Chris Connor reviews the second episode of Slow Horses season 6…
After a busy premiere episode for Slow Horses’ sixth season, the second episode continues at a breakneck pace as we begin to get some answers to questions posed in the opener. In the aftermath of the reappearance of Frank Harkness, the horses are all on full alert. Meanwhile with the news that multiple ex Slough House crew are dead, Coe and Shirley are dispatched to investigate. This comes alongside more detective work from River and Lamb.
Even though there are multiple spinning plates and disparate plot threads are being woven together, there is still a sense of cohesion. One of the highlights is the dynamic between Emma Flyte and Diana Taverner. A clash of styles with the new First Desk, clear to make clear her intentions to be in full control. What she isn’t in full control of is a media interview forced on her by the new, mysterious media mogul Damien Cantor, played so slickly by Harry Lloyd. Has Diana inadvertently backed herself into a situation, even she can’t extract herself from and what exactly was the money she borrowed used for?
It wouldn’t be a Slow Horses season without the team in real jeopardy and the crew are all forced to go dark. Roddy Ho for once, not letting the side down. Moira confirms that Slough House has been fully erased from the archive which seems to link to some of Franks misdeeds and an ex dog. Exactly what this has to do with the dead horses is unclear. Unhappy coincidence or a wider conspiracy?
To cap it all off the episode climax sees River racing off to the source of mysterious phone calls, to find none other than Sid Baker long presumed dead. While Sid returns in the books, Olivia Cooke’s busy schedule did leave some questions over whether this thread would make it to the show. It is a welcome return for one of the first faces audiences saw in the show before it appeared her time had been cut abruptly short.
This is just the latest twist in what feels like two episodes jam packed full of them, cramming more surprises in the first 1/3 of the season than most shows do in their entire run. Even so the pace remains high and the quality for the most part stands up to the amount of plot being sifted through. Most importantly even with the number of adjustments the spirit of both Joe Country and Slough House remains in one piece.
Chris Connor
