Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 Review - 'Bad Dates'

Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 Review - 'Bad Dates'

      Chris Connor reviews the season 5 premiere of Slow Horses…

      The fourth season of Slow Horses attracted the show's largest audience to date. Its intense narrative, which involved a plot to destabilize a park and a storyline closely linked to River and David Cartwright, heightened the excitement and raised expectations. The fifth season returns, drawing from Mick Herron’s London Rules, and once again features the Slough House team tasked with averting a threat to the public. Fans can be assured that it retains all the beloved elements they have come to cherish.

      The episode begins in the quiet London suburb of Abbotsfield, where a lone gunman embarks on a shooting spree, targeting an individual canvassing for the London Mayor just ahead of an upcoming election. Nick Mohammed makes a welcome debut as Mayor Zahar Jaffrey, who is seeking re-election against a far-right rival. The question arises: what connects this shooting to Roddy Ho? Ho appears to be the intended target of a white van but is saved at the last moment by Shirley Dander.

      The premiere raises numerous questions and features its fair share of action. There are deviations from the original material, including Louisa’s decision to take an indefinite break from Slough House, which leads to River being assigned the task of organizing her farewell drinks, or “putting on a spread.” This results in some notable exchanges between Rosalind Elazear and Jack Lowden.

      Though Gary Oldman’s screen time is brief, Lamb remains a pleasure to watch, embodying a cynical and ironic character who always seems to be one step ahead. Meanwhile, as Shirley investigates Ho’s potential assassins, she falters later in the episode, still haunted by Marcus’s loss in the previous season finale. River is also coming to terms with his family's history and his father's actions in the last season.

      The season 5 opener clearly establishes the stakes from the outset and swiftly begins to arrange the narrative elements. Even though it is Will Smith's last season as showrunner, it commences with the same energy, hinting at another successful run for Apple TV+ and a fitting farewell for Smith in his role. The episode is filled with the intrigue, humor, and action that fans have come to adore, with much more to unfold in the following five episodes.

      Chris Connor

Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 Review - 'Bad Dates' Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 Review - 'Bad Dates' Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 Review - 'Bad Dates'

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