*Warning: Spoilers for Slow Horses season 3 below*
Season three had us on our toes, with Louisa (Rosalind Eleazar) and River (Jack Lowden) fleeing a facility where they had been imprisoned, armed with papers revealing the truth about Ingrid Tearney’s (Sophie Okonedo) shameful leadership of MI5 and what happened in Istanbul.
Although they were able to escape somewhat unhurt, Sean Donovan (Some Dirisu) was slain by agents in dramatic situations.
River immediately brought the papers to his grandfather, David, who burned them in order to preserve the reputations of people in power.
Fortunately, he had made copies earlier and quickly released them, resulting to Ingrid’s demise and Diana coming in to take her place.
Catherine (Saskia Reeves) also resigned after learning of previous employer Charles Partner’s treachery – but she is still unaware of Jackson Lamb’s choice to assassinate Partner in season one, then cover it up as suicide.
Basically, a lot happened.
Fans were captivated by the episode and raced to Twitter to applaud everyone involved, declaring the series to be the greatest of 2023.
‘Apple TV’s Slow Horses is excellent, by far my favourite series of 2023, and Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb tops the character leaderboard,’ one penned.
‘I only started watching #SlowHorses because of Gary Oldman,’ another agreed. ‘I didn’t have expectations.
‘Little did I know that it would become one of my most favourite shows of all time. @AppleTV thank you for this. A smart, funny, sarcastic, fast paced thriller..easily the best of 2023.’
‘Honestly, not enough people are watching Slow Horses on Apple TV. Gary Oldman is a tour de force as per usual,’ a viewer said.
A Twitter user wrote: ‘Well I know I’ve been waxing rhapsodic about Slow Horses on Apple, but I swear to Zeus, it is the best thing Gary Oldman has ever done…’
A follower raved: ‘Season 3 of #SlowHorses is the best one yet! Just impeccably paced and a thrilling story bolstered by an incredible cast led by the always excellent Gary Oldman!
‘This show could just be Jackson Lamb’s one line zingers and still be one of the best shows on TV!!’
‘#SlowHorses is easily one of the best shows out there,’ a commenter added. ‘The cast is outstanding but #GaryOldman is pure grubby perfection as #JacksonLamb @AppleTV.’
Not enough people are talking about Slow Horses, it's the best show on TV. That finale was one of the most stressful things I've watched but so freaking good, and we get Hugo Weaving next season????!!!! More peak TV incoming #SlowHorses pic.twitter.com/0pxTkHqnld
— Samantha (@SnVanHoozer) December 28, 2023
Honestly, not enough people are watching Slow Horses on Apple TV. Gary Oldman is a tour de force as per usual pic.twitter.com/mRmR2X6Mr9
— Miss O (@mschalkandtalk) December 21, 2023
well I know I've been waxing rhapsodic about Slow Horses on Apple, but I swear to Zeus, it is the best thing Gary Oldman has ever done…
— marcus kelson (@marcuskelson) December 29, 2023
Slow Horses is bloody brilliant, isn't it? #SlowHorses pic.twitter.com/aJ9Mg2eQuG
— Evelyn Scott (@evelyn_scott_) December 22, 2023
Season finale of #SlowHorses was a complete masterpiece, gutted its over. Tension off the charts, broken by exquisite one liners like this, had me on the edge of my seat & laughing my head off 😂😂😂
Now the excruciating wait for S4 😫 pic.twitter.com/KHglhUfNHB— Clare 😜 (@last2leave) December 27, 2023
While season three has only just concluded, showrunner Will Smith has revealed what we can anticipate in the fourth season, and the Slough House group will be as tight as ever.
‘Where it ends in season three, where Taverner thinks she’s got what she wants, let’s just say there’s a recalibration of that at the start of the next series,’ he told Digital Spy.
‘There’s repercussions [from River’s leak], but they’re more left field than directly to do with what he leaks.
‘The main thing is the fracture that occurs when River is going against his grandfather for the first time, and that’s a big thing for him, and seeing his grandfather in a new light and he is starting to make his own judgements and not just toe the line.
‘The next series is sad with what happens between River and David.’
Bring it on.
Slow Horses is available to stream on Apple TV+ now.