Apple TV’s 10/10 Spy Thriller That Keeps Getting Better Is Hooking Viewers Fast

6 days ago 8

Published Feb 5, 2026, 6:00 AM EST

Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema.

Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him).

Because Apple relies entirely on a library of original films and shows, its viewership charts aren't as dynamic as those of its competition. The sparsely populated platform has earned a reputation for focusing on quality over quantity, at least until now. This focus has resulted in shows that offer a rare combination of mass appeal and critical acclaim. There is no better example of this than the sci-fi series Severance, which has become something of a platform-defining hit for Apple TV. The streamer has emerged as a hub for long-form sci-fi over the years, with the similarly successful Foundation, Invasion, Silo, and Pluribus also competing for eyeballs. However, Apple's biggest hit — certainly, its longest-running title — isn't a sci-fi show at all.

The show in question, Slow Horses, is a darkly comic spy thriller that premiered in 2022 and has aired five seasons so far. Apple is committed to making at least two more seasons, the first of which will be released this year. This week, Slow Horses passed a massive streaming milestone that puts it in the elite company of Severance and Ted Lasso — the latter comedy-drama became Apple's first breakout hit, after premiering in 2020. Based on the book series by Mick Herron and created by screenwriter Will Smith, Slow Horses has given star Gary Oldman one of the most memorable characters in a career filled with them. Oldman has received widespread acclaim for his performance as Jackson Lamb, the chief of a band of overlooked spies.

'Slow Horses' Is One of the Best-Reviewed Shows Currently Streaming

According to FlixPatrol, Slow Horses has spent more than 600 days on Apple's domestic viewership charts. It's trailing only Severance and Ted Lasso, both of which have spent over 700 days on the list, primarily because they've had a head start. Slow Horses has received critical acclaim for each of its five seasons, with an overall score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. It peaked with Season 2 and Season 4, both of which earned perfect 100% scores. Rotten Tomatoes' consensus for last year's fifth season reads, "Slow Horses loosens the reins in a more lighthearted season that doesn't quite measure up to the series' high bar, but it still excels as one of the most compulsively watchable offerings on television." You can watch Slow Horses at home. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.