Slow Horses

Started watching this over the weekend, courtesy of Apple's 3-month trial. Didn't gel with S1 for the first couple of episodes, but it came together really well and had me hooked.

Not as enamoured with S2 at the moment, but still finding myself entertained and only up to E3.

Can anyone explain the Stanstead situation to me? It keeps being referred to as a training exercise and clearly a bomb never went off by the train, but I can't wrap my head around why it played out the way it did.

- Why would River go all action man chasing after the guy with the bomb and floor that security guard if it was just a training exercise?

- Why were Ops at The Park so eager to track down the correct 'bomber' if this was a fake exercise and it had failed?

- Why didn't River use the taser on the 'bomber' as the train was pulling in? Why floor the officer he took it from if he wasn't going to use it? Some way of showing hesitation and not being up to the rigours of the job?

- Wouldn't any other police not actively engaged in the exercise be trying to engage with the 'bomber' or at least the person haring through the restricted areas of the airport?

- Are we meant to think the airport was full of actors or staff were in on the op? Or are we meant to think that only the Park's agents were aware and everyone else was just going about their day?
 
I am halfway through the second book and can recommend them to complement the TV series. Mick Herron is a fine writer.
 
Okay, now I've got a question about the end of S2.

Assuming River calling the threat in without checking the hanger first was partly for dramatic purposes, partly for reinforcing his impulsive nature and partly for plot advancement, why the panic to evacuate?

Surely they would know that a teeny little Cessna like that wouldn't get anywhere near the Glasshouse and would be forced or shot down well before it got into the city. Why cause the panic they did and risk the bad press?

Did The Park use that as a cover to get Judd out of the Glasshouse as, presumably, there was a linked plot to target him regardless?
 
I think you are reading too much into this show - it isn't a deep spy show, some of the stuff has to be taken with a pinch of salt for dramatic effect.

S1 River WAS a very keen agent, although a training exercise he treated it as real, again beating up cops was a bit over the top for dramatic purposes. Also you would not taser a suicide bomber, even in real life it's a headshot. Some things will come to light about the training exercise later on, don't know if you have seen that yet.

S2 the cessna was ladened with fuel/explosive if remember correctly, think of the twin towers - that changed the world forever, so a similar attack on London would be a catastrophe. I'm sure they covered why it wasn't shot down as the scene was playing out, but it was a while ago when i watched it.
 
Perhaps I am, but I feel I am reading into it as much as I am because they make certain things out to be huge aspects of the way the show plays out. Plenty of other things have been strange but I have brushed them off and enjoyed the ride.

If River was never going to use the taser, why pick the thing up and injure the officer who was carrying it? Okay, sure, perhaps that is further evidence that he is impulsive and makes poor decisions under pressure... but you'd think he'd have multiple armed officers on his tail after that.

My ultimate point is the show makes you think it was a genuine scenario at the time and while it is revealed multiple times it was only a training exercise that then makes a lot of the aspects of that scene make little sense in the way the show plays out.

Even if there were explosives on the Cessna, The Park were perfectly happy to engage and shoot it down before it got anywhere near its target. It's a tiny little Cessna that was never going to get anywhere near the target without being taken out of the sky one way or another. The only reason they failed to shoot it down was because the pilot engaged with them over radio and diverted course, knowing the money transfer was done.

One thing I can think of would be the optics of MI5 shooting down a plane that didn't have any explosives in it... but they would easily be able to cover that up, given their other nefarious actions. Or perhaps being accused of using the threat to shut down the protests.

Anyway, still enjoying the show - just curious about certain aspects and perhaps the book(s) clear those up more than the show does.
 
deadline.com

‘Slow Horses’ Season 5 Gets Fall Premiere Date On Apple TV+; First Look Photos Show Nick Mohammed In Guest Role

The first look at Season 5 includes a glimpse at Nick Mohammed in a guest role
deadline.com deadline.com


Slow Horses will return to Apple TV+ for Season 5 this fall.

The streamer revealed Tuesday that the fifth instalment of the espionage drama will debut with the first two episodes on September 24, followed by one episode weekly until October 22. Luckily, there’s already a Season 6 incoming, too, as the series was renewed in October.
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ok season 5 is airing in September with season 6 already film with aired date early next year. it now been confirmed that season 7 is greenlight with filming Possible to begin later this year.

www.radiotimes.com

Slow Horses season 7 confirmed by Apple TV+ as new book adaptation and returning cast member revealed

There really is no slowing down for these Slow Horses.
www.radiotimes.com

www.digitalspy.com

Slow Horses finally has huge news officially confirmed ahead of season 5's September release

Jackson Lamb is back in action.
www.digitalspy.com www.digitalspy.com
 
Previously they have filmed 2 seasons back to back, so with season 7 being confirmed and there being 8 books it is a fairly safe bet to assume season 8 has been greenlit as well
 
Bumhug said:
Previously they have filmed 2 seasons back to back, so with season 7 being confirmed and there being 8 books it is a fairly safe bet to assume season 8 has been greenlit as well
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the previously season were filmed back to back, but in the case of season 5 and 6 were not filmed back to back, filming on 5 was almost done when 6 was confirmed, season 6 filming hadn't gone into preproduction yet. while filming is now complete on season 6 post production hasn't been finish yet. so while chances are good for season 8 nothing has been done for it yet.
 
I can highly recommend the books they open up doors to the characters especially Roddy and Catherine. The same humour and given the author and screenwriter worked so close together it’s hardly surprising they are so close in plot, style and characters.
 
I just watched season 1 and episode 1-5 were really great but I felt 6 was a different tone that felt a bit wrong. Bit facepalmy even.

I hope the rest aren't like E6.
 
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VincentHanna said:
It's glorious nonsense. I don't remember episode 6 of season 1 feeling naff.

We did about 4 series in 2 weeks.
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Oh probably just all the sub plots winding up and suddenly how the dogs um and ah in the helicopter to shoot the kidnapper and Slough house body shield him... Just felt silly.


But other than that honestly 10/10 TV show
 
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I’ve been reading the books by Mick Herron. They’re really good although I wish I’d read them before watching the tv show…
 
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