5 Essential Facts You Should Know About the Upcoming Season of Slow Horses

Slow Horses Season 4 has concluded, and with Season 5 already filmed, here’s what you need to know about the upcoming escapades of the MI5 misfits.

This gripping series centers on a team of spies who were deemed inadequate for MI5 and thus relegated to the dismal confines of ‘Slough House,’ from which they derive their infamous nickname.

Directed by the scruffy Jackson Lamb (played by Gary Oldman), these Slow Horses have been labeled as failures and burdens by the agency’s elite. Nevertheless, throughout its four seasons, this unlikely team has thwarted several terrorist plots with impressive outcomes.

Although Season 4 wrapped up on a somewhat subdued note, fans won’t have to wait long for Season 5, which is set to premiere in 2025. Here’s what we know about the forthcoming season, so be warned of SPOILERS ahead…

Season 5 Adaptation: ‘London Rules’ by Mick Herron

Every season of Slow Horses draws from a different book by author Mick Herron, with the upcoming installment adapting his 2018 novel, ‘London Rules.’

Cover of London Rules by Mick Herron. — John Murray Press

There’s a wealth of source material available for adaptation, as Herron’s literary collection includes multiple books and novellas.

Here’s a brief overview of what has already been adapted along with what remains:

Slow Horses (2010) – Adapted as Season 1
Dead Lions (2013) – Adapted as Season 2
The List (2015 novella)
Real Tigers (2016) – Adapted as Season 3
Spook Street (2017) – Adapted as Season 4
London Rules (2018) – Adapted as Season 5
The Drop (2018 novella)
Joe Country (2019)
The Catch (2020 novella)
The Last Dead Letter (2020 novella)
Slough House (2021)
Bad Actors (2022)
Standing by the Wall (2022 novella)

Overview of ‘London Rules’

The plot of this novel is set in a post-Brexit context, focusing on threats against an MP who played a pivotal role in the referendum, with his wife being a journalist known for her biting critiques of MI5’s head, Claude Whelan.

A spate of seemingly unrelated terrorist incidents may be woven into this underlying threat, further intensifying the pressure on Whelan and his agency.

Meanwhile, the agents at Slough House are depicted as grappling with “unprocessed grief, various addictions, retail paralysis, and a growing suspicion that their newest recruit could be a psychopath,” according to the novel’s synopsis.

Teaser Trailer Hints at Assassination Plot

Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte at KX station in Slow Horses. — Apple TV+

The trailer for Season 5, which appears at the end of Season 4, alludes to an assassination attempt targeting that MP.

Emma Flyte (played by Ruth Bradley) refers to it as a “destabilizing tactic,” where terrorists aim to “compromise an agent, target the community, disrupt transportation, seize media control, and ultimately assassinate a populist leader.”

This preview also implies that Diana Taverner from MI5 is starting to heed Jackson Lamb’s warnings, suggesting that he possesses crucial insights regarding the impending crisis.

Roderick Ho’s Significant Involvement in Season 5

Roderick Ho (portrayed by Christopher Chung) serves as the technical expert at Slough House, providing a quirky comic presence.

Despite not being heavily involved in field operations previously, this may change in the upcoming season, as the trailer starts with Lamb warning Ho that the antagonists are after him.

In the ‘London Rules’ novel, Ho’s background as a Slow Horse is finally unveiled, creating ties to the main storyline and hinting at his crucial role in Season 5.

Frank Harkness’s Return

Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness in Season 4 of Slow Horses. — Apple TV+

Frank Harkness, a CIA agent-turned-mercenary, served as the principal antagonist in Season 4, leading to either his capture or demise.

Although the former occurred, Harkness managed to retain crucial MI5 secrets via a cache of letters, suggesting he might secure his freedom.

This significant adversary, who also happens to be River Cartwright’s father, is now back on the streets. While he is not featured in the trailer teaser, his return is anticipated, whether in Season 5 or a subsequent season.

Expect the return of Slow Horses in 2025. And for those seeking exhilarating entertainment, check out the 102 best action films of all time.

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