The pivotal Episode 5 of "Slow Horses" on AppleTV+ commences, marking the penultimate chapter in this gripping thriller with the team reconvening amidst the solemnity of a graveyard, gathering by Blake's gravestone as prearranged. Roddy arrives solitary, while Cartwright soon follows, panting heavily, as if his arrival was timed to match Roddy's notorious speed behind the wheel. Serendipity, indeed?
Cartwright reveals that the elusive memory of Alan Black's whereabouts has surfaced. He witnessed the treacherous alliance between Black and Diana Taverner, shrouded in secrecy, and to seal the deal, he captured a photograph of their clandestine meeting. Yet, the evidence eludes him for the moment, nestled safely elsewhere.
Lamb joins Cartwright on a hasty drive to the latter's abode, their mission: to retrieve the damning proof. In their absence, the remnants of the group huddle in a cozy café, their minds racing with doubts – can they afford to trust Lamb? Amidst these internal struggles, a lingering question looms: with MI5 hot on their trail, why aren't the cameras scrutinizing their every move? Nonetheless, they press on, undeterred.
As the media storm over the Sons of Albion scandal rages on, Curly's ambition flares, urging a bold strike – to assassinate Hassan and carve their names into infamy. Hassan, tears streaming down his cheeks, pleads for mercy, even offering financial recompense, leveraging his Pakistani connections.
Tension mounts as Roddy and the crew huddle in a diner, their fingers on the pulse, tracing the Sons of Albion's elusive vehicle. Meanwhile, Lamb orchestrates a daring distraction, arriving in a separate car, blaring music, and drawing the ire of MI5. His brazen tactics work, diverting the guards' attention as he refuses to exit, insisting on a face-to-face with the top dog – Diana herself. Nick's entrance is far from amicable, his patience worn thin by these theatrical antics.
Nor are Hassan's abductors immune to this unsettling turn of events, as they pause at a gas station, merely spectators as Hassan fills the tank and shoulders the expense. Hassan's apprehension is palpable, yet he acquiesces, paying for the fuel before resuming his journey into the unknown.
Eventually, Lamb secures his long-awaited audience with Diana, who reveals the grim discovery of Alan Black's corpse. Her intention to implicate Lamb and his cohorts is palpable, but Lamb remains unfazed, casually dropping the bombshell that his car trunk harbors a ticking time bomb. Nick, ever the quick-witted, arrives first on the scene, while Cartwright, eager to reclaim his compromising photograph from Spider Webb, rushes off.
However, the supposed bomb turns out to be a harmless dud, and amidst the confusion, Cartwright's fate seems sealed—or so it seems. But a twist emerges: the individual MI5 escorts downstairs is not River. In a triumphant move, Cartwright resurfaces, brandishing a file marked 'Fiasco,' a game-changer for him and Lamb.
Meanwhile, the Sons of Albion's road trip takes an eerie turn as they attempt to lighten the mood by encouraging Hassan, the comedian, to crack jokes. But their ploy backfires spectacularly. Hassan's biting commentary on Albion's racial complexities sets the stage for a gruesome climax. Curly, laughter morphing into a sinister grin, turns on Zeppo, executing him with cold-blooded precision. "Now that's funny," he snarls, stomping on the brakes, leaving behind a chilling silence and a trail of shattered illusions.
