Streaming indeed presents a complex tapestry of content, where Netflix dishes out Marine Corps recruitment propaganda disguised as documentaries, while Apple TV+ teases a show that delves into the British government's unsettling experimentation with chemical weapons on its own troops. Amidst this, "Down Cemetery Road," a Mick Herron thriller that dips into the realm of comedy, serves as a stark reminder of the darker truths we all know are lurking beneath the surface. Episode 5, though not particularly funny by design, beautifully transitions us into a more somber tone with its title "Slow Dying," a moniker brimming with a decidedly unamused energy.
Thanks to the previous episodes, we've pieced together the Ministry of Defence's efforts to conceal the truth. But this episode adds a new layer of clarity, revealed through gruesome body-cam footage and Downey's nightmarish recollections—a stark reminder of the stakes at play. Downey seems to be running on borrowed time, determined to use it to rescue Dinah from her clueless safe house security team, who are in the dark about their mission due to Malik's increasingly erratic behavior and lack of communication. Malik finds himself in an even more precarious position, his incompetence the only thing keeping Downey, Sarah, and even Zoe in the game.
Zoe remains in London, persistently pursuing her investigation, unfazed by the ominous "Stop" message scrawled on her window. Despite her few allies, Wayne proves to be a genuine asset. As I suspected, he reappears after revealing his hacking prowess, tasked by Zoe to delve deeper into the computer she stole from Isaac Wright's office. The revelations that emerge paint a grim picture of what British troops in Afghanistan were subjected to in the name of chemical weapons research.
Given the magnitude of these disclosures, it's astonishing that C entrusted Malik with the cover-up in the first place. Malik falls for Amos's fake text confirming the hit's success and is then blindsided by Zoe while attempting to strong-arm Joe's mother into keeping quiet about his demise. His half-hearted threats of more dangerous-looking messengers are met with little more than a yawn, a blow to his ego but only one of many problems he faces.
Amos poses the greatest threat in "Down Cemetery Road" Episode 5—a formidable foe for everyone except perhaps C, who sees him as a potential solution. Their goals align: Amos wants Downey dead for killing Rufus, while C desires to bury the whole matter. C is willing—or claims to be willing—to grant Amos whatever he needs to make the problem disappear. It's an uneasy alliance, but one that feels more perilous than having Malik as the middleman. Amos knows exactly where Dinah is and thus where Downey is headed: the facility in Scotland where he and his battalion were "treated"—read: experimented on—after being enveloped in the searing snow of chemical weapons.
When the grim reality dawned that none would be spared from the facility's fate, it was only Downey and Dinah's father who managed to escape. Huddled in Dinah's home, both became targets of the bomb that launched the season's catastrophe. But an unexpected argument saved Downey's life, leaving him haunted by a sense of responsibility towards Dinah that now colors his every thought. He even harbors a vague plan for her future – to entrust her to his sister, who believed him to be gone forever. The tender quality in Downey and Sarah's relationship in "Slow Dying" stems from Sarah's role as a guide, helping him navigate the past he thought he had left behind. Their scenes together, though brief, alongside their visit to Downey's sister, serve as potent inclusions.
Zoe's journey to uncover the Scotland location was a personal odyssey, relying on Isaac's help to confess the truth she found on his laptop. Though she was too late to "save" him, Amos's visit on C's behalf preceded her arrival, and Zoe witnessed the murder firsthand. Her pursuit of Amos to his next destination underscored the growing danger she faced, a reminder that we're no longer dealing with Malik's shadow. Amos was aware of Zoe's tail, and it was this realization that brought "Down Cemetery Road" Episode 5 to a close. The stage was set for a perilous future for Zoe.
