‘Slow Horses’ is Hilarious
Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden in Slow Horses | Credit: Apple TV+
Slow Horses follow some MI5 agents who aren’t the best. Due to various mistakes, each one has been relegated to Slough House, the disdain of the agency, but that doesn’t stop them from trying to save the day.
I knew nothing about this show other than the fact that it stars Gary Oldman. And that was enough information for me to click play. And I’m so pleased that I did. This is an exciting spy thriller that keeps you entertained from start to finish.
What surprised me the most about Slow Horses is how funny it is. If The Bear is a comedy, an argument can be made for this to be a comedy as well.
Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the leader of Slough House. He was a very famous operative in his day, but has been relegated to the Slow Horses. It’s clear that he hates being here and everything he says is dripping with ire and sarcasm. But he’s also hilarious.
It seems like just about everything out of Lamb’s mouth is some sort of insult, no matter who he’s talking to. Even in the most tense situations, he finds some way to mock those he’s with. He’s not a very nice man, but he is definitely entertaining to watch.
The rest of the agents at Slough House are just as colorful and interesting. It’s fascinating to learn how they each ended up being relegated to this part of MI5. The season slowly leaks that information out to you, so you’re constantly wondering what some of them did wrong. It’s a fun way to include a mystery within a mystery.
Paul Higgins, Steven Waddington, Christopher Chung, Jack Lowden, and Olivia Cooke in Slow Horses | Credit: Apple TV+
Slow Horses takes us on a twisting tale as the characters seek to find a young man, Ahmed (Antonio Aakeel), who has been taken by a right-wing militia group. The members of Slough House eventually learn that there’s more to this kidnapping than meets the eye.
It’s fascinating to watch each twist and turn as the team becomes more embroiled in this plot. And at each point, you’re certain that these agents are done for; after all, they are the ones at Slough House. Throughout the season, they constantly defy expectations. They may not be the most elite agents that Britain has to offer, but they are dedicated to trying to help.
I’m so used to watching TV shows and movies that are focused on the best of the best. We’re used to superheroes who can do extraordinary things. Or seeing spies like James Bond or Ethan Hunt, who are at the top of their field. Often, if we see a bumbling team in a spy show or movie, it’s an outright comedy. But Slow Horses threads the needle between those two types of stories.
The MI5 agents that we follow are talented (some more than others), but they were rejected from the elite part of the agency for a variety of reasons. For some of them, it was one terrible mistake that got them sent to Slough House. For others, their personality led them to this place. But they’re all skilled and dedicated, even if those in power can’t appreciate what they bring to the table. Somehow that makes them even more endearing and fun to root for.
Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas in Slow Horses | Credit: Apple TV+
Slow Horses is an exciting spy thriller that is also hilarious to watch. The story is filled with twists and turns that make you want to keep watching. And the show makes some interesting choices with the characters that are unexpected at times.
But more than anything, the show is about an unorthodox group of people who have been counted out by society. Yet, they are still determined to show up and contribute in some way. And I think that’s really exciting to see.