The following contains spoilers for season 1 of Slow Horses.With the release of the last episode of Slow Horses, the brilliant British domestic security thriller on Apple TV+ based on the book by Mick Herron, the wait is on for season 2. At the end of the final episode, audiences offered a tantalizing sneak peek at the next set of episodes that – it turns out – are already filmed. There’s no news on when the second season will be released, but the preview reveals that most of the crew will return, and it appears to be at least loosely based on the sequel book, Dead Lions.
With the thrilling double conclusion to season 1, there are several plot points the next season must hit to keep the momentum of the espionage drama going.
Cartwright’s Boyish Crush
With the death or disappearance of Sid Baker (Olivia Cooke) – if that was her real name, which it was apparently not – River Cartwright’s (Jack Lowden) boyish heart is going to be wide open to new romantic possibilities. While the best thing to happen would be suggestions that Baker’s still alive, the more likely outcome is some sort of eyes made at the newest Slough House recruit, Shirley Dander (likely Aimee Ffifon-Edwards).
As Cartwright is the show’s soft heart to Jackson Lamb’s (Gary Oldman) experience-hardened head, it would be criminal if he didn’t get a chance to pine after someone, even if the outcome is almost predictably grim.
Lamb’s Dead Lions Come Back To Bite Him
The last scene of Slow Horses’ season finale told audiences to expect more secrets about Lamb’s past in season 2. The centrality of past Russian sleeper cells – dead lions – means that Lamb’s experience puts him in a good position to confront them, but it also means he’s got to risk letting some sleeping dogs be woken.
The main plotline likely won’t lead directly to Lamb’s past, but the long, icy fingers of the Cold War need to reach out and push him into leaning on some risky connections from his past.
River Grows In Lamb’s Shadow
When River Cartwright was relegated to Slough House, he was too young to have developed the legendary skill set of which Jackson Lamb can boast. But just as Cartwright was given just enough room by Lamb in season 1 to do well – without a single word of congratulations – it's imperative that the relationship continues in the same vein.
If the imagination wanders far enough, it's possible to see too far into the future where Cartwright may even have to rescue Lamb, but that should probably be saved for a much later season.
Digital Marries Analogue
Of the motley set of spies Lamb collected at Slough House, the most unexpectedly successful pairing is Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) and Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) who work their opposite magic together for unexpected profits. While Ho’s fingers tickle the digital information out, Standish’s traditional style of working builds on his, as when they were able to trace the van used by the kidnapers in season 1, and together they got the job done.
Season 2 needs to encourage this complementary mode of working, especially as it nicely contradicts how hopeless the Slough House agents are when left on their own.
Standish Stands By
The waters around Lamb’s involvement in Standish’s history are not all clear, and season 2 must keep exploring his involvement and expose it entirely to her. Stringing her along for longer than 2 seasons, especially when the audience knows the truth, wouldn’t feel like fair play. But Standish must remain loyal even when Lamb’s treachery is revealed.
That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of threads to pull on dangling from this plotline, and they must include Cartwright’s grandfather if they’re to really unravel Slough House beneath Lamb’s feet.
Simply Fight Fast
Espionage stories often fall into one of two errors – either all action or all brain. Slow Horses was brilliant because it deftly walked the line between the two while bringing a heavy dose of humor. The pacing was perfect in large part to the simple bursts of violence that worked quickly to move the plot along. To the creator’s credit, they avoided the prolonged Jason-Bourne-type fight scenes which would have only served to drag the whole thing down.
Fast, brutal, short accents of violence worked well in season 1 and season 2 needs to remember that to keep the atmosphere unburdened by indulgent action scenes.
Cartwright’s Grandfather Clause
Jonathan Pryce has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance recently, appearing in All the Old Knives (as another retired spy living in Britain), and an upcoming stint on Netflix’s The Crown as Prince Philip. Slow Horse’s audience is lucky enough to get him as Cartwright’s grandfather, David, who has a mysterious and murderous past association with Lamb, and we need more of that.
It would be best if Cartwright Sr. became some sort of threat to his own grandson. One possible avenue to follow is if the grandfather was able to sacrifice himself for his grandson, which would give Cartwright Jr. a juicy personal backstory for potential future seasons.
Old School Spycraft
While James-Bond-style tech is fun for a while, the real earthy value of Slow Horses is in the use of meat-space classical spycraft techniques that risk more but fail less. Maneuvers like Cartwright’s car key diversion from episode 4 and the fake bomb diversion from episode 5 make for great storytelling and are much more interesting than a steady stream of tech-slick and unrealistic digital strategies.
Plus, with all of Lamb’s Cold War-era know-how, it’s essential that he starts to pass more of it on to his rather miserable gang of misfits.
Say Goodbye to Another One
Any high-stakes spy thriller has to see someone die. Audiences have been assured that someone from the past is going to kick off the plot with their apparent murder, but it's unfortunately probable – and arguably necessary – that one of the Slough House agents is going to die, or at least be rendered useless for the profession.
It’s unlikely that audiences will have to say farewell to Cartwright, but any of the rest may be on the chopping block. There’s a significant threat that dear old Standish might make for an evocative late-season death.
Lamb In Taverner’s Debt
Season 1 saw Lamb rescue himself from the talons of Regent Park’s Second Seat, Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott-Thomas), and trade away his leverage over her to rescue one of his own, Catherine Standish. Season 2 needs to return to the conflict, and this time put Lamb in Taverner’s debt, a situation the man will not tolerate for long.
A good angle would be to see Taverner challenge Lamb’s sovereignty over Slough House and its pitiable crew, while Lamb struggles against her redoubled efforts to save his people from her clutches.