Episode 6 of Season 3 of Slow Horses kicks off with River lying unconscious, as Sean steps in to cover for Louisa, allowing her to rush to her partner's side and assess his condition. Mercifully, he still draws breath, but escape is paramount amidst their claustrophobic confinement. Sean, a seasoned veteran, springs into action, taking down several soldiers with precision, carving out a narrow path to freedom.
Duffy's furious curse echoes through the air as Fenwick's call for reinforcement tightens the screws on their fleeting opportunity. With a hatch looming at the tunnel's end, the trio sprints towards it, their hearts pounding in unison. Yet, fate deals Sean a cruel blow, and though he lives, his blood seeps steadily, staining his clothes and weighing heavily on his mind. Grief-ridden over Ben's demise, he implores River and Louisa to press on, beseeching them to carry the files to safety. Realizing the futility of their flight, Sean begs to halt, determined to buy them precious seconds by bracing against their pursuers.
A deafening blast tears open the door, sending shockwaves reverberating throughout the labyrinthine tunnels. Louisa and River surge forward, their adrenaline fueling their speed, while Sean valiantly holds the line, his gun cradled like a lifeline. With his final breath, he urges them to "get the files out there," his words echoing the urgency of their mission.
Meanwhile, Marcus and Shirley find themselves perched precariously above, caught in the crossfire of a relentless troop. Shirley, her inexperience palpable, dares to flank the enemy, only to encounter a malfunctioning weapon. In a tense game of cat and mouse, she maintains her composure, ultimately ending the soldier's life with a makeshift weapon—a CD, sharp as a blade.
Down below, Sean's sacrifice is in vain as he falls, leaving a trail of blood behind. Up above, Shirley triumphs, rescuing Marcus from a dire situation. However, their triumph is fleeting as Duffy appears, rifle aimed at Marcus's chest. But the gun's chamber lies empty, and the two engage in a brutal melee. Amidst the chaos, Shirley charges outside, her vehicle becoming a deadly weapon as she mows down the remaining soldiers.
Her timely arrival couldn't have been more crucial as she blasts open the hatch, freeing River and Louisa. Clutching the files, Louisa spurs River on, urging him to flee with their precious cargo. Marcus remains trapped, but Louisa's bravery prevails, snatching him from the jaws of danger at the eleventh hour.
In the midst of the frenzied chaos, Jackson meticulously weaves explosives throughout the house, buying precious seconds for his companions. Cleverly, he employs Pringles cans, strategically lined up the stairway, as a crude yet effective auditory warning system, as Catherine is hastily ushered into the closet's seclusion. It's a real-life 'Home Alone' scenario as the two intruding soldiers venture in, only to encounter a relentless gauntlet of cunning traps.
Just as the tension reaches its peak, Ho arrives on the scene, hotwiring a party bus into a makeshift military convoy, proclaiming the arrival of the "Ho-sold Cavalry." Sarah, with a fierce determination, immobilizes one soldier with a chokehold, while Jackson Lamb delivers the decisive blow to the other. The revelation dawns: Catherine was but a decoy throughout. As they make their escape outside, Ho's bus crashes through the front door with a thunderous roar, albeit in vain. Sarah's house lies in ruins, yet she finds solace in their survival.
Amidst the wreckage, Ingrid weaves a web of deceit, desperate to spin the narrative in her favor and shield it from the prying eyes of the press. Diana, however, mocks her attempts, noting the eerie silence from Duffy and their cohorts, hinting at a darker truth. Diana's denial falters as the news spreads like wildfire online, and she berates Ingrid, urging her to face the consequences like a true warrior. Instead, Ingrid grasps a bottle of liquor, retreating to drown her sorrows in alcohol's embrace.
Concurrently, River returns to his grandfather's abode, the incriminating files in tow. His grandfather dismisses them as mere fabrications, but his misinterpretation of the details rings alarm bells. Tearney's impeccable reputation, and by extension, the integrity of the security services, hangs precariously in the balance. David, convinced of the need to "protect" himself, opts to incinerate the files, unaware of the gravity of his actions.
Elsewhere, Jackson and Catherine engage in a poignant conversation, delving into the intricacies of Charles and the weight of honor. Jackson's confession tears away the veil, exposing Charles as a traitor who sold secrets to the Russians. He admits to keeping Catherine close out of drunken complacency, banking on her loyalty not to delve too deeply. Even more damning, Charles had orchestrated a web of deceit, intending to frame Catherine for his misdeeds. The truth, long simmering beneath the surface, finally bubbles to the fore, prompting Catherine to resign, her heart heavy with betrayal, and walk away.
As Ho and Jackson speed off in the opposite direction, River leaves his grandfather's abode, the genuine files safely stashed in his car. Anticipating his grandfather's actions, he had a contingency plan all along. The stage is set for a new chapter, where truth and deception collide, with each character navigating their own path towards justice or redemption.
Jackson's encounter with Diana unfolds amidst a peculiar transformation of their customary haunt - the bench, mysteriously absent. Instead, the duo embarks on a journey towards an icy treat, where Diana, hesitantly yet gratefully, acknowledges his unwitting role in the leak of the file, believing it to be his doing. Little did she know, the true culprit lurking in the shadows was River Cartright. Now, Diana ascends to the esteemed position of First Desk, only to find herself at the helm of a tumultuous sea of chaos. She disavows herself from the dark deeds that preceded her rise, yet finds herself squarely in the firing line, destined to bear the brunt of blame for all that ensues.
With Catherine's absence, Jackson stands poised to assume the mantle of leadership at Slough House, facing the daunting task ahead without one of his most invaluable allies. The question looms large: Can he navigate these treacherous waters and emerge victorious, or will the weight of responsibility prove too much to bear?
