Slow Horses S5

[LittleBitofBread]

I can't find a thread for this . Surely there is one? Can anybody point me towards it?

No thread yet but really enjoying this so far

Was greatly looking forward to it but finding this one a bit slow to get going despite it looking great, particularly love the wrecked Slough house.

I think I may have re-read the books too recently but it seems a bit thin compared to the earlier seasons.

I agree @NormalAuntFanny I re-read London Rules just before S5 started and I’m frustrated by the character and plot changes.

Thank you! This is the thread then, I guess

I suppose an awful lot of shit has happened, but it's very downbeat compared to how I remember the earlier seasons being. Louisa going off for a mental health break meant it started out with a bit of a dampener. River seems less lovable and more irascible, Lamb’s snarky comments to them all seem less jokey and more nasty, even Diana, who doesn't usually really join in with the snark and putdowns that much, was very superior towards the younger woman (I don't know her name – long ponytail, nice boxy jacket) about 'getting some rest' meaning 'put your feet up on a bench in the corridor at work'.
I do still love them although. Fantastic to see Samuel West back. And London looks as grimy and yet seductive as ever.

Well I proper laughed at “when you're speaking, I want to stick a pencil in my eye and headbutt the table".

Yes, that was more old-school Jackson Lamb. As was, 'He said you'd be here because of your issues.'
Some of it has just felt more cruel though.

I like the cruel but I think generally the TV version is less funny and less cruel than the books and so far this one is both.

However the shard or wherever scene was good, Ho with his shit metal sword was funny and the dogs in Slough house were also very good so I'll see how it goes and watch it anyway.

Hoping it's just taking some time to get going.

Casting wise I didn't see Shirley or Coe looking like they do so it's difficult to like them so much but that may just be my preferences.

I’m enjoying it, including the slow build up so hopefully that doesn’t lead to disappointment.

Loved Lady Di and Lamb sparring off of each other they are always electric together.

I sense that Lamb has a massive secret love for his Lady DI
Both single, but can’t see it going anywhere: Lady Di has higher expectations 😂
Enjoying it, didn’t like Ho at first, but he’s now my favourite

Been waiting. Didn't realise it'd started.

Agree on both parts. There is a clear understanding between Lamb and Diana, love to hate each other but will always have others back.

And Roddy Ho - the opening scene where he was listening to music on his headphones and dancing in the street was pure joy. I bet the actor loves playing him! He’s my favourite too (after Lamb of course!)

"I asked for an educated guess not a left school at 15 to work in an abattoir one" is my favourite Lamb line so far.

And as someone on here said last year, Shirley is the most un-Shirley-like Shirley in the history of Shirleys!

Are we allowed to talk about this series with spoilers? Just watched the most recent episode and just so much going on.

Love it so much

I thought last night’s was brilliant.

Do we think it was Lamb with the Stasi?

I've given up.
Perhaps I shouldn't have read the book, but why is the tv version so different? There's absolutely no need, but they've changed everything, apart from the characters.
And Lamb's soliloquy about stasi torture crossed the line for me. I guess it was a (clumsy) way to account for his personality. And was unnecessary.
All this is a shame, as I love the cast, especially Lamb and Roddy.

Lamb makes it and Diana. The earlier series were more about River but now on Ho and Shirley.

I mostly watch it for Lamb though some great lines and acting.

Yep. When he'd said he'd made the story up, the camera lingered on his face for long enough to make a viewer think, 'Hang on, is that true?'

Exactly, was it just a story or was it real, either way it says a lot about the complexity of the character.

It wasn’t just that - he was giving them specific instructions in the torture descriptions. Did you get that? “Lighter + aerosol” was one, “hit with a wine bottle in the stomach” was another and so was “fire extinguisher”.

Just caught up with Ep3. Disappointed how it ended, almost like one episode split in half BUT apart from that, continued brilliant acting.

Whether Lamb was the one involved with the Stasi or not (and we’re unlikely to find out), the story was entirely used to signpost the other ‘fuckwits’ into action.

Roddy continued to be absurdly confident and deluded.

The underlying story of a sleazy first desk is apt, I wonder if it play into the mayoral elections?

It was a surprise that the green activist was Mr Swallows son. His naivety and principles will play into the terrorists hands.

The use of penguins to outrage the public was also apt. The dreadful bombing in Regents Park 1982 saw 7 horses killed, with Sefton seriously injured. More people remember that than the 11 soldiers who died.

Part of me wants to learn more about Coe but actually, he’s probably more interesting not knowing!

There's a side book with an un-named-as-such Lamb in Berlin during the cold war which is good but doesn't have that stasi scene but does have other bad bits.

I agree @Sausagenbacon they've messed around with thr plots a bit too much for no good reason which hopefully doesn't complicate who dies etc. It's still more than good enough to watch for me - it's not like there's a tsunami of content on apple tv ;-).

This weeks was a lot better though so roll on Wednesday.

Just found this thread! Surprised there aren’t more fans tbh, it’s been brilliant to watch.
I’m a bit confused about this week’s episode. Why did the mayor’s chief of staff suddenly turn up in the alley to have a discussion with Gimball? Seemed like an odd turn of events, especially with what happened afterwards.

The tin of paint was brilliant.