Episode 6 of Slow Horses kicks off with Cartwright and Lamb perched on a stakeout, their eyes peeled as the rest of the misfit spies tirelessly pursue the elusive Sons of Albion. A lead flickers at a petrol station, igniting a renewed urgency to track down Hassan before the trail goes cold. Amidst this chase, a twist of fate reveals Lamb and River's whereabouts, thanks to Roddy's cunningly planted tracker beneath their vehicle.
Meanwhile, Diana storms into Peter Judd's lair, her eyes ablaze as she confronts him about his secret rendezvous with Hobden. She demands answers, her patience dwindling faster than the kettle's boil. Threatening to unleash the full force of the law if he doesn't cooperate, Diana's bluff is met with Peter's cool calculation. He sees an opportunity to turn the tables, leveraging his far-right connections to infiltrate the Sons of Albion. But Peter has one last trick up his sleeve—the Frontline Club and Hobden's eavesdropped revelation about Diana's plans. He proposes a daring countermove: eliminate Robert Hobden.
As these machinations unfold, our cast converges outside Peter Judd's residence. Louisa and Min, fueled by the petrol station clue, embark on a van hunt that soon turns into a comical mishap. Min's mind wanders to the forbidden fruits of romance with Louisa, causing him to neglect the van's fuel gauge. Stranded in the wilderness, Louisa's anger is palpable, yet Min's confession softens the blow. He confesses that he's never known someone who cares for him like she does, and in this unlikely partnership, he's found a sense of belonging.
As the aftermath of his gruesome act in the previous episode lingers, Curly's behavior grows increasingly erratic, a dark cloud shadowing his every move. Hassan, cunning as ever, orchestrates a scheme, weaving his words into a tapestry that convinces Larry to join him in his plight. He paints a dire picture, insinuating that Curly's next victim, after dispatching Hassan with a decapitation, might very well be Larry himself, in a twisted bid for a fiery exit.
Armed with an axe, Larry lunges at Curly, only to be met with a retaliatory bullet. Hassan and Larry scatter in opposite directions, fate cruelly dealing Hassan a hand of misfortune. Stranded, devoid of transportation, he finds himself marooned amidst the unforgiving forest. But fate had other plans, as he is eventually discovered, confronted at gunpoint, the tension palpable.
Lamb and Cartwright ride alongside each other, their journey punctuated by grim news—Sid's passing in the hospital. River's heart is rent asunder, Jackson's voice a somber reminder that death, though unwelcome, is an inevitable aspect of their profession, urging him to steel himself.
As they traverse the road, they come across Louisa and Min, stranded and vulnerable. Their path crosses with Roddy's message, informing them of the van's halt at a roadside rest a mere five miles back. With hearts of compassion, they offer a lift, extending a hand of solace in the midst of chaos.
The First Lady descends upon London like a storm, orchestrating a precise operation to encircle the Sons of Albion's van. Larry, captured in the fray, reaches behind him, his hand grasping at the wound inflicted by Curly's bullet. The soldiers, mistaking his movement, open fire, ending his struggle.
Curly, gun trained on Hassan, leads him through the dense forest towards a crumbling ruin, a camera rolling, ready to capture the next chapter of brutality. But as Curly prepares to snuff out Hassan's life, a twist of fate intervenes. Cartwright's sudden appearance serves as a catalyst, distracting Curly long enough for Hassan to strike with a rock, the blow echoing through the silent woods. Curly, finally felled, lies unconscious.
Yet, life still flickers in Curly's veins, and the Slow Horses, unwavering in their commitment to justice, make a daring decision. Amidst the looming threat of the helicopter and Diana's relentless pursuit to silence Curly and bury the truth, the Slow Horses stand tall, protecting the very man they've hunted. They believe in the sanctity of the law, insisting that justice must prevail, and Curly must face the consequences of his actions in a court of law.
Amidst the dust settling, the Slow Horses gather once more, patting each other's backs in a congratulatory gesture for a job expertly executed. However, Lamb steps in to temper their enthusiasm, a harsh reminder of their flaws and shortcomings that dampens the mood. He eventually disengages, leaving Min and Louisa to drown their sorrows and commiserate over drinks.
Roddy embarks on a digital hunt for Sid, uncovering a stunning revelation: she's a phantom in the system's archives. Her life, if lived, continues under an assumed identity, her true name a mystery. This unexpected twist means Lamb's declaration of her demise, though technically not a lie, is a carefully crafted misdirection.
Eager to tie up loose ends, fate catches up with Robert Hobden in a grisly turn of events, as he's struck down by a relentless truck while Lamb and Diana's paths cross once more. Diana, with Alan Black's name concealed from the media, pulls off a slick maneuver, buying Hassan's silence with a mix of debt eradication and generous donations to his comedy endeavor. Lamb, disdainfully observing this display of manipulation, begrudgingly accepts the Standish File as promised.
That night, Lamb immerses himself in the file's intricate details, only to be interrupted by Katherine's haunting queries about Charles' untimely demise. Lamb's revelation that he initially handed Charles the gun takes a sinister turn when the truth unravels. They were friends, but the depth of Lamb's involvement is darker than mere camaraderie—he was the triggerman, dressed in a black glove, staging a suicide in the bathtub. Behind this meticulous crime was none other than David Cartwright's hand.
As the episode draws to a close, a teaser for the upcoming season lingers, promising more twists and turns. But for now, let's delve deeper into the renewal or cancellation speculations in our dedicated article. Stay tuned!
