Slow Horses series has an old-school charm, perhaps thanks to its leading actor – Gary Oldman. This British spy world drama is based on the Slough House series of novels penned by the writer Mick Herron.
The smarter mind dominates in this show, even in this modern-age spy world, dominated by muscles, smart gadgets and hi-tech weaponry. So far, two series of this series have been released and I have undertaken exhilarating trips into the thrilling Old-School British spy world, twice and I adored it. It has old-school charm and Gary Oldman does bring a certain charm of his in his lead role as the spymaster Jackson Lamb.
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Slow Horses Series:- synopsis
This series follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 – Slough House. The quick-witted spy drama follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents – and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) – as they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
Slow Horses Series:- {Spoilers Free} review
In this series Gary Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but irascible leader of the spies who end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes. Joining Oldman is a decorated ensemble cast including Academy Award nominee Kristin Scott Thomas, Academy Award nominee Jonathan Pryce, BAFTA Scotland Award winner Jack Lowden, and Olivia Cooke. Combining these facts with its tight script, we (viewers) get a winner in the form of this spy thriller.
This series gets even better in its second season. It is a captivating spy drama when the old spy world minds like experienced Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) operate with the active assistance of the tech-savvy new spies.
A lot of mystery and spy-craft is involved in the fast-paced twisted storyline of this series. I do not wish to share any details inadvertently, which acts as a spoiler and reveals its plot. However, I can categorically state that I loved every bit of those two mysterious forays of the spy show. Assuming that you have a taste for typical British Humour, then do watch it and enjoy its jokes wrapped around the mysterious spy thriller spread across its two seasons.
It is a real old-school charm of spy-craft. And sometimes it seems that the slow horses win the race to emerge as the winner. You might enjoy it, as this spy series is about the Brain over Brawn drama.
Slow Horses Series:- details
| Genre | Drama, Thriller, Mystery |
| Released | April 2022 (Season -1) & December 2022 (Season-2) |
| Age-restrictions | A (18+) |
| Seasons | Two seasons |
| Episodes | 1st Season – Six (6) Episodes 2nd Season – Six (6) Episodes |
| Director | James Hawes |
| Cast | Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Saskia Reeves, etc. |
| Awards | BSC Awards 2023 – The Camera Operators Award – TV Drama – Vince McGahon – For ‘Bad Tradecraft’ episode USC Scripter Award 2023 – Television – Will Smith – Based on the novel by Mick Herron for the episode S1E1 of the show Nominated for 5 BAFTA Awards 2023 – Leading Actor (Gary Oldman), Supporting Actor (Jack Lowden), Editing, Sound, and Original Music. |
Slow Horses Series:- poster
“The Bond-esque River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) and his group of defunct MI5 spies, headed by the irascible Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), will do anything to get back into the (spy) game.”
Mick Herron
Focus:- Mick Herron – author of Slow Horses books
This series is based on the Slough House Series of books.
Slough House is a dumping ground for members of the intelligence service who’ve screwed up: left a service file on a train, say, blown a surveillance, or become drunkenly unreliable. They’re the service’s poor relations — the slow horses — and most bitter among them is River Cartwright, whose days are spent transcribing mobile phone conversations. But when a young man is abducted, and his kidnappers threaten to behead him live on the internet, River sees an opportunity to redeem himself. But is the victim who he first appears to be? And what’s the kidnappers’ connection with a disgraced journalist? As the clock ticks on the execution, River finds that everyone involved has their own agenda.
Mick Herron.
Focus:- actor Gary (Leonard) Oldman
The Oscar, BAFTA and SAG awards-winning actor Gary Leonard Oldman (nickname – Gaz) has an impressive body of work, the details of the same are shared below.
English actor Gary has done a quite diverse range of acting jobs in theatre, film and television in his long career in the acting job.
| Movies | Sid and Nancy (1986), Prick Up Your Ears (1987), JFK (1991), Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), True Romance (1993), Léon: The Professional (1994), Immortal Beloved (1994), Air Force One (1997), The Fifth Element (1997), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Batman Begins (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), The Dark Knight (2008), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), Darkest Hour (2017), The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), Hunter Killer (2018), Mank (2020), Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021), Crisis (2021), etc. . Wrote & Directed – Nil by Mouth (1997). |
| BAFTA Awards – 1998 Winner Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film – Nil by Mouth BAFTA Awards – 1998 Winner BAFTA Film Award – Best Screenplay – Original – Nil by Mouth BAFTA Awards – 2018 Winner BAFTA Film Award – Best Leading Actor – Darkest Hour Academy Awards, USA – 2018 Winner Oscar – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Darkest Hour Golden Globes, USA – 2018 Winner Golden Globe – Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama – Darkest Hour Screen Actors Guild Awards – 2018 Winner Actor – Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role – Darkest Hour | |
| TV – Series & Movies | Meantime (1983), Morgan’s Boy (1984), Screen Two (1986-1991), Jesus (1999), Slow Horses (2022), etc. |
Slow Horses (S1) Series:- trailer
Slow Horses (S1 & S2) Series:- ratings
| Season 1 | Season 2 | |
| FM’s rating | 4.15/5 | 4.30/5 |
| IMDb rating as of the date | 8.00/10 | 8.40/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 95% Tomatometer & 91% Audience Score | 100% Tomatometer & 95% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus / Rotten Tomatoes | This show refreshes the espionage genre by letting its band of snoops be bumbling, with Gary Oldman giving a masterclass in frumpy authority. | This show says neigh to the sophomore jinx with a second season that might be even better than its supremely addictive predecessor. |
Slow Horses (S2) Series:- trailer
If you love the British series, then check out and read about the Peaky Blinders series on our FM, too.
Featured & Other Images: Slow Horses | IMDb.