The Emmy-winning British series “Slow Horses” has begun its fifth season with a bang.
In this series, a team of disgraced MI5 agents are assigned to Slough House, an administrative purgatory, under the supervision of Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). There, while drowning in paperwork, the agents dreamed of reentering the field, until season one’s hostage case changed everything.
“Bad Dates,” the long-anticipated premiere of season five, opens with a strange mass shooting at a shopping center. Among the deceased is a supporter of Zafar Jaffrey, the left-leaning mayor of London, and the shooter, Rob Trew. Later, Lamb and his disgraced MI5 agents discover that Trew had ties with Jaffrey’s conservative opponent, Dennis Gimball.
The premiere’s thrilling mystery captivates viewers, but watchers will also observe the characters’ intense trauma throughout the episode, adding an emotional undertone some may find exaggerated and over-the-top.
As the characters attempt to unravel the mysteries of Trew’s history and motives, they try to come to terms with their grief from last season’s explosive ending. The finale, “Hello Goodbye,” saw the death of Marcus Longridge, who died protecting his fellow agent River Cartwright. Marcus’ absence is certainly felt by all the slow horses, but it seems to affect Shirley Dander the most, who viewers see struggle with her drug addiction throughout the premiere.
If you enjoy comedies, dramas, thrillers, or a mix of them all, “Slow Horses” is a must watch show for you.
The season five premiere is a captivating and emotional production that enthralls viewers from its very first scene. Between the violent shootings and heart-felt conversations, watchers will find respite in the characters’ witty jokes, which lighten up the show’s tone. Thus, “Slow Horses” provides an enjoyable viewing experience for fans of thrillers and dramas alike.
As said by Ben Dowell from The Times, “It is glorious fun, a taut, twisty and enjoyable thriller laced with so many funny moments. Oldman continues to be mesmerizing to watch.”
I agree. The first episode was a solid 4/5. The characters’ trauma did weigh down both the storyline and the pace of the premiere, but the episode is otherwise stellar. Oldman’s Lamb provides much needed comic relief in between the heart-to-heart conversations of his agents.
If you wish to learn more about “Slow Horses,” the show is available on Apple TV+. There, a new episode will be released every Wednesday until Oct. 29.