Slow Horses has quickly become a standout in the world of television, with its sharp humor and intense spying. The series revolves around a dysfunctional British intelligence team operating out of MI5’s warehouse, Slough House. Gary Oldman plays the iconic Jackson Lamb in this team. The show received praise from its critics, took home honors, and has been able to create a devoted fan base. As Season 4 draws near, let’s explore what makes the series so interesting, from its characters to its remarkable awards.
What is the Plot of Slow Horses?
Slow Horses is a British spy thriller television series based on the Slough House series of novels by Mick Herron. The story revolves around Slough House that is an administrative exile for MI5 service rejects who have not been fired despite gravely failing a task. There, those assigned are referred to as “slow horses” about “Slough House”. They will put up with difficult, paper-push jobs and emotional abuse from their wretched boss, Jackson Lamb, who hopes they’ll give up from boredom or frustration. In Slough House, suffering is the norm. Still, the slow horses find a way to investigate plots that pose a threat to Britain.
Why did Gary Oldman do Slow Horses?
Gary Oldman, is known for his powerful performances. He decided to sign on with Slow Horses because of its dark humor, complex story, and the chance to play a deeply damaged yet intelligent character. Oldman’s portrayal of Jackson Lamb, the head of the Slough House, is a way for him to showcase his acting prowess.
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In an interview on lattimes he said;
“I enjoy long-form television. Every week, I like spending time with these diverse personalities in these many realms. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be a returning character that interacts with the same people—rather like a theater company—where you keep coming back and building these storylines and characters? I used to think to myself as I watched, envious at times. Along with the performances, set design, screenplay, and cinematography! Really, it’s superior to anything you could watch on a large screen.”
Also check out Gary Oldman: Movies and TV Shows That Shouldn’t be Missed.
Why is Louisa Guy in Slough House?
Louisa Guy is in Slough House after a mission went wrong. One of the team’s most disturbed members is Louisa Guy. She becomes friendly with Min Harper after being initially cold toward her coworkers, but their connection ends in tragedy when Min is killed in Slow Horses season 2. This causes Louisa to have a personal crisis, which leads her to steal a diamond in the season 2 finale and to seek revenge for Min’s death—a situation that is still unresolved. Louisa has developed a strong bond with River despite her difficulties with Min’s passing, and the two proved to be a powerful team in the shootout in season 3.
Why is Roddy in Slough House?
Roddy Ho, the computer expert and hacker at Slough House. He is talented but a source of annoyance to his colleagues. Because of his overwhelming arrogance, Roddy often irritates people. Technically speaking, he is one of Slough House’s most skilled operators, but his personality has been the biggest barrier to his advancement inside MI5. Since other characters are aware that the only reason he stays a Slow Horse is that the rest of the agency won’t work with him. Despite all of his flaws, Roddy has nevertheless shown moments of bravery by contributing greatly the field in seasons two and three!
Who is in the Cast of Slow Horses Season 4?
Slow Horses main cast is back for season four, along with some exciting new characters.
- Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
- Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner
- Jack Lowden as River Cartwright
- Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy
- Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander
- Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus Longridge
- Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
- Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness
- Joanna Scanlan as Moira Tregorian
- Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte
- Tom Brooke as JK Coe
- James Callis as Claude Whelan
Are Slow Horses popular in the USA?
Slow Horses is in high demand, with 14.5 times the audience demand over the last 30 days compared to the average program in the USA. This kind of demand is only seen for 2.7% of all TV shows, which suggests that the series has a lot of value Furthermore, it ranked number 18 with roughly 963,000 viewers, far fewer than the most-watched (Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, with about 3 million viewers). According to fans reviews on The Guardian
“Actually, Slow Horses is very amazing. It’s something we should be discussing all the time. With his lank hair brushed down with chipshop grease, his Fergie-red nose with saucer-sized pores, and his gaunt appearance as if a gigantic garlic bulb had just learned to walk, Gary Oldman stands out among the cast,”
How Many Awards Has Slow Horses Achieved?
Since its debut in 2022, Slow Horses have won 2 BAFTA awards, many nominations and 1 international award. Checkout the list below;
BAFTA Television Awards:
- Wins (2024):
- Best Editing: Fiction (Sam Williams)
- Best Sound: Fiction (Sound Team)
- Nominations (2023-2024):
- Best Drama Series
- Best Lead Actor (Gary Oldman)
- Best Supporting Actor (Jack Lowden)
- Best Editing: Fiction (Zsófia Tálas and Katie Weiland)
- Best Original Music: Fiction (Daniel Pemberton and Mick Jagger)
- Best Sound: Fiction (Martin Jensen, Joe Beal, Duncan Price, Craig Butters, Sarah Elias, and Andrew Sissons)
- Best Hair and Makeup Design (Lucy Sibbick)
C21 International Drama Awards (2022):
- Best English-Language Drama Series
What’s the Hype for Slow Horses Season 4?
What is the IMDb Rating of Slow Horses?
| IMDb Rating | 8.2 |
Wrap Up!
Slow Horses has firmly established itself as a standout series, with its dark humor and interesting storyline. Because of the show’s increasing number of awards and Gary Oldman’s iconic depiction of Jackson Lamb, it’s obvious why fans are looking forward to Season 4. The show is still a strong pick for those seeking a tense, skillfully written drama that grips them from start to finish as it develops.