Slow Horses - Gary Oldman Spy Show

[Plissken]

Finished up S1.  Would agree with much of what has already been said, a few contrivances near the end but the overall fun and characters pull you right through.  Oldman is brilliant and he and Scott-Thomas clearly love bouncing off each other, to the extent that the farting in front of her felt like it was improvised.

 

Mild spoilerly thoughts

 

Spoiler

The dialogue at the end between the kidnapper and the hostage was a little too on the nose.

 

The whole "breaking into the Park" was great fun.

 

Loved the way they make London look grimy but also quite bright and filmic.

 

As for why they are there, a lot of people say they are has-beens, but as River says at the end, they are oddballs that are too good at what they do, which means they can't get rid of them either.  Better to have someone like Roddy Ho in the tent pissing out, as it were.  (Even if as a character he annoyed me immensely.)

 

[JohnC]

Fuck me, it's good to be back. Oldman had me in tears in the first scene with them back together in the office, where he ends up taking the present from the drawer.

[Minion]

I hate the way that apple release stuff weekly, this show is too good to only watch one a week. I’m going to be patient but it also means finding something else to watch when I could be watching this!

[Popo]

Happy to report this is just as good as the first series! Interestingly, the gags Oldman was doing on the bus either didn’t land or went over the audience’s head; I was cackling like a greasy, ageing spymaster. 

[Minion]

Goddamnit I’m weak I watched both new episodes and they were excellent. 

[scruffycat]

I binged the first series as my wife loved it and s2 was coming up. And yes, s2 is certainly as good so far as the first. And I loved the first series.

[Popo]

Oldman was on the Kermode and Mayo podcast and said he’s shooting the third series now, and going in to do the fourth next year. They’re knocking them out in quick succession. 

[Gotters]

My usual moan is that things are too long and padded out, with this I'm already a bit sad that with the first 2 down we're a third thru already. 

[Popo]

Appreciate that this is a show not afraid to cut its luvvies. Seeing Lamb out in the field in the latest episode applying his spycraft was deeply satisfying. 

[jonamok]

Ep3 was brilliant. The fate of a certain character was clearly coming, and the ending was a little telegraphed, but it does set up some great River scenes next week.

[spanx]

Just binged the first series, oh my that was rather good. I love a good ode to London, and GO/KST were great value. Looking forward to the next series 

[Monkeyspill]

Is Gary Oldman wearing Columbo’s old coat?

[Gotters]

Only one ep to go and still really enjoying this.

 

This season though does feel almost more covid shot than the first, with hardly any of the characters sharing screen time, it's given them all a bit more to do but does limit the chance for Lamb to treat them all like shit. 

[Mogster]

Just finished the last episode of the season, and I think I've enjoyed this more than the first. It's such a strange concept for a spy show but it totally works.

 

I was surprised to see another "next" season trailer already, so I guess there won't be long to wait for season 3.

 

[shirubagan]

Just finished S2. It’s so good. 

[jonamok]

Just finished S2 also. Better than last year’s, which was already great. Become one of our most awaited shows. Roll on S3!

[cassidy]

S2 is fucking great. 1.5 episode's left but loving it. 

[footle]

Great show. When’s the S5 and S6 renewal?

[cassidy]

Finished. What a fucking great programme. 

[Sane]

I thought season 2 was even better than season 1. 6 episodes is also the right length I think, keeps it tight and brisk. Roll on season 3!

[Popo]

Kinda forgot there’s only 6 episodes, things came together very neatly and very quickly there at the end! So good though. It’s very tightly plotted, and seeing the threads of the plot get tied up, 

 

As funny as the dialogue is, there’s a ruthlessness that runs through the show that elevates it beyond the standard BBC 1 drama that generally shies away from depicting the kind of cruelty that Slow Horses can be about at times. It’s great. 

[pledge]

On 30/12/2022 at 13:08, Mogster said:

I was surprised to see another "next" season trailer already, so I guess there won't be long to wait for season 3.

They had that after season 1 as well, as they film 2 seasons back to back. Hopefully this means 3 will be out in April like the first was.

[footle]

1 hour ago, pledge said:

They had that after season 1 as well, as they film 2 seasons back to back. Hopefully this means 3 will be out in April like the first was.

they only started filming season 3 a month and a half ago

[pledge]

They started filming it earlier than that, they'll be filming 4 by February.

[Hawklord]

Watched the first ep of this a couple of months ago before I was hit with a huge curveball and thought it seemed decent. Realised my ATV+ sub is up soon so thought I better check out the next couple of eps while I have time, ended up finishing S1 in one go lol. Reminded me of why I love Gary Oldman so much.

 

Couple of nit-picks in the writing 

 

Spoiler

Wee bit too many things just happened to occur at the perfect time eg the guy in the take away with the BMW leaving his keys on the counter among many others

 

But yeah, roll on S2!

 

Spoiler

And nice throw away shout out to George Smiley