Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3 Review – 'Tall Tales'

      Chris Connor reviews the third episode of Slow Horses season 5...

      Following a dramatic second episode, the fifth season of Slow Horses allows for a moment of pause as tension builds and the enemies deliver several hits. Ho is brought to The Park, featuring some memorable interactions with The Dogs and Diana Taverner, with Chris Chung once again shining as the unpredictable Rodster, adding humor to an increasingly dire situation marked by multiple car bomb explosions throughout London in a haunting introduction.

      Meanwhile, Slough House is under lockdown, with Shirley running errands and the rest of the team strictly ordered to surrender their phones and comply with orders. Naturally, since this is Slow Horses, Lamb and his team are not keen on following directions, transforming what is otherwise a light episode in terms of plot into an unforgettable one.

      As has been evident this season, the dynamic within Slough House has been a joy to watch, with the team feeling less fragmented and working together cohesively. Gary Oldman delivers memorable one-liners, and we gain insights into some of Jackson Lamb's years in Berlin, as he tells a story that may or may not be factual and possibly involves the head of Slough House.

      JK, who had a quieter role in the fourth season, once again demonstrates his value here as he uncovers the destabilization plan orchestrated by the villains. Once again, Slough House finds itself ahead of The Park, but regrettably, no one is willing to listen, and the team must take action to avert further casualties.

      Despite being set largely in two locations, Slough House and The Park, the episode is packed with both tension and humor, making it one of the series' funniest episodes to date, all while maintaining a rising level of tension with multiple incidents throughout the capital threatening to spiral out of control.

      As the season reaches its midpoint, Slow Horses skillfully balances drama and comedy with "Tall Tales," effortlessly providing the ensemble cast with ample material and heightening the level of danger for everyone involved.

      Chris Connor