Why You Should Watch Slow Horses: The Best Spy Drama on Apple TV is a spy thriller television series based on the Slough House series of novels by Mick Herron. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on 1 April 2022 and has been renewed for a fourth season. The show follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents who are relegated to Slough House, a dumping ground for career-ending mistakes. They are led by the notorious Jackson Lamb, a slovenly and rude boss who has a sharp and devious mind. The slow horses, as they are called, often get involved in investigating schemes endangering Britain, despite the disdain of their superiors.
The series has received critical acclaim for its witty and darkly humorous script, its stellar cast, and its faithful adaptation of the source material. Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, and Rosalind Eleazar are some of the actors who deliver outstanding performances as the flawed and complex characters of Slough House. The show also explores the themes of loyalty, betrayal, corruption, and redemption in the murky world of espionage.
How does the series compare to the books?
First of all, I think the series does a great job of capturing the tone and style of the books. The dialogue is sharp and witty, full of sarcasm and banter. The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. The characters are well-developed and consistent with their book counterparts. The show also retains the political satire and social commentary that Herron infuses in his novels. For example, the first season deals with the rise of a populist politician who has ties to a far-right group, while the second season tackles the issue of Russian interference in British politics.
Of course, there are some changes and additions that the show makes to adapt the books to the screen. For instance, some characters are introduced earlier or later than in the books, some subplots are omitted or altered, and some scenes are added or expanded to flesh out the story. However, I think these changes are mostly minor and do not affect the overall quality or integrity of the adaptation. In fact, some of them enhance the drama or humor of the show. For example, I enjoyed the scene where Jackson Lamb interrogates a suspect by using his smelly socks as a weapon.
As for the realism of the show, I think it depends on how you define realism. If you expect a documentary-like depiction of MI5 operations and procedures, you might be disappointed. The show is not meant to be a realistic portrayal of espionage, but rather a satirical and entertaining one. It exaggerates and mocks some aspects of spy work, such as bureaucracy, incompetence, rivalry, and cover-ups. It also uses some creative license and artistic embellishment to create engaging scenarios and conflicts.
How realistic is its portrayal of MI5 agents?
However, that does not mean that the show is completely unrealistic or implausible. The seires does draw on some real-life events and issues that affect MI5 and Britain in general. It also shows some of the challenges and dangers that MI5 agents face in their work, such as moral dilemmas, ethical compromises, personal sacrifices, and physical threats. It depicts some of the skills and techniques that MI5 agents use in their work, such as surveillance, intelligence analysis, cryptography, hacking, interrogation, and combat.
Slow Horses Trivia
- Gary Oldman, who plays Jackson Lamb, gained weight to play the role. He wryly noted that he added on pounds to the point where he was “almost unrecognizable”
- Oldman’s son, Alfie Oldman, worked as a camera trainee on the series. He has also worked on several movies that his father starred in
- The series is faithful to the books in terms of the location of Slough House, which is near the Barbican Tube Station in London. The series also used the exact address of Slough House as described in the books, which is 11-13 Aldersgate Street
- The series has received critical acclaim and several award nominations, including five BAFTA Awards. It has a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating “universal acclaim”
- The character of Peter Judd, the Prime Minister, is clearly based on Boris Johnson in the books. However, in the TV series, this connection is far less obvious
- The series has been renewed for a fourth season (release date tbc) even before the second season aired. The second season is expected to be based on the fourth book in the series, Spook Street
In conclusion
Why You Should Watch Slow Horses: The Best Spy Drama on Apple TV, I think Slow Horses is a TV series worth watching for fans of spy thrillers and dark comedies. It is an excellent adaptation of Mick Herron’s novels that preserves their essence while adding its own flair. It is also an entertaining and insightful look into the world of MI5 agents that balances realism and fiction. If you have not watched it yet, I highly recommend you to do so.