Apple TV+ has officially renewed its critically acclaimed spy thriller Slow Horses for two additional seasons, confirming seasons 7 and 8. The announcement came shortly after the dramatic cliffhanger that concluded season 6. The series, lauded for its writing and directing, has maintained a consistent release schedule, with production on future seasons often overlapping.
Plot of Season 7
The upcoming seventh season will draw from Mick Herron's novel Bad Actors. This installment will see Director Diana Taverner re-enter the field as her Russian counterpart, Vassily Rasnokov, infiltrates London. Simultaneously, Slough House agent Shirley Dander will take a more prominent role as she undergoes rehabilitation for her drug addiction and copes with the loss of colleagues. Season 6 itself merged elements from Herron's Joe Country and Slough House, chronicling the misadventures of the disgraced MI5 agents as they were targeted by Russian operatives seeking retribution for an assassination orchestrated by Taverner. The mission was financed by right-wing media mogul Damien Cantor, who used a mercenary, Frank Harkness, to eliminate the Slough House agents. Jackson Lamb ultimately framed Cantor as a double agent to protect himself and the true assassin.
The season 6 finale left viewers with a significant cliffhanger: River Cartwright appeared to have been poisoned after touching a tire iron at his grandfather's house. This mirrors a suspenseful moment in the book Slough House, where River's fate remained uncertain for a period.
River Cartwright's Fate
Fans concerned about River Cartwright's survival can rest assured. While the exact circumstances of his poisoning are to be revealed, both he and Sid Baker were afflicted and underwent a lengthy recovery. Based on the established timeline of Herron's novels, River is expected to be largely absent from season 7 but will return for season 8, which is slated to adapt the 2025 novel Clown Town.
Release Date
While an official release date for Slow Horses season 7 has not yet been announced, Apple's historical release patterns suggest a premiere in September 2027. This timing aligns with the show's typical annual release cadence.