'Gary Oldman steals the show': Tobias Ellwood reviews 'Slow Horses: Season 4'

Anti-hero: Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb | Image courtesy of Apple TV+

Tobias Ellwood

@Tobias_Ellwood

If you have not seen Slow Horses, where have you been? Boxsets come and go – but the broadcasting of a fourth series, with a fifth in the pipeline, suggests it could rank alongside Breaking Bad and The Wire.

In the real world, Britain excels at the spy game, with arguably the top intelligence services in the world. From Elizabethan times, when spymasters such as Sir Francis Walsingham protected the realm by unmasking plots against Queen Elizabeth I, to the vital work during the world wars – most notably at Bletchley Park, where British codebreakers cracked the Nazi Enigma code – our intelligence networks have shaped history. Whether it’s recruiting double agents, embedding moles, or running counter-espionage operations, Britain’s intelligence services have long been both respected by our allies (think America) and feared by our adversaries (think Russia). We are not a founder of the global ‘five eyes’ spy network for nothing.

It’s no surprise that our global reputation for competence, reach and professionalism is reflected in popular culture – on bookshelves and on screen – infusing the world of espionage with mystery, sophistication and cunning. Indeed, Slow Horses is based on the Slough House series of novels by thriller writer Mick Herron, who brilliantly creates the antithesis of the (perfect in every way) James Bond in Jackson Lamb: a reluctant hero who is overweight, poorly dressed, repulsive (yet endearing) and, above all, extremely sarcastic.

I’ve long been a Gary Oldman fan. The versatility of this actor – from playing a Kazakh revolutionary in Air Force One to portraying a convincing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour – has always impressed, but his role as Jackson Lamb seems tailor-made for him. It’s no surprise he has received a range of nominations and awards for this performance.

For those still unfamiliar with this boxset, prepare to dedicate a few hours of your life as you catch up with the rest of us. You’ll binge-watch the action, drama and politics of MI5, where underperformers and misfits are exiled from the slick, high-tech world of MI5’s main offices to the 1960s-era Slough House in East London, run by our anti-hero Lamb.

I’ve long been a Gary Oldman fan. The versatility of this actor has always impressed, but his role as Jackson Lamb seems tailor-made for him

The opening catchy lyrics of the theme tune Strange Game sung by Mick Jagger perfectly sum up the occupants of Slough House: “Surrounded by losers, misfits and boozers, hanging by your fingernails. You made one mistake, you got burned at the stake. You’re finished, you’re foolish, you failed. There’s always a hope on this slippery slope. Somewhere a ghost of chance – to get back in the game, burn off your shame, and dance with the big boys again.”

Complementing Gary Oldman’s performance is Kristin Scott Thomas as MI5’s head of operations, who views the Slough House team of ‘slow horses’ with irreverence, even irritation, despite how often this ragtag group manages to save the day. Each character has a unique personality, complete with fascinating backstories and vulnerabilities, which makes Slow Horses such compelling viewing. It breaks the taboo of assuming the spy world is perfect, revealing that even in intelligence, agents are flawed.

The latest series, based on Herron’s fourth book Spook Street, opens with a suicide attack on a London shopping centre, propelling the team of dysfunctional MI5 agents into action as they use old-school spycraft to investigate the ongoing bomb threat. While greater focus is placed on River Cartwright (played by Jack Lowden), a younger member of the team, it’s still Oldman who steals the show.

Aside from the clever storylines blending suspense and humour, and the impressive cinematography, Slow Horses offers a refreshing take on the intelligence world. Just as The Thick of It gave a close-to-reality depiction of political life, perhaps former occupants of Thames House might find Slow Horses strikes a similar chord. They could tell you, of course – but they’d probably have to kill you afterward. 

Tobias Ellwood is former Conservative MP for Bournemouth East (2005-2024) and chair of the Defence Select Committee (2020-2023)

Slow Horses: Season 4
Directed by: Adam Randall
Broadcaster: Apple TV+

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