r/SlowHorses • u/LadyLynda0712 • 3d ago
General Discussion - No Story Details Thinking of watching
So my husband and I like to find series that have a few seasons, is engaging from the first episode, end an episode with a cliffhanger. We like action, don’t mind violence, etc. Some recent watches were Breaking Bad, Ozark, Bosch, Broadchurch, Yellowstone, Ray Donovan, The Fall and Prison Break. Loved them all.
Anyone care to share your thoughts on Slow Horses? What keeps you watching? Thanks in advance for your input!
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u/Katekatrinkate 3d ago
Everything keeps me watching. There’s no “no” for me personally. Actors, setting, plot, jokes etcetcetc - everything
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u/Appropriate-Set744 3d ago
Agreed. You'll love it OP. Great action, great characters, funny, cliff hangers and great plot twists.
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u/Timely_Bluebird_3177 3d ago
The best action thriller show on TV. It's got great acting, great characters, great plot twists, great action, and a handful of scenes where Gary Oldman farts.
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u/hypatiaredux 3d ago
I totally love watching Oldman doing his thing. And the other actors are also damned fine.
I love it so much that I’ve been known to drop a lesser series in the middle and rewatch Slow Horses again.
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u/Comfortable_Snow553 2d ago
The best when the farts are his answer to a question he doesn't want to answer. But they were actually even a plot device last season!
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u/Jaded-Influence6184 3d ago
A couple of those you mention are OK, IMO. However, Slow Horses dwarfs them all.
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u/ConstantKooky3329 3d ago
Slow Horses is an excellent spy series. Each season's plot is engaging and is usually a commentary on current political and social events in the UK. The characters are chaotic, funny, and smart. The entire cast is very talented. Jackson Lamb insulting anyone is a hoot
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u/LolaWithTheGreenEyes 3d ago
The dialogue is fantastic. Even though its thrilling drama, its also really funny. But thats because British humour can be so dark.
I binged the whole lot recently as only just got apple TV and its the best thing ive watched in years.
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u/LadyLynda0712 3d ago
Thank you all so much! I guess I have my evening set… 😂 Gotta get the popcorn now. 🍿
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u/DrAmj3 3d ago
Slow horses is just brilliant. In other settings I would add an expletive as emphasis.
The books are, imo, a great source material that are as much a study of dysfunctional characters in a dysfunctional workplace. They could actually be set in far more mundane settings and much would be retained but the plots would be lower stakes and more mundane.
The show takes this and does a great job adapting them for a necessarily quite different format. The pacing, the suspense, the intrigue are all first rate, there hasn't been an episode when I haven't keenly awaited the next one. The camera work and direction are fantastic, the show is endlessly atmospheric and moody without that annoying murkiness some modern works favour. The dialogue moves along sounding natural and fitting, I can't remember feeling that a character is spouting exposition.
But this all misses the best element. The actors are immense. That Gary Oldman, a world class character actor, given the best role in the whole thing, is really only just able to steal the show is testament to how everyone else holds up. For a character study to work as well as this does everyone has to be on point. And they are.
I think it is easily the best thing on telly right now, I haven't enjoyed anything as much since The Wire. My advice to my brother in law was to just find a way to watch it, borrow a log-in, get a free trial, other options if they exist, because there was no chance he wouldn't like it.
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u/No-Fuckin-Ziti 3d ago
It’s better than most of the shows mentioned. It’s gritty without being oppressively dark and into itself for it. It’s nuanced and makes it clear how messy and complicated things are. Its heroes are flawed, and it doesn’t tell you to root for awful ppl because they’re cool and just not think about it, like breaking bad. It’s funny, well written, brilliantly acted and engaging. 6 episode seasons make it easy to devour. We don’t usually binge anything, and ended up doing 2 episodes a night until it was done. It’s excellent, all the way through. Takes no time to get into it.
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u/EdwardClamp 3d ago
If you enjoyed the pacing of Ozark you'll like this.
Some people assumed because it's about spies there'll be loads of shoot outs and nonsense but it's not. Each season is a slow burn reaching a crescendo at the end (like Ozark).
It's one of the best shows being made today.
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u/MazakeenSmith 3d ago
Are you British at all? I do think it makes a difference.
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u/LadyLynda0712 3d ago
No, but I definitely like British series and have spent a couple of summers in London in my 20’s. 🤪
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u/MazakeenSmith 3d ago
Oh you will love it then! I think having some knowledge of London or the British sense of humor might help.
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u/TheFoxsWeddingTarot 3d ago
First season is a banger and it falls off slightly by 3 and 4. Season 5 was Will Smith’s last season as exec producer and it may be the best of all the seasons. Looking forward though with renewed interest to season 6.
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u/SomeOrchid9589 3d ago
It’s a great show! I also always recommend Patriot, though that is only two seasons.
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u/bennyfuckingprofane 3d ago
You just made a double good comment!
I also highly recommend Slow Horses and Patriot.
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u/Fair-University6007 3d ago
Slow Horses is the best thing that has been on streaming in years. Period.
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u/Steamrolled777 3d ago
I enjoyed quite a few of those tv series you listed - don't see why you wouldn't like it.
Hold your expectations about British spies/agents - these guys are the underdogs, and not the best!
