The Prestige TV Podcast 'Slow Horses' Season 5 Episodes 3-5 Breakdown With Alan Sepinwall
Oct 22, 2025
Alan Sepinwall, a veteran TV critic and author working on books about Rod Serling and The Wire, joins Joanna to analyze key moments from Slow Horses. They dive into Jackson Lamb's complex monologue, debate River Cartwright's bumbling character shift, and explore the implications of Louisa's absence. Alan praises Tom Brooke's unsettling performance as Ko and critiques the show's choice of Libyan antagonists. They also discuss Apple's branding challenges and upcoming projects, including the anticipated Vince Gilligan series.
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Episode notes
Static Lead, Evolving Context
- Slow Horses works because characters mostly stay the same while the show peels back layers with new context and backstory.
- The mix of slapstick (paint can) and real stakes (deaths, dementia) gives the series emotional range and appeal.
Recapper's Rewatch Revelation
- Alan rewatched previous seasons to recap Slow Horses after leaving Rolling Stone and enjoyed noticing foreshadowed details.
- He found rewatching particularly pleasurable, citing the paint-can scene as a highlight he appreciated knowing in advance.
Formula With Self-Awareness
- The show balances procedural repetition with serialized character evolution to remain satisfying.
- The finale reportedly addresses credibility problems about Slough House successes, which keeps the premise believable.