Episode 5 of Season 2 of Slow Horses commences with a taut scene, River bound and sequestered in the airfield office, as the intricate web of the Russians' sinister plot unravels. Their target: the Glass House, where the pompous politician, Peter Judd, is poised to deliver a pivotal speech, oblivious to the danger lurking. Diana's prudent warning to alter the venue echoes through the past episodes, but Judd's stubborn ego deafens him to reason. Time ticks mercilessly, and amidst Lamb's and his motley crew's inattentiveness, the true objective reveals itself—a bombshell aimed straight at the Glass House.
Coincidentally, this fateful day also hosts an anti-capitalist march, and Lamb, springing into action, sets out to locate Nick, imploring his assistance in breaching the interrogation files. It's a paltry attempt to make amends for his lax pursuit of Min's case. Once inside, Lamb dives headfirst into the nitty-gritty surrounding Nikolai, a sense of awe creeping in as he realizes this individual is no mere minnow but a colossal whale, a pivotal figure at the heart of the operation.
Meanwhile, Louisa, her resolve sharpened, strides into her rendezvous with Pashkin, Marcus by her side. Her demeanor is laced with a frigid veneer of resentment, as she meticulously scrutinizes every crevice of Pashkin's briefcase and the duo of menacing security guards. With her satisfaction assured, the trio arrives at the Glass House, blissfully unaware that it stands as the bullseye of the impending blast.
Concurrently, Catherine exhorts Ho and Shirley to abandon their passive stance, staring blankly at River's tracker. She urges them to seize the moment, to take action, and prove their worth in this perilous game.
As fate would have it, Catherine finds herself marching back to confront Victor, her mind racing to unravel the intricate web of connections. Yet, their stakes are high, a game of chess serving as the arena for their ultimatum. If Catherine emerges victorious, Victor must expose his secret ties to Pashkin; a defeat, however, would oblige her to partake in a drink once more. The board is set, the game commences!
In a parallel narrative, River's plight takes a dramatic turn as he manages to captivate the attention of Duncan and Kelly, who swiftly arrive to liberate him from his bonds. Their shock deepens upon discovering Alex's true identity as the sleeper agent, the revelation tinged with her abandoned wedding ring and a heartfelt apology scrawled on a note: "Duncan, I'm sorry, forgive me. Love, Alex."
Meanwhile, Peter Judd braces himself for his grand oration, his words poised to echo across the gathering. Webb, on the other hand, stumbles into an uneasy encounter with Pashkin, who swiftly assumes command of the conversation, mocking Webb's ill-fitting suit and its inept tailor.
Just as tensions seem poised to boil over, River's liberation triggers an urgent call: "Code: September," echoing through the air with a sense of urgency.
Catherine triumphs over the chessboard, peeling back the layers to uncover Victor's machinations. It transpires that he has been the puppet master all along, secretly meeting with Nikolai, not Pashkin. His agenda: ensuring Slough House's involvement, with a mysterious signature on '95 documents supposedly belonging to Lamb, though the truth is, Lamb's hand never graced those papers.
Lamb, himself, was in Prague at the time, operating off the radar, leaving him unable to refute the accusations. The reality is stark—Nikolai reigns supreme as the true spymaster, the cicada merely a distraction. He harbors unfinished business, and Jackson Lamb is the target of his relentless pursuit.
The evacuation sirens blare harshly through Glasshouse, but amidst the chaos, Pashkin, instead of complying, whips out a pistol, turning the room into a standoff under the menacing glare of his weapon. A second firearm, taped discreetly beneath the desk, comes to light as Pashkin assumes command, his every move dripping with authority. Louisa, her voice trembling with urgency, interjects, revealing the shocking news of Nevsky's demise.
Yet, Webb, oblivious to her words, stubbornly refuses to heed the warning, inviting a swift bullet's retribution. As he crumples to the ground, Marcus, reflexes honed by instinct, seizes the opportunity, wresting control of the gun and unleashing a shot that fells one of the Russian henchmen, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder and fear.
