Chris Connor reviews the third episode of Slow Horses season 6…
Given its penchant for killing off central characters, this season of Slow Horses is the first to bring back a previously thought-dead character, in the shape of Olivia Cooke’s Sid Baker. The third episode aptly titled ‘Resurrection’ kicks off with the long-overdue reunion between Baker and River Cartwright. Sid has been thought dead for three years and a hell of a lot has happened to River in that time from finding out his dad is secretly a former CIA assassin to a string of dead horses.
Their happy reunion is of course, rudely interrupted by the two hitmen on their tail. We gradually learn more about their motives and background in this episode, which results in much of this storyline being a chase across the Kent countryside, both teams trying to outsmart the other, all while Sid and River try to reconnect.
It’s not just the Cartwright and Baker show, and Sid isn’t the only returning star; Louisa Guy makes a welcome return to the fray after sitting out almost the entirety of season 5. In the book’s Louisa is very much present in all the books up to ‘Clown Town’ so there have been some adjustments to her role here, having left the service to work in what looks like risk assessment. She’s escaped Lamb’s clutches for some semblance of a normal life, which naturally could never last as Catherine and Shirley come to keep her out of harm’s way. The resulting bickering between Shirley and Louisa is a real highlight and showcases how much Rosalind Eleazar has been missed.
The final grouping is Lamb and Ho, sent to gather up Reece Nesmith, a witness to his father’s murder. Lamb never stops being himself, even when interacting with the public Gary Oldman clearly relishing every second.
Diana continues to feel the repercussions of her interview in the previous episode banishing Flyte from the park and having a stern talking to from Lamb. Cut off and with fewer allies, she may be backed into a corner but is still more than capable of making life miserable for any bad actors and the Slough House crew.
As it hits the halfway point, this season continues to be frenetic and fast paced with multiple storylines ongoing. It is the season with the largest amount of adjustments from Herron’s novels but for the most part the two books are stitched together with care making it still compelling viewing, retaining the spirit of the books.
Chris Connor
