'Slow Horses' season 6 plays like a greatest hits album, but it still surprises

How many hits does a band need to have before they put out a greatest hits album? Because after years of hitting all the right notes, this sixth season of Apple TV’s spy thriller series Slow Horses plays out like a well-executed greatest hits. In a lot of ways it feels like an ode to long-time viewers. 

People who have been with the series from the beginning will find familiarity and immediately appreciate the shock and awe spread out over the six episodes. However, brand new viewers are still welcome to jump into this latest season. 

The misfit MI5 agents relegated to Slough House are still showing they’re capable of doing spy work, even if not in the most conventional way. So, if you’ve seen the rave reviews and don’t want to catch up first, this season can still make you a fan. It just won’t be the same reunion for you as it will be for others.

Slow Horses has been a yearly tradition in my house ever since season one. I found the new season as satisfying as it is frustrating. I’ll try to keep this review spoiler-free while also explaining why it’s still worth streaming each episode as soon as it starts on September 16.

The greatest hits of Slow Horses

Since each season tackles a different book in Mick Herron’s series, they each feel like a full, complete story. There are throughlines and variations, but Slow Horses as a show has elements of an anthology to it. People can come and go, while completely new cases take the focus.

I think that’s why this season feels like a greatest hits. There are a lot of nods to past characters who have played important roles—hello Olivia Cooke. Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, of course, is the constant, stringing all of these people together in time.

Since Slow Horses does a good job of highlighting different characters each season, we’ve had plenty of people to connect with over the years. For example, we’ve been given story arcs that focus on River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung), and even a non-slow horse, Emma Flyte (Ruth Bradley), among others. 

We’re treated to a few new (likely) side characters this year. But that mostly means we see new interactions from familiar cast members. It’s another hit on the greatest hits album.

In season six, the group of misfits is split up and put in non-standard pairings. We get to see new aspects of their personalities. This aspect isn’t particularly new. In fact, I think that’s a big reason why Slow Horses has stayed fresh over time, despite adhering to a basic formula. Yet another new dimension to Roddy is uncovered.

Be prepared to be at least a little frustrated

I consumed this season at a rapid pace. It’s easy viewing and satisfying in every way a spy thriller should be. However, I found two things mildly frustrating. The first is the extra time it feels like it takes to lay the plot’s foundation. If the first episode or two feel a little slow, keep going. It gave me a moment of pause, but all the pieces do begin clicking and falling into place.

The bigger issue this year may be in the life and death of characters. As great as unpredictability is for a thriller, this season has made me question future seasons' use of hand-wavy reasoning just to bring back beloved characters at any time. It’s not a problem at the moment, but it seems like a potential threat to future plot credibility.

Is season six of Slow Horses worth streaming?

I know Slow Horses has its accolades, but it still doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Season six might start slow, but it finishes as strong as any other season. If you’ve been watching since the beginning, then it might be the best season yet. It’s a love letter to fans in more ways than one.

Slow Horses is arguably the most consistently enjoyable show on Apple TV since 2022. Its regular release cycle, stellar acting, and filler-free story make it a must-watch. Now that there will be 36 episodes of the show available by the end of October, it’s arguable that it alone might be tempting enough for newcomers to subscribe to Apple TV, even if the service has gone up in price.