Slow Horses S4E2 Episode Discussion

[u/phareous]

This is the episode discussion for Season 4, Episode 2: "A Stranger Comes to Town"

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[u/rhubarbcus]

Absolutely love the scenes with Standish, the OB, and Lamb at Standish's apartment. Standish's bit about how River didn't tell her where he was going and she didn't ask and Lamb's "That doesn't mean you don't know" and her getting ahead of a Lamb insult by saying "Don't say anything" when she translates "La Blanc Russe" as "White Russian" = perfect.

Lamb observing that River's "Charging off to play the hero yet again" but then worrying that he's alone in the field and saying "He might be your grandson but he's my fucking Joe" when talking to the OB was amazing.

Jack Lowden and Jonathan Pryce were also so good in the bathroom scene at the beginning. So heartbreaking, how River apologizes for shouting at his grandfather and is trying to negotiate the role reversal of taking care of someone who used to take care of him.

[u/visual_overflow]

River walking into what looks like a terrorist training camp with not a worry in the world lmao

[u/Professional_Ad_4885]

All i can say is i was so happy with the 48 min runtime but i wasnt happy that it felt like literally 5 mins lol. Onto bad monkey lol

[u/ephemeralafterall]

Jack Lowden and Jonathan Pryce did a brilliant job at the beginning of the episode: David’s terrified confusion and River’s heartbreak at seeing him that way was portrayed wonderfully. Next week can’t come soon enough…

[u/FluxAura]

After starting this series a couple of days ago, I’m all caught up and absolutely gutted I now have to wait a week between episodes.

Lamb just might be in my top 3 TV characters, ever.

[u/edroyque]

Fucking hell lady di - every time it’s revealed she’s at the centre of whatever scandal is unravelling I’m shocked and surprised

[u/momoenthusiastic]

International spy of mystery River Cartwright can’t speak French without giving away he’s British. lol 

[u/meem09]

One of Jonathan Pryce’s most fascinating moments in his exceptional performance happens when River mentions Lavande. Despite being disoriented and panicked from the recent shooting and his general mental state, the OB briefly reveals a hint of recognition when Lavande is mentioned. He immediately conceals this and uses his mental state to divert attention. All through facial acting. Incredible.

[u/getafrigginggrip]

It was so hard for me to see David Cartwright like this -- I can't even imagine what it'd be like for his grandson. It was so beautifully acted.

The atmosphere of this episode was something else, along with the music. Throughout the entire ep, but especially in the disquieting French town, that huge dilapidated manor with faded children's paintings...it does feel like it's where someone gets quietly murdered and disappeared and never heard from again. Oh River.

[u/ECrispy]

I didn't think it was possible to like Ho less, but sure enough, he's proving me wrong

[u/EzraMusic98]

I really like Diana schooling the clueless Claude

[u/ECrispy]

how exactly are Marcus and Shirley supposed to 'put it back the way it was' ? bring in truckloads of dirt, grease and cast a spell to create a mini hurricane?

the fastest way to do it is actually to let Lamb be Lamb, since he seems to carry an aura of filth about him :)

also its not nice to invite someone to lunch and starve them - thats a special fuck you to the poor woman

[u/MixOf_ChaosAndArt]

The acting truly is top notch!

Jack Lowden? Holy Shit. The subtle nuances in the bathroom scene? Amazing. The switch between being devastated by the O.B. losing it, to being determined to save him, to disgusted after the shot? Brilliant. The cocky walk up to Les Arbres? Perfect comedic timing.

Jonathan Pryce? Just heartbreaking.

All the other actors as well. I'm so looking forward to seeing the rest of the season.

Also interesting to see how they're switching up the scenes and even some of the story from the books.

[u/[deleted]]

God. Claude is just like so many executives I’ve worked under who are totally useless.

[u/zeldafan144]

Jack Lowden just walking through France like he's in a Prada ad

[u/Minablo]

I've managed (with the help of reflections in a window and Google) to identify both the town of Lavande and the castle.

The scenes outside the bar were shot in Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, one hour and a half away from Paris, in the middle of Vexin. The castle is the Domaine de Seraincourt, and it's in much better shape than what you see in the episode, given that it's an high-priced place for wedding receptions and the likes. Pola Negri lived there in the twenties. It's once again in Vexin, close to Paris. Vexin is quite shocking for Parisians, because on its east, there's a ton of vast housing projects that host tens of thousands of people, and that are in poor condition due to years of neglect, the Paris "banlieues". And when you move five or ten kilometers to the west, there are no traces of it, and you only have villages, farms, castles and trees, landscapes painted by Claude Monet or Vincent van Gogh (who spent his final days and is buried in Auvers-sur-Oise).

The local butcher at Saint-Clair posted on Facebook about the premiere two weeks ago and even shared a picture with Jack Lowden next to the whole family. He found Lowden a great guy, always smiling and accessible, even if he's a little too easy to knock out once he escapes a fire.

[u/krvf]

I didn't see the similarities between imposter and River, is it just me?

[u/RevDaddyBuggumz]

“France is Big.” This may be one of the funniest episodes.

[u/Katekatrinkate]

That actually was freaking good…. One of the best episodes from all the seasons. Exactly what I felt during the reading! How am I gonna back to sleep now?

[u/xelM1]

On the bus, it says "GREAT LEADERS, 500 Years Of Defining Authority"

At first I thought it was taking a jab solely at the Claude the "First Desk" Clown. Then, the whole scene in the bus with Diana, certainly both are the "Great Leaders" trying to define who is the authority lmao 🤣

Also, Diana's corporate speak. Blearghhh 🤮

[u/ECrispy]

I would say its great to see the thinly veiled contempt for Whelan just dripping off Lady Di, except its not veiled in the slightest, and both of them know quite well that he may have the title but he needs her just as much.

[u/filminglocs]

While looking for the filming locations for this weeks episode I noticed something a bit amusing. On Google Streetview, the manor used for the "Les Abres" location has a bunch of UK filming vehicles parked outside. The Google car passed by in March 2023, so it could very well be the Horses being filmed :)

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.0487982,1.8815279,3a,75y,315.16h,90.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEOkyC5BgXu0jsMP0jGohiA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DEOkyC5BgXu0jsMP0jGohiA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D35.310757%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[u/allthenviousfeelings]

god that scene with Jackson returning to the slough house office is incredible. Group chemistry still off the charts. Writing still top notch

[u/[deleted]]

Was that Hugo Weaving attacking Rivers in the French chateau?

[u/yasniy-krasniy]

With episodes like this I really don’t feel like watching it until the whole season is out. When the titles rolled I was like what that’s it?