‘Slow Horses’ Channels ‘Final Destination’ in One Unforgettable Scene
(Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution if you haven't watched the latest episode of Slow Horses.)
Ever find yourself walking past a construction site and suddenly gripped by the fear of some random object plummeting from above? Slow Horses, the brilliant Apple TV+ series, taps into that very primal fear with a scene that's both darkly comedic and shockingly fatal. It's like a Final Destination movie, but with spies – and a whole lot of incompetence. If you're a fan of British spy dramas with a twist, this one's for you!
What makes Slow Horses so compelling is its unique blend of espionage thrills and laugh-out-loud dark humor. Where else can you find a spy show that combines a plan involving, shall we say, "bodily functions," with a plot about Stasi torture, all in the name of escaping a forced lockdown at MI5? It's a genre-bending masterpiece, and that's why this particular episode's nod to the Final Destination franchise feels perfectly at home. The series' signature is clever plot twists and unexpected moments and this episode certainly doesn't disappoint. Sometimes, it seems gravity itself is out to get us!
Despite his occasional blunders, River Cartwright (played by the excellent Jack Lowden) still considers himself a capable agent who shouldn’t be stuck at Slough House with the rest of the washed-up spies. However, recent events suggest otherwise. You can almost hear the barrage of expletives that Jackson Lamb (the ever-brilliant Gary Oldman) will unleash upon River for his involvement in the catastrophic events that unfold. Lamb's sharp wit and uncanny ability to predict disaster are just some of his many talents. He also has a habit of being right, which is not ideal for River's prospects.
In fact, Lamb inadvertently foreshadows the impending chaos when he criticizes the MI5 Head of Security, Emma Flyte (Ruth Bradley), saying, "At least my lot f--- up on an epic scale. They’re not just run-of-the-mill f--- ups like yours." But even the cynical Lamb couldn't have foreseen the sheer magnitude of River and Coe’s (Tom Brooke) latest botch job, which results in a political figure meeting an untimely end in the middle of the street.
The backdrop for the season's intrigue is the London mayoral election, where a terrorist group is employing a "destabilization strategy" rooted in British covert agency tactics. With the first four objectives already accomplished (compromising an agent, attacking a village, disrupting transport, and seizing the media), their next target is to eliminate a populist leader. The already stretched-thin team is tasked with protecting two candidates at separate rallies.
River and Coe are dispatched by Lamb to protect the most obvious target, armed with the only guns available. Dennis Gimball (Christopher Villiers), an anti-immigration right-wing figure spewing hateful rhetoric, is holding a rally at a venue with minimal security, making him an easy target for any would-be assassin.
However, as any seasoned TV watcher knows, the most obvious target is rarely the true one. While Shirley (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) and Standish (Saskia Reeves) improvise to save the current mayor, Zafar Jaffrey (Nick Mohammed), with nothing but their wits, River and Coe are left to face the consequences of a hilariously tragic accident. Nobody was trying to kill Gimball, and yet, there he is, lying in a pool of blood and pink paint.
Much like a classic workplace comedy, Slow Horses keeps things fresh by constantly shuffling its on-screen pairings. Coe and River, with their contrasting styles and personalities, make for an entertaining odd couple. Lowden expertly captures River's simmering frustration, while Brooke perfectly embodies Coe's unyielding nature. River struggles to see any value in Coe’s often-conspiracy-laden insights, even when Coe turns out to be correct.
This tension continues at the Gimball rally as they assess the potential assassin's point of attack – completely oblivious to the fact that they themselves are about to become the instruments of his demise.
The wannabe mayor is rehearsing his inflammatory speech in the alley by the stage door, completely alone. Coe climbs up the scaffolding to gain a better vantage point. When Coe spots a man arguing with Gimball, he alerts River. River, without pausing to question why a group so meticulous in their plans would be so sloppy about this particular killing, jumps into the fray. Little does he know that the man confronting Gimball is Jaffrey's campaign manager, Tyson (Abraham Popoola), who Gimball had provoked with a series of racist insults.
As Tyson flees the scene with River in pursuit, Coe is slowly making his way down the scaffolding. This is the moment when the clock starts ticking for Gimball. Any fan of the Final Destination films knows exactly where this is headed.
The tension builds with each glimpse of the moving parts of this deadly contraption. River's face is one of utter contempt as Gimball, completely oblivious, expresses his gratitude: "Good to see the bulldog spirit’s alive in the younger generation." To River's dismay, Gimball mistakes him for a supporter.
While Lowden is certainly adept at action scenes, it's his deadpan delivery and expressive face that truly elevate his performance. Slow Horses makes it clear why Lowden is far better suited to play a spy like River. James Bond would never find himself caught in an accidental paint-related death.
Gimball's tone quickly shifts to accusations of deep-state meddling when River reveals his MI5 affiliation and informs him of the threat to his safety. "Oh, do f--- off," River retorts. And at that precise moment, *splat*! A gruesome, literal full stop from above.
If the Final Destination franchise has taught us anything, it's that chain reactions can happen anywhere. In this case, a snapped rope causes a basket to strike some metal poles, dislodging a can of pink paint. You gasp despite knowing what will happen next as you hear the awful *thwack* sound as it hits Gimball's head. Consider this a word of warning to look up the next time you walk past scaffolding!
“What did you just do?” asks River, bewildered. “I just came down the ladder. What did you just do?” Coe responds, equally stunned. It’s a comedy of errors on a grand scale, leaving a paint-splattered River in utter disbelief.
There’s no need for anyone to check the mayoral candidate's vitals, the shocked, frozen-in-place expression and growing pool of blood around Gimball's head tell a vivid story of a f--- up on an epic scale. Nobody knows their team quite like Jackson Lamb.
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