The Prestige TV Podcast

'Slow Horses' Season 6 Episodes 3-5 Breakdown With Alan Sepinwall

October 22, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Alan Sepinwall considers the current season of 'Slow Horses' to be among his favorites, appreciating its pure, unfiltered execution of the show's core formula. 
  • The conversation highlights that while Jackson Lamb remains static, the show sustains interest by peeling back layers of his backstory and allowing supporting characters to evolve. 
  • The discussion on Apple TV suggests the platform struggles with making its high-budget original content widely known, despite efforts like bundling and acquiring major sports rights like F1. 

Segments

Introduction and Guest Welcome
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(00:01:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Alan Sepinwall joins to discuss Slow Horses after listener demand.
  • Summary: Joanna Robinson welcomes Alan Sepinwall, noting Rob Mahoney is absent. They confirm the episode will cover Slow Horses episodes 3-5 and briefly touch upon Apple TV changes.
Overall Assessment of Slow Horses
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(00:03:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Sepinwall considers Slow Horses one of his most reliable pleasures, praising its consistency.
  • Summary: They discuss Sepinwall’s overall view of the series and concerns about the showrunner change (Will Smith leaving). Sepinwall notes the show’s faithfulness to the source material.
Season 5 Quality and Formula
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(00:06:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Season 5 is considered ‘pure, unfiltered slow horses’ and is among the best.
  • Summary: They debate if the show’s formula (screw-ups succeeding) is sustainable, concluding that peeling back layers on Lamb’s past keeps it fresh, even if the core characters don’t arc.
River Cartwright’s Bumbling Nature
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(00:11:37)
  • Key Takeaway: River Cartwright is fundamentally a screw-up who thinks he’s James Bond but isn’t.
  • Summary: They discuss criticism that River is too much of an idiot. Sepinwall argues River is there because he messed up, and his competence is often inflated by those around him.
Ko’s Emergence and Characterization
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(00:17:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Ko (Tom Brooke) is perfectly cast as an unhinged but insightful character.
  • Summary: They praise Tom Brooke’s performance and the pairing of Ko with River. They note Ko’s ability to profile others accurately, contrasting his emotional detachment with River’s turmoil.
The Paint Can Death Controversy
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(00:20:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The death caused by the paint can feels less problematic than Ho’s MI5 system breach.
  • Summary: They discuss whether Gimbal’s death crosses a line for the Slough House team. Sepinwall finds Ho’s hacking confession a bigger threat to the team’s future.
Tara and Claude Whelan’s Triumph
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(00:22:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Claude Whelan (James Callis) secretly celebrates Gimbal’s death, showcasing his character’s malice.
  • Summary: They discuss the reveal of Tara’s honey trap, noting Jonathan Price’s character tipped it early. Robinson highlights Claude Whelan’s silent joy over Gimbal’s death.
Generic Libyan Terrorist Villains
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(00:27:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Swapping North Korea for generic Libyan terrorists was the season’s biggest misstep.
  • Summary: They criticize the vague, interchangeable nature of the season’s antagonists, contrasting them with the nuanced Slough House crew.
Apple TV’s Identity and Rebranding
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(00:34:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple TV struggles with identity, often burying its best original content under an avalanche of content.
  • Summary: They analyze Apple’s strategy of being a one-stop shop, the failure of shows like Your Friends and Neighbors, and the confusion caused by merging the device and service names.
Apple’s New Strategy: Sports and Price Hikes
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(00:43:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple is leaning into sports (F1) and raising prices, signaling a shift toward guaranteed viewership metrics.
  • Summary: They discuss the F1 deal and the recent price increase, noting sports offer the live, communal viewing experience that scripted shows often lack.