Before Slow Horses Season 6, Watch This Excellent 10-Part Spy Series On Peacock

Slow Horses season 6 is set to premiere on September 16, but if you just need to watch a new spy show between now and then, you can’t go wrong with this 10-episode series on Peacock. The production schedule for Slow Horses is anything but slow, with a new season coming out every 10-12 months.

In an era of television where fans are often expected to wait multiple years between seasons, Slow Horses‘ rapid release schedule is a godsend. Case in point, season 6 is set to premiere 11 months and one week after season 5 arrived last year. If you are a rabid spy fan, however, and even that’s not quick enough, there are some other options to whet your appetite.

If you haven’t seen it yet, The Day of the Jackal is the perfect series to keep you occupied for the next week before Slow Horses season 6. Based on Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 political thriller novel, which was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film in 1973, The Day of the Jackal is a ten-episode series with a second season on the horizon.

The Day of the Jackal for Peacock reimagines the story in the present day. Eddie Redmayne stars as Alexander Duggan, a notorious assassin who works under the name “The Jackal”. Using his exceptional marksmanship and talent for going undercover in disguises, The Jackal works as a for-hire killer after a stint in the UK Special Forces.

After one of his kills gains national attention, MI6 agent Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch) begins investigating the mysterious killer who keeps popping up all over the world. As she gets closer to The Jackal, Bianca realizes that the lies and deceptions are closer to home than she ever thought.

The Day Of The Jackal Is Perfect For Slow Horses Fans

The Day of the Jackal is right in the wheelhouse of any Slow Horses fan. It’s also a sharp, British spy thriller that follows many of the guidelines that have made Slow Horses such an enjoyable show every season. Both shows begin laying the tracks for twists and surprises early on, and both shows are always able to capitalize on those plans.

The draw of both shows is the ensemble cast. From Redmayne in The Day of the Jackal to Gary Oldman in Slow Horses, no one misses a beat. You’ll find yourself enjoying even the most despicable of characters on screen in The Day of the Jackal; they are all just so charming.

The Jackal’s exceptional skills are never treated as some sort of superpower. There’s always the constant threat that he’s going to fail, and it is so exciting and hair-raising to wonder if he’s going to get away with his missions. Both shows are watched on the edge of your seat and don’t fail to disappoint by the time the credits start rolling.

Slow Horses Vs. Day Of The Jackal: Which Is Best?

The Jackal walking by some cars outside of a large building with a glowing clock

As excellent a show as The Day of the Jackal is, Slow Horses has it beat. In part, you have to award a series that has performed the same feat five times in a row over a show that has only proved its worth once. Season 2 will reveal if The Day of the Jackal was a fluke, or the beginning of something special.

Slow Horses is just a bit more legible as a spy series. What makes the show so endearing is its everyman quality. You also worry if the agents of Slough House will fail in their plots, but it’s because they fail so often. The agents are pathetic by several definitions, but it makes watching them succeed all the more gratifying.