Chris Connor reviews the third episode of Slow Horses season 4…
The previous episode of Slow Horses took River to France and the mysterious Les Arbes, exactly what was going on and how does it connect to the mysterious Frank Harkness? It ended on a cliffhanger as he was freed and then attacked by a mysterious assailant. It turns out he has been mistaken for Bertrand, the assailant on his grandfather David Cartwright.
We cut between Catherine, caring for David with River’s plight in France. Jonathan Pryce continues to impress as the confused but forthright David. The interactions between David and Saskia Reeves’ Standish are a highlight, Catherine trying to keep David grounded and out of harms way.
As is the case in episode one, new head of the dogs Emma Flyte and Jackson Lamb share a frosty relationship, with its fair share of one liners. Flyte is a welcome addition to the cast, playing a cat and mouse game with Lamb, trying to find David Cartwright.
Things in France escalate with a group of men who thing River is Bertrand giving chase in a thrilling and comical sequence, showing the show loses none of its wit even when there is risk to life. It is sure to be one of the most memorable sequences in the season.
Sean Gilder’s Sam Chapman is given a prominent role in this season as Cartwright’s former bagman. What connects him to events in France remains to be seen, but he is clearly on Harkness and co.’s radar. The final moments of the episode see a tussle between the Slow Horses and mysterious agents who seem nigh on impossible to harm, delivering some of the most visceral action in the show to date.
As it hits the halfway point Slow Horses fourth season significantly ups the ante in several key storylines as River gets some answers in France and the rest of Slough House fend for themselves on the streets of London. It raises plenty of questions for the second half of the season, bringing more characters into play and promising more thrills to come. This season is proving to be another stellar adaptation of its source material and shows there is no weak link in the central cast.
Chris Connor
