Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Slow Horses season 5, episode 4.

When Slow Horses first began, it introduced a series of misfit agents fighting against the odds, and in season 5, it’s finally returned to those roots. Back in 2022, the first season of Slow Horses saw these underdog MI5 agents band together to outshine the agency that discarded them.

This is a wonderful concept, and one that makes the series unique among the broad range of espionage shows and films. While spies are often seen as suave and capable of doing just about anything, the Slough House team stand apart. Or at least, they used to when the show began.

The Slough House Agents Have Saved London Several Times In Slow Horses

Over the last five seasons, the team at Slough House has repeatedly overcome insurmountable odds from both their allies at MI5, and their various aggressors, to save the day. Whether it was a contained terrorist attack in the heart of London, or a broader assault on security agencies worldwide, Slough House excels.

This somewhat disregards the premise of the team and the series overall, making them just as impressive and effective as other spies. Their struggle was a huge part of what made them interesting. Now, they are still fighting against the odds, and other groups still push back against them, but that doesn’t make as much sense considering their achievements.

Interestingly, by becoming successful and becoming overachievers with their smaller team of misfits, Slow Horses has taken away some of the prestige of the series, and the charm that made it stand out. Fortunately, Slow Horses season 5, episode 4, seems to thoroughly reverse this issue.

Gimball’s Death In Slow Horses Season 5, Episode 4 Will Cause Chaos In London

While assigned to protect a mayoral candidate from a potential assassination threat, J.K. Coe and River Cartwright unwittingly had a hand in his untimely murder. This came about as a result of the pair squabbling instead of focusing on the mission, proving that, once again, Slough House has some significant flaws.

And beyond the accidental death of Dennis Gimball, this could actually push the mysterious enemy’s plans further along. With the Slow Horses living up to their nickname, their situation has never been worse before now. And with that significant blunder, this actually serves as a return to form for the series, and its original premise.

Slough House has to struggle to survive, and sometimes, the biggest problems occur from within as far as their team is concerned. These agents are far from perfect, but, when they are backed into a corner and out of options, they do manage to come out the other side and Slow Horses season 5 can prove that.