The Apple TV+ series is a darkly funny espionage drama follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. Led by their brilliant but irascible leader, the notorious Jackson Lamb (Academy Award winner Gary Oldman), they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
In season three, a romantic liaison in Istanbul threatens to expose a buried MI5 secret in London. When Jackson Lamb and his team of misfits are dragged into the fight, they find themselves caught in a conspiracy that threatens the future not just of Slough House but of MI5 itself.
Empire:
Perhaps the greatest tragedy of the modern streaming era is the treasure trove of truly outstanding shows that lie hidden away on Apple TV+, criminally unwatched by the majority of people. A prime example of such is Will Smith’s [not that Will Smith, this Will Smith – MDN Ed.] Slow Horses, a gloriously low-fi subversion of traditional espionage thrillers, centred around an outcast band of MI5’s least wanted. Following on from the two seasons Apple dropped last year, this Christmas heralds the welcome arrival of another, based upon Mick Herron’s third book in the Slough House series, Real Tigers.
It’s a compelling, lean and expertly constructed spy mystery, but the real joy of this show lies not in its sharp left-turns or elaborate rug-pulls, but rather its exemplary character work.
With Jackson Lamb, Gary Oldman may have landed the role of his career: a marvellously vulgar, foul-mouthed slob with a talent for weaponised flatulence. That this is George Smiley so thoroughly gone to seed could easily have lent the series an air of tongue-in-cheek spoofery (a ‘Carré On’ show?), but while the sharply written scripts are consistently funny, this never crosses into farce…
Flying as far below the radar as its cast of unlikely super-spies, this horse is more dark than slow — a beautifully crafted prestige drama that would be more than worthy of a prime-time slot on BBC One. If you’ve ever toyed with a subscription to Apple’s streaming service, this should be reason enough to bite the bullet.
Forget Bourne, forget Bond — the heroes we need aren’t dapper spies in dinner suits, but disheveled misfits in curry-stained coats. Slow Horses is the best thriller no-one’s watching, and it’s only getting better.
MacDailyNews Take: Very highly recommended!
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Who’s not watching it. Oh, right. Those people who don’t have Apple TV+.
That’s really unfortunate for those folks. /s
I used to have AppleTV and hated this show. Can’t believe they’ve lasted this long.
You’re a slow horse. That’s for sure! 😉
Guess Apple TV is not for you
Bloody great show. Plenty of people are watching. Empire… what up!
Empire: the worst slop no-one’s reading, and it’s only getting worse
great show
Season 3 is the best yet.
Brilliant show.
Slow Horses is really good. Season 3 is the best.
Not sure where they get that nobody is watching Slow Horses. It’s at the top of the Apple TV+ charts…
I started watching it and stopped almost immediately turned off by the Gary Oldman character. Then, my son recommended it and I decided to give it a real chance. Best decision in the last month. This is a very good show, excellent acting and stories. I think it is Apple’s best and among the best streaming on TV. If you only gave it ten minutes and then stopped it in disgust, you might give it a second go.
Gary Oldman’a character is supposed to be off-putting.
His acting, combined with costume, hair, and makeup truly make one believe that he is a late stage alcoholic with terrible BO and tobacco spinach breath.
I was told, but haven’t been able to verify, Oldman doesn’t actually smoke on camera, but that the cigarette tips and smoke are CGI. If true, this is a amazing special effect.
Regardless, an amazing characterization.
The Gary Oldman character is my favourite, he’s hilarious
Slow Horses is brilliant but Apple are very greedy. They have increased the subscription in the UK from £69 to £89 for a 12-month subscription which is a huge increase. At that rate I didn’t re-subscribe so I can’t watch it now.
I got a 5 month free trial. Just let your current subscription finish and you can use your free trial
This is jazz…
What makes Slow Horses so endearing and origina is the caustic English humor and constant put downs hurled by Gary Oldman’s character, Jackson Lamb. He constantly surprises with his depth of character and competitive fire. Yeah, he’s disgusting, but he’s as real as they get when it comes to a post burnout spy who still has what it takes. Gary Oldman is brilliant and steals every scene in this very clever and dog eat dog spy thriller.