Episode 4 of Slow Horses' thrilling fourth season kicks off with Chapman's epiphany, as he finally unlocks the riddle behind the assassins' relentless pursuit. His past involvement with the enigmatic Les Arbres operation looms large, a dark deed he carries within, unwilling to spill its sordid details within the confines of the car. He's acutely aware that stepping into the Park might be his final journey, with no return ticket.
Meanwhile, Frank's arrival at his superior's office paints a grim picture. The rebuke is swift and fierce, a scathing indictment for botching the Westacres hit—a mission that should've gone unnoticed, a mere accident in disguise. Instead, it's morphed into a spectacle, and Frank finds himself on the brink of a gruesome fate: paralysis, dismemberment, and death itself looming close.
Yet, in a desperate bid for survival, Frank drops a bombshell—there are others privy to the truth, David and Chapman chief among them. This revelation serves as his reprieve, earning him a stay of execution and the chance to continue his treacherous mission.
Frank's reunion with his son is fraught with urgency, as the latter relays the gravity of the situation that cliffhanged the previous episode. Frank's warnings are dire, painting a bleak picture of failure leading to a macabre end. Despite his conviction that River will resurface, given Bertrand's passport's trail, he urges his protégé to resume the hunt, this time anticipating a spook's every move, predicting their flight path when the shadows lengthen.
As for Jackson, he senses the heat closing in on Slough House and acts swiftly, buying precious time for the team. In a calculated move, Diane engages Jackson in a game of feigned ignorance over River's disappearance, his poker face impeccable for now. This charade buys them a temporary reprieve as they retreat to the safety of Slough House.
Roddy's sarcastic jibes about the case persist, but Catherine's solemn announcement shatters the routine—David has vanished without a trace. Upstairs, in the privacy of his office, Chapman confides in Jackson about a long-buried deal from France's past. He recounts smuggling a car into Levante, blissfully unaware it was a ticking time bomb, laden with explosives, cash, and identities. Jackson muses that Robert Winters was among the nefarious players involved, but Chapman's payment was far more haunting—a young woman, plucked from a hellish scene filled with women and children, a revelation that echoes River's own harrowing tale from the previous episode.
Cartwright's nonchalant demeanor upon returning empty-handed was understandable, given the rescued woman's evasive maneuvers had led him astray. The entire chain of events traced back to David's insistent desire to reach First Desk, yet a revelation dawned—for David, The Park was not synonymous with First Desk; it was the venerable old building that held his attention. As they journeyed towards it, Emma Flyte received word that David had surfaced, lounging in the reception of what was actually a hotel disguised as an office.
Meanwhile, Diane faced an unwelcome confrontation with Claude, who confronted her about the Adam Lockhead (alias River) mystery lurking in the shadows of the cold body archives. Claude, furious at her withholding of information, vowed to seize control of the case and even threatened to expose it to the public. Diane, aghast and exasperated, found herself embroiled in a heated argument, only to be interrupted by the news that River was en route to St Pancras.
At the hotel, Catherine and Chapman arrived moments before Emma and her elite team, with Chapman adeptly orchestrating David's discreet exit, parting ways with the Slough House crew as he hastened back to his office. Emma Flyte and her crack squad arrived at St Pancras, unaware that Frank lurked in the shadows, his focus now shifted from River to tracking down Chapman and extracting information on David's whereabouts.
Unaware of Frank's minion lurking within, Chapman was subjected to a grueling interrogation in his office, his resolve tested as he was forced to divulge secrets. Simultaneously, River, oblivious to a hidden camera trained on his every move, infiltrated David's abode, where he stumbled upon a treasure trove—a drawing within a tin box, concealed in his grandfather's closet. This discovery was a stark reminder of the eerie likeness to the mural in the French mansion, a chilling confirmation of an undeniable connection.
Emma Flyte and her team arrived at David's residence, their quarry narrowly evading capture by holing up in the attic. However, Emma's cunning proved her equal as she strategically confronted River, cornering him in a game of wits and deception.
