Episode 2 of "Slow Horses" kicks off with a sinister glimpse into the depths of our kidnappers' lair. The Sons of Albion, a band of men fronted by a hardened ex-military operative with a grim past of taking down soldiers, hold their captive prisoner captive in the suffocating confines of a basement. The victim, bound and gagged, faces the grim prospect of a morning beheading, a chilling testament to the lingering hostility stemming from the war in Afghanistan and its toxic aftermath, fueling a surge of racially motivated atrocities.
As whispers of this heinous act ripple through the corridors of MI5, Diana strides in, her presence electrifying the room as she briefs the team. Their captive is no ordinary man but Hassan Ahmed, a proud Birmingham-born soul, whose only crime seems to be his ethnicity in the eyes of the Sons of Albion. Yet, beneath the surface, Diana's additional, unspoken intelligence hints at a more complex web of intrigue.
Back at Slough House, the atmosphere is tense as Lamb lays into Catherine, his barbs laced with accusations of alcoholism despite her valiant efforts to stay sober through AA meetings. Catherine's struggles are palpable, her past haunting her every move, its echoes lingering throughout the episode.
Cartwright, meanwhile, receives a stark revelation from Karl: the USB stick is barren, and Hobden's digital footprint non-existent, a fact confirmed by Roddy's thorough checks. Realizing they're at a dead end, Cartwright resolves to adopt a more primal approach, setting his sights on Hobden's laptop as their key to unlocking the mystery.
Diana's clandestine meeting with Mr. Moody unfolds, a cat-and-mouse game of information exchange. Moody, a former Slough House resident for six years, reveals a sinister twist: he planted a bug in Lamb's office during his departure, a treasure trove of knowledge on the disgraced boss. Diana, seeing an opportunity, cunningly leverages this advantage, tasking Moody with covert operations while insisting he eradicates the bug, ensuring their secrets remain buried.
Cartwright relentlessly shadows Hobden, tailing him down the bustling street as he employs a disposable phone in an attempt to contact Peter Judd, the MP whose name has been echoing through their investigations. River, undeterred, pursues him stealthily, retrieving the discarded burner from a bin and engaging in a cat-and-mouse chase, only to find their paths converge on the same bus.
Under the cloak of night, Sid confronts Cartwright, their conversation delving into the reasons behind Cartwright's obsession with Hobden. Cartwright divulges his findings: steel wool and rusting coffee filters amidst Hobden's trash, remnants of a sinister concoction—iron oxide, a crucial component in the making of thermite.
Their discussion veers into the origins of Roddy's exile to Slough House, an absurd tale of retribution where he had a man listed on the sex offenders' registry for daring to occupy his bus seat. Cartwright ponders exploiting Roddy's skills to uncover Lamb's true motives, but Sid's stern rejection sets the stage for a tense vigil, as they bide their time until Hobden retires to his apartment.
The incessant ringing of Aunt Zadie's calls to Sid gradually unravels a hidden agenda—Sid has been secretly assigned to monitor Cartwright's every step. However, this clandestine revelation is abruptly shattered by a commotion emanating from Hobden's residence.
The agents spring into action, only to witness Hobden held hostage by a masked assailant, a gun trained on him. The intruder triggers a devastating explosion, using the chaos as cover to rush past Cartwright, strike Sid, and flee, leaving behind a blazing inferno. The whispers of the Sons of Albion linger in the air, but the full picture remains tantalizingly out of reach, hanging precariously on the precipice of next week's gripping unfolding.
