Episode 4 of Slow Horses' thrilling second season kicks off with Lamb delving deeper into Rebecca's enigmatic tale. A summons leads her to a desolate parking lot, where her gaze locks onto Min, a distant figure caught in a sinister tableau. From afar, she witnesses a chilling sequence: one Russian man hoists him aloft, another tightens a suffocating grip around his throat, and a third, with brutal efficiency, slams him against the unyielding wall. Amidst this macabre spectacle, Min miraculously clings to life, battered and bruised, until a merciless blow to his neck pierces him with a sinister object from Andrei Chernitsky's ring—a weapon that could've easily been employed against Dickie.
As Jackson departs, he leaves behind a cryptic number for Rebecca, urging her to dial and request "number 7." Lamb, a sly smile playing at the corners of his lips, strolls down the street, his mind already plotting his next move before returning to Nikolai's lair.
There, an unexpected call from his long-time ally, who happens to be perched outside in a car, reveals Nikolai's duplicitous role. It transpires that he's been playing both sides, receiving instructions to divert attention from the heart of the matter. With this newfound knowledge, Lamb rushes back to Slough House, relaying the harrowing details of Min's murder and the revelation that Pashkin's security detail were the ruthless executioners.
Meanwhile, River finds himself teetering on the precipice of danger, facing "Leo" and Duncan across a tense dinner table. The atmosphere crackles with unease, but River navigates the treacherous waters, narrowly escaping Chernitsky's accusations of being an undercover agent and the incriminating mention of the bus incident. His escape plan kicks into high gear as he flees through the village, darting away at the first sign of liberation.
Lamb storms into the Import/Export establishment, the very same where Min had hastily pedaled by on his bike, and immediately confronts the receptionist with a barrage of questions regarding the package seized by the Russians. He shakes the man vigorously, demanding he delve into the records to uncover the mysterious contents of that box. While no definitive record of its innards surfaces, it becomes increasingly evident that this parcel holds the key to unraveling the current intrigue.
With renewed purpose, Lamb sets his sights on Nevsky's heavily fortified residence, sensing immediately that something is amiss. Forcing entry, he's confronted with a gruesome scene: two security guards lay lifeless, while another writhes in agony, his body riddled with radioactive poison, a Geiger counter ominously placed nearby. It seems the clandestine package had slipped through undetected, and Pashkin emerges as the shadowy figure behind Nevsky's demise, his motives yet to be fully exposed.
Meanwhile, Catherine embarks on a delicate mission to confront Victor, aware of his intricate connections. She manages to secure a signature, but deftly declines his offer of a drink, her voice laced with the ghosts of her past as a former alcoholic, her sobriety a testament to the aid of her late boss—the same man who met an untimely end. Victor professes a long acquaintance with Pashkin, yet his evasiveness rings hollow to Lamb's discerning ear, given the recent tragedy surrounding Nevsky, likely orchestrated by Pashkin's henchmen. Lamb urges Catherine to retreat to safety.
Elsewhere, Louisa's encounter with Pashkin bristles with tension, her instincts screaming that he harbors secrets, including a counterfeit watch. Fortunately, Marcus arrives as her guardian angel, thwarting her impulsive urge for vengeance, Lamb's directive echoing in her ears to attend Pashkin's meeting and maintain composure—a daunting task, given their intertwined history with Min. Lamb, on the other hand, relentlessly pursues the truth, determined to uncover the true mastermind lurking at the pinnacle of this shadowy hierarchy.
As for River, his impulsive attempt to ambush Chernitsky at the airfield backfires spectacularly, landing him squarely in a trap. Alex, the unsuspected sleeper agent, reveals herself, stunning River with a well-timed taser strike, incapacitating him and asserting her dominance. The web of deceit tightens, and Lamb's quest for the ultimate truth grows ever more urgent.
