Apple TV+'s spy drama Slow Horses is back for its sixth season, picking up just a year after its previous installment. The premiere episode, "Circle of Life," faces the questions of how the series would fare under new writing leadership following the departure of creator and head writer Will Smith, and how it would adapt two of Mick Herron’s novels instead of one. Thus far, the show maintains its distinct identity, even as it sometimes appears to be overstating its established comedic and dramatic beats.
The season's inaugural episode establishes the central mystery: individuals connected to the Slough House MI5 spies are being targeted. Two former agents, apparently living quiet lives, are killed by an unknown pair. The current roster of Slough House agents finds themselves erased from MI5 systems, with their paychecks consequently halted. This prompts Jackson Lamb, played by Gary Oldman, to embark on a "strike," which primarily involves uninhibited lunchtime drinking. Meanwhile, Diana Taverner, now in a senior position, is implicated in the agents' system-wide removal, though she offers no direct admission. Amidst this, River Cartwright grapples with the recent, off-screen death of his grandfather, David, while planning the funeral.
The opening of Season 6 serves as both a visual and thematic statement. Under the new showrunner, Gaby Chiappe, a longtime co-executive producer, Slow Horses retains its dark and often twisted sensibility. While Chiappe may not share Smith's background in sharp political satire, the series still delves into uncomfortable territory. Jackson Lamb's characteristic behavior, such as drinking and irreverent humor at funerals, is juxtaposed with more sentimental moments, like River’s reflections on his grandfather’s legacy.
Despite the return of familiar character dynamics, such as Roddy Ho's distinctive persona, there's a sense that the series might be trying too hard to emphasize its established quirks rather than letting them organically emerge. The narrative is already balancing multiple plot threads, including a raid on a Russian finance botfarm, the actions of the spy-killers, the involvement of River’s father, Frank Harkness, and the clandestine financial dealings of politician Peter Judd. The season’s adaptation of two novels into a condensed six-episode run suggests a rapid pace as the series aims to connect these disparate elements and resolve the season's central conflicts within a limited timeframe.