Slow Horses has been one of Apple TV’s biggest draws since 2022. Adapting Mick Herron’s acclaimed series of novels about MI5 agents who are hung out to dry by “The Park”. The speed with which the show is produced is nothing short of metronomic, miraculously now on Season 6. This is the first season not to be under the guidance of showrunner Will Smith (who won an Emmy for his work on the show) and also adapts two Herron novels, Joe Country and Slough House.
Credit: Apple TV
The previous season had started to make more substantial adjustments to Herron’s source material, while still being very much in the vein of the books. This time around, whole plots are excised, and others combined. This is in part due to cast availability and in truth the two novels are harder to adapt. For the most part, the changes don’t result in any major drop in quality with this one of the fastest paced seasons of the show to date. The direction of Adam Randall and work of new head writer Gaby Chiappe keep things ticking over.
Slough House has been erased from The Park archives. The exact reason isn’t clear but someone is clearly out for the slow horses blood. Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) is forced to play detective to figure out what’s happened to some of his ex-joes and whether his team are in danger. Blending multiple antagonists who don’t overlap and disparate character arcs can make this a harder season to follow than previous ones, particularly in the middle episodes with 3 or 4 separate storylines being jumped between simultaneously and some getting a more prominent focus than others. This is where joining two books feels most apparent. However, it is Chiappe and co’s credit that they manage to satisfactorily bring the various plot strands to a satisfying conclusion.
For the most part, the dynamic continues to be a hit with audiences and critics alike, showing a continued love for this world. The blend of frenetic, high-stakes action with gut-busting laughs again works a treat. Lamb and Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright are standouts as ever, the latter particularly at the heart of a few plot developments with barely a moment to stand still and ponder what is happening to both his allies and enemies. New additions Kyle Soller and Harry Lloyd are welcome additions to the ensemble. Soller and MyAnna Buring make fearsome adversaries for the Slough House contingent.
At a time when espionage fiction is thriving on page and screen, both the Herron novels and the Apple TV adaptation continue to be a cut above. Even with adjustments, the show retains what makes the novels so unique and with at least two more seasons in development it looks like the entirety of the series will eventually get the small screen treatment. With the side novels, especially The Secret Hours being every bit as strong as the main novels, hopefully they will get a moment in the spotlight as well. For now Jackson Lamb and co continue to be a hoot to follow in one of their most dangerous outings yet. Even with the occasional slip up, this remains one of the best shows in Apple’s repertoire.
