The transition in showrunners for Apple TV+’s espionage drama Slow Horses has been met with anticipation and a degree of trepidation from fans. Gaby Chiappe, taking the helm as head writer for season 6 after creator Will Smith’s departure, aimed to maintain the integrity of Mick Herron's source material while navigating the complexities of adaptation.
“I was a massive fan of the books and a massive fan of the series, so you really don’t want to screw that up,” Chiappe told Polygon. “It felt like an amazing opportunity and quite scary in equal measure all the way through.”
Season 6 presented a unique challenge as it condensed elements from two of Herron's novels: Joe Country and Slough House. While previous seasons adhered to one book each, this approach was decided before Chiappe joined the writing team.
Chiappe explained that adapting Joe Country directly posed significant filming hurdles, particularly its depiction of a snowbound Welsh landscape over a short period. "Finding somewhere you could film that snow presented really big challenges," she noted. "In lots of ways it’s a very exciting novel, but it’s one chase in one weather condition."
To bridge the gap, Chiappe focused on integrating key plot points from Joe Country into the narrative of Slough House. This included River Cartwright's difficult reunion with his father, Frank Harkness, during his grandfather's funeral. Chiappe described the season’s structure as feeling more like Slough House with specific elements from Joe Country reshaping its direction, aiming for a seamless and organic arc.
Adapting Characters and Schedules
Season 6 also saw the return of characters who had significant narrative or real-world scheduling changes. Sid Baker, previously presumed dead, reappears, and Louisa Guy, who left Slough House in season 5, is brought back. Chiappe emphasized that while adjustments are sometimes necessary due to external factors, the series remains committed to not deviating from the novels without strong justification. "Very occasionally there’s a change like that which isn’t in the books, but we wouldn’t kill somebody who isn’t killed in the books,” Chiappe stated. “You have to be flexible, but we’re not deviating from the novels for the sake of it.”
With Apple TV+'s rapid release schedule for Slow Horses, season 7 writing commenced during the shooting of season 6. Co-executive producer Billy Bowring collaborated with Chiappe and Ben Vanstone, the incoming showrunner for season 7, to ensure a smooth transition.
Chiappe highlighted the benefit of this consistent release cadence for viewers. “As a viewer, even a year feels like a long time to wait, but knowing that you’re going to get the next season in the autumn some time, and they’re going to keep coming is really good,” she said. “There are shows where I loved season 1, and then you wait for ages for season 2, and then you’ve sort of lost a connection with it. We’re making a kind of pact with the audience that you will get the show this time next year.”
Season 6 of Slow Horses is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on September 16, with new episodes released Wednesdays through October 21.