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Slow Horses

Slow Horses

MI5's most unruly spies are back and under attack.

2022–Ongoing8 seasons48 episodes~50 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

Follow a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Slow Horses?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Slow Horses streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video (free).

Subscription

Free

Highlights

What stands out about Slow Horses?

Slow Horses earns 6 badges, led by Top 5% of shows and Universally Loved.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Slow Horses worth watching?

Slow Horses' Midcredits score is the 97th percentile of all shows, from 177K ratings across 5 sources. 94% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

97th percentile

Better received than 97% of shows

97th percentile among Drama97th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)92nd
Approval (how many liked it)98th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

82 /100

92nd percentile of all shows

93rd percentile among Drama93rd percentile among 2020s

Critics 82 · Audience 82

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

94% liked it

98th percentile of all shows

98th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2020s
94% rated it 7–106% rated it 1–6

Critics 97% · Audience 88%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

176K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Drama99th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 32% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A spy series about grimy, flawed MI5 rejects that prioritizes character over sleek action.

Fans praised

  • Gary Oldman's magnetic performance as Jackson Lamb
  • Sharp, witty writing balancing tension and dark humor
  • Flawed, well-drawn characters with depth and arcs

Detractors panned

  • Implausible plot with logic holes and contrived coincidences
  • Unrealistic action sequences and character decisions

What stands out

ActingDivisive90

Gary Oldman anchors the cast; ensemble universally praised

DialogueDivisive83

Snappy, witty, especially Lamb's acidic one-liners

CharactersDivisive82

Memorable misfits with rich backstories

Atmosphere82

Gritty, unglamorous London setting and dingy Slough House

HumorDivisive78

Dark, sardonic British humor; flatulence jokes divide

TensionDivisive76

Suspenseful moments but some critique implausible action

PacingDivisive68

Deliberate start, builds tension; some find it uneven

Plot and storyDivisive55

Intricate but divisive; some call it predictable or riddled with holes

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 11 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

6 seasons

Season 6 · 2026 · 6 episodes · 8.2 average across 6 rated episodes

  • S6E1

    Circle of Life

    Sep 16, 202648 minTMDB rating 8.3
  • S6E2

    Daddy Issues

    Sep 23, 202647 minTMDB rating 8.5Season best
  • S6E3

    Resurrection

    Sep 30, 202649 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S6E4

    Lost & Found

    Oct 7, 202650 minTMDB rating 8.1
  • S6E5

    Sayonara

    Oct 14, 202648 minTMDB rating 8.4
  • S6E6

    Judgement Day

    Oct 21, 202662 minTMDB rating 8.1Finale

Watch experience

What is Slow Horses like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — a slow-burn watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.Hardboiled · 1% of shows: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneHolds its material with a wry, cynical edge but never mocks the drama; plays the spy thriller straight while using dry humour as character colour.
The rideThe series sustains a consistent, low-grade tension fuelled by espionage threats, balanced by dry wit and character study; the emotional weight is distributed evenly across the run.
StructureThe series follows a conventional linear narrative structure, with each season presenting a self-contained arc told in chronological order.
Episode formatEach season tells a single, continuous story arc with episodes functioning as chapters of a novel, building on previous events and character development.
Season formatEach season adapts one of Mick Herron's novels, presenting a self-contained conspiracy case while the core cast and ongoing character arcs continue across seasons.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunRousing · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe series combines sharp wit and tense spycraft, leaving you both entertained and invested in the team's next mission.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeAcross its serialized arcs, the Slow Horses team repeatedly faces external threats—terrorists, kidnappers, and conspiracy rings—which they must uncover and stop, fitting an overcoming-the-monster pattern with a predator subtype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfLoyaltyBonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% (this title) · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Loyalty · 7% of showsRedemption · 3% of shows: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Isolation · 3% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores what allegiance means among outcasts—the Slow Horses repeatedly prove their loyalty to each other and to their tarnished sense of duty, seeking redemption for past failures while fighting isolation from the service they once belonged to.
StanceThe show interrogates loyalty and the cost of a broken system, presenting espionage as a grimy, morally ambiguous world where allegiance is both the problem and the solution.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingModern-day London; Slough House, a dingy MI5 dumping ground for disgraced agents.
MusicThe score is tense and atmospheric, supporting the spy thriller mood without overwhelming the dialogue.

Content guide

Is Slow Horses okay for kids?

TV-MA

Slow Horses is rated TV-MA. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (73/100), sexual content at mild (31/100), language at severe (85/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (64/100) and frightening material at intense (60/100). Overall it is heavier than 64% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 46 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland15
  • New Zealand16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Austria16
  • Belgium16
  • BG16
  • CLR
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary18
  • IDD
  • IndiaA
  • Israel18+
  • ItalyVM14
  • LTS
  • LU16
  • MexicoC
  • MY18
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • PhilippinesSPG
  • Poland16
  • Portugal16
  • PRTV-MA
  • RO15
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • SK15
  • South Africa16
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland16
  • Taiwan15+
  • THน 18+
  • Türkiye18+
  • UA18+
  • VITV-MA
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 81% of all showsHeavier than 64% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 62%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 17%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 83%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 71%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 51%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: language, violence, drug and alcohol content, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Slow Horses have?

MovieCove's classifier found 2 depicted content warnings in Slow Horses: Gore or body horror (moderate), Gun violence (moderate). 2 more are mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Addiction or relapse, Kidnapping or confinement. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

ModerateGore or body horrorGun violence
MentionedAddiction or relapseKidnapping or confinement

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Slow Horses?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Gary Oldman
as Jackson Lamb
BAFTA nominee: BAFTA Award nomination — Leading Actor
Jack Lowden
as River Cartwright
BAFTA nominee: BAFTA Award nomination — Supporting Actor
Kristin Scott Thomas
as Diana Taverner
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Saskia Reeves
as Catherine Standish
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Christopher Chung
as Roddy Ho
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards
as Shirley Dander
Rosalind Eleazar
as Louisa Guy
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Kadiff Kirwan
as Marcus Longridge
Jonathan Pryce
as David Cartwright
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Ruth Bradley
as Emma Flyte

More like this

What are shows like Slow Horses?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Slow Horses include MI-5 (2002), The Night Manager (2016) and The Capture (2019).

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