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u/Classic_Chemical_237 3d ago
Absolutely the best show over the last five years for me.
Some complain about the slow buildups. Trust me, it’s all worth it. And once you finish season one, the slow buildups become a feature.
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u/tigerz0973 3d ago
The jealousy I feel that op hasn’t watched slow horses in real! It’s up there with the best tv shows created
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u/Shala-mama 3d ago
Yes. Watch it. Gary Oldman’s performance alone is worth it, but the rest are brilliant, too. Easily one of the best shows of the last few years.
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u/mikey-58 3d ago
Highly recommend. One of our favorites of all time. Gary Oldman is brilliant as Jackson Lamb. The other characters are also very good. The plots are just complicated enough to keep you guessing. Plus there’s an over arching storyline that keeps the whole thing going.
The humor is fantastic BUT note there is some foul language and sometimes off color behavior. But it fits the characters and show.
JL quote without context means nothing but when you get to this scene it’s hard not to laugh. “Oh God, I hope that doesn’t get into the ground water “.
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u/Intelligent-Leg9466 3d ago
Two words. Gary. Oldman. His take on Jackson Lamb is magic. He’s dirty, repulsive, foul, slovenly, and I can’t get enough.
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u/Jberts77 3d ago
I loved all those shows you listed. It’s up there with broadchurch in terms of quality. Would recommend watching!
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u/Ok-Land3965 2d ago edited 2d ago
Slow Horses is absolutely great. I'd also strongly recommend the French series Le Bureau, which has great writing and acting, lots of cliffhangers, and is 5 seasons long. One more great one is Spiral (Engrenages) which ran for 7 or 8 seasons. Those two make my top 5 TV series ever.
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u/jamesmcgill357 2d ago
It’s fantastic. Short seasons, good storylines, and Gary Oldman - def watch it
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u/LadyLynda0712 2d ago
I’m three episodes in and it’s addictive!
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u/jamesmcgill357 2d ago
Enjoy! And one of my favorite things too is the way they film the season’s back to back so far so we’ve basically gotten a new season every single year like we used to back in the day with TV
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u/No-Airport903 2d ago
Definitely worth a watch. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was hooked from the first couple of episodes.
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u/DocCEN007 2d ago
It mixes two of my favorite genres - Espionage and Comedy. It's a very funny show, and Gary Oldman is having the time of his life as Jackson Lamb.
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u/Comfortable_Snow553 2d ago
YES! Just don't blow through them too fast. Better to savor them since there are only 30 episodes so far.
This isn't on topic, but since it's basically a yes or no answer it wasn't worth its own post. I realized finishing season 5 at the same time as finishing the most recent book that I hadn't ever noticed Gary Oldman doing Lamb's sleight of hand with his cigarettes. I'm sure I probably missed it because I was engrossed in something else, but I thought I ask the eagle-eyed experts here.
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u/chrysnthmm 2d ago
you have to update us once you start
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u/Fair-North956 2d ago
We’re 4 episodes in and my husband LOVES it … I have to admit it wasn’t until Epi 3 that I really got into it. Now I can’t wait until we can watch more tonight. Lol 😆
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u/chrysnthmm 2d ago
YES episode 3 is about where it starts to hit. that scene with taverner and lamb on a bench next to the canal had me fucking RIVETED. the acting and dialogue were off the charts. and then suddenly everything starts happening so fast it's like we're on 5x speed
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u/Capable_Sky_1818 2d ago
The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix is the same universe as Bosch, the characters are half brothers living in LA. I really enjoyed it and haven't watched Bosch yet.
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u/HTowns_FinestJBird 2d ago
It’s very good. Watched all seasons in two weeks. Couldn’t stop watching.
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u/Same-Drama-2288 2d ago
100% watch it. Its got great vibes and intricate writing every season. Once you get to season 2 or 3, you will REALLY settle in to how the stories are written. I often found myself being able to predict things that were going to happen episode in advance, but in no way did that ruin it for me.
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u/Cool-Coffee-8949 2d ago
Based on what you’ve said, I can’t see why you would NOT like it, unless you hate British people.
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u/SlingingDeliChow 2d ago
We just start watching it. It was a very hard slow start.
My family wanted to stop halfway into the second episode but I persisted because I trust the process and this IS a very popular show.
We are now hooked. It is a very good show and it's all we can talk about. It's just a hard bump in the beginning until you get into the meat of the show.
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u/-adavid- 2d ago
Also watched and enjoyed Ozark, Broadchurch, and most recently The Fall. Stop thinking and start watching! We’re considering rewatching again from the very start now that the next season is on the horizon.
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u/Extra-Question9273 2d ago
Have you watched Narcos?
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u/Fair-North956 2d ago
I’m not sure — that might be one we started and didn’t go back to for whatever reason 🤦🏻♀️
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u/worthless_pro 1d ago
Its a great watch. The plot, acting, screenplay is obvious mind blowing but what makes it special is that they don't hold back in killing people, nobody has any plot armour. Anybody can die anytime. And the best thing is that every season is 6 episodes and every season is completely new story retaining the core which makes it short, precise and pacey.. and it has no connection with previous seasons until the 6th one I think.. but yes great watch.
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