4
Season 4, released on September 4, 2024, begins with new dangers. A bomb explodes in a London mall, and the bomber, Robert Winters, sets a trap for the police. River worries about his grandfather, David.
David is acting strangely and paranoid. He shoots someone he thinks is River. But the real River is in France. Jackson Lamb has to figure out what's going on. The team faces a new mystery that might be their biggest challenge yet.
Why is it called Slow Horses?
The title Slow Horses reflects the main characters' status at MI5. These agents are called "slow horses" because they are considered unreliable after major mistakes. Instead of working on important missions, they end up in dull, administrative jobs. The term shows their fall from grace and their efforts to prove themselves again.
Slough House is a place for MI5 agents who aren't fired but are being "punished." They're called Slow Horses as a joke on Slough House. They do dull desk jobs all day, and their boss, Jackson Lamb, is harsh on them. Life at Slough House is boring, but these agents still end up facing dangers. They sometimes have to deal with threats to Britain.
Are Slow Horses MI5 or MI6?
MI5 is a UK agency responsible for keeping the UK safe from threats inside the country. While MI6 deals with foreign threats, MI5 focuses on internal ones.
Slow Horses is about MI5 agents doing boring and important jobs at work. The show gives a realistic look at spies, showing their day-to-day operations.
Is Slow Horses based on a book?
Yes, Slow Horses is based on a book series by Mick Herron. The first, entitled Slow Horses, introduces the world and characters that the TV show adapts. While the series stays true to the book’s core story, it also includes some creative liberties and new plotlines to fit the episodic format of television.
Slow Horses is an exciting British spy show different from most spy stories. It mixes funny moments with tense ones. The new season of Slow Horses was released on September 4, 2024. If you enjoy spy stories, you should watch Slow Horses, which is available only on Apple TV+.
