Though Slow Horses is essentially about the rejects of the British Intelligence Service, as a show this is in no way a rejected series as it proves time and time again why its one of the best shows on TV today. (No wonder it was just picked-up for a fifth season despite not even having a fourth season yet released.) With engaging characters you love to follow (and a couple you love to hate), Slow Horses provides that perfect balance between a character driven series and a spy thriller. This season ramps up both elements with ramifications that shake up the team dramatically.

Slow Horses Season 3 Synopsis

‘Slow Horses’ (Source: Apple TV+)

Slow Horses season 3 begins with a romantic relationship in Istanbul that meets a tragic ending. Shortly after we return to Slough House mulling through tedious tasks given to them by the head office. Catherine Standish then befriends a young man named Donovan, who we recognize as the man from Istanbul. Standish is then kidnapped, which throws Slough House into a turbulent situation that very quickly escalates bringing into conflict Slough House and all of MI5.

Slow Horses Season 3 Review

Ever since Slow Horses proved it wasn’t afraid to kill of main characters, there’s been a lot of lingering tension in the series which escalates immediately with the capture of Standish in episode one. Will the writers truly kill off Lamb’s presumed favorite co-worker? I won’t say, but that question certainly is a successful way of getting the audience on the edge of their seat quickly. What follows is an incredible run of episodes that increasingly seems to prove that Slow Horses less and less earn their name, and that perhaps all of MI5 is incompetent.

At the center of the action as always there is Jack Lowden really going above and beyond in his role as River Cartwright, the golden boy of the service who fell from grace. Lowden’s Cartwright has been the heart of the show from the start, but with this series he gets a chance to shine even more as a man of action who increasingly struggles with what the job asks of him. Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, though excellent as always in key moments, seems to take a backseat this season, which allows for the newest members from Season 2, Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander and Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus Longridge, to take more of a center stage. Dander and Longridge deliver many of the comedic beats (in addition to a few hilarious zings by Lamb), which considering the tone of the backhalf of the series is needed.

More then just the excellent character work though, this series really delivers on the twisty nature of a spy tale that is both incredibly modern and classic all the while. It’s almost impossible to go into details without spoilers (so I won’t); however, I can just say that of all the series its perhaps that one that kept me guessing till the end. Even once all is revealed, you still don’t know (again Slow Horses isn’ta fraid to kill off characters) what state will this leave Slough House in, and what will it mean for Season 4 and 5.

Fortunately I think the series did an incredible job sticking the landing, while delivering an incredible ride, and I cannot wait for Season 4 to arrive. Though no date has been announced yet, I simply hope the sooner the better.