“Resurrection,” the third episode of Slow Horses Season 6, serves as a pivotal installment, skillfully bringing back characters and intensifying the overarching conspiracy. The episode masterfully juggles multiple plot threads, centering on the precarious survival of River and Sid as they evade a pair of relentless assassins.
The episode picks up immediately with River’s bewilderment at Sid’s reappearance. Their conversation is abruptly halted by the arrival of their pursuers, who have adopted the aliases Jim and Jane. This sets off an extended cat-and-mouse game, providing moments for both character-driven banter, such as a discussion on the price of a cow, and significant revelations about the season’s broader plot, including the assassins’ Russian ties and further context for Sid’s current situation.
This thrilling chase highlights both the ineptitude and surprising competence of the Slough House agents. Early attempts by Jim and Jane to infiltrate the house are met with an immediate retreat by River and Sid, emphasizing their desperate flight. The episode repeatedly allows them brief respites to unpack the intervening years, only for Jim and Jane to inevitably track them down. The tension culminates at the episode’s close, with the assassins lurking ominously in a parking lot, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Beyond River and Sid, the female agents of Slough House, including Louisa and Moira, form a makeshift team to adhere to a protocol related to Blake’s grave. While Louisa’s return is a welcome familiar element and Moira’s delirium from gas poisoning offers some darkly humorous moments, this subplot struggles to advance significantly. Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Saskia Reeves’ characters are present, but Catherine Standish, in particular, remains somewhat sidelined, grappling with grief and a suppressed urge to drink, a stark contrast to her typically integral role.
Diana Taverner, however, remains a central figure, facing considerable pressure as First Desk following a difficult interview. She retaliates by demoting Emma Flyte to Slough House, adding another layer to the ongoing strain on Diana. The episode leaves viewers questioning how much longer Diana’s deflective facade can withstand the mounting pressure.
Meanwhile, Jackson Lamb and Roddy Ho embark on their own mission to retrieve Reece Nesmith, the son of an agent murdered in the previous episode and the sole witness to the crime. Lamb’s proven effectiveness in his role leads them to Reece, who proves to be a formidable opponent to his captors. Ultimately, however, his youthful energy is no match for Lamb’s decades of experience.
“Resurrection” stands out as a particularly strong episode within Slow Horses’ current season. It effectively centers on the suspenseful pursuit of River and Sid by the season’s antagonists while simultaneously advancing the conspiracy narrative and giving other characters ample involvement in the unfolding plot.