With the arrival of the sixth season of Slow Horses, Apple TV returns the viewer to the dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents of Slough House, a dumping ground for MI5 undesirables. Led by the irritable Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), this team of spies are filled with those who have marred their careers and have nowhere else to go.
Yet, every broken piece has its place and the misfits of Slough House continue to fight the good fight, even as they fight for redemption. To them, Slough House is essentially a safe space for them to prove their worth by showing that they’re more than their greatest mistakes. In essence, it becomes a home for broken souls.
With the return of Horses, the team from Slough House finds themselves slowly being erased. Former members are dying mysteriously and MI5 seems to have disavowed their team. This adds a darker element to the series, forcing the team out of their home base and setting them on the run. As always though, it’s not merely the procedural element that makes these Horses run so well.
It’s Oldman.
Don’t get me wrong. The series has incredible supporting performers. However, it’s Oldman that continues to be the glue that holds Horses together. Returning as the grizzled veteran, Jackson Lamb, the actor never ceases to pop onscreen. As Lamb, Oldman’s presence grounds the series, balancing the gravitas with a sense of humour. His laissez-faire attitude is peppered with an adorable grumpiness that makes him endearing, even when the world is falling apart.
There’s definitely a bit of a darker edge to the new season. While the previous series’ tone never shied away from heavier themes, this year Horses seems to up the stakes for its characters. By moving them out of Slough House, the team genuinely find themselves without their home, creating greater instability amongst them.
And that’s what makes it great television.
The two-episode premiere of Slow Horses is playing at TIFF ’26. For more information, click here.
