Image via Jack English, ©Apple TV; Everett Collection
Published Feb 15, 2026, 3:41 PM EST
Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.
She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 126 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.
The past few years have given us a surplus of television shows about spies. Whether you've caught Eddie Redmayne as a professional assassin in The Day of the Jackal, got sucked into the world of Black Doves, or checked back into Jonathan Pine's (Tom Hiddleston) life 10 years later with Season 2 of The Night Manager, it's clear that there's an espionage-centered show for everyone. While all of these series have been fantastic, there's only one spy drama that manages to rise above the rest. With thrilling plotlines, adrenaline-inducing action, and nuanced acting, Apple TV's Slow Horses demands a binge-watch.
What Is Apple TV's 'Slow Horses' About?
Image via Apple TVSlow Horses first premiered back in 2022, but is starting to gain even more of a fanbase now. It's easy to see why a show this brilliant would only get more fans as word of mouth increases. Based on a series of novels by Mick Herron, the show follows the story of a young spy named River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), who messes up a MI5 training exercise so badly that he's relegated to a reject branch of the service called Slough House. The office is run by the slovenly, chainsmoking, alcohol-drinking Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), who couldn't possibly care less about his job or the agents working under him.
Even though each person working at Slough House isn't the cream of the crop when it comes to spies, their dysfunction makes them all the more fun to watch. River forms a bizarre sort of family with these agents, all while working under the icy, yet skilled MI5 boss, Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas). Each season of Slow Horses features a brand-new case that the Slow Horses must solve in order to prove that they're still worthy of being agents in the field.
'Slow Horses' Offers Action-Packed Plots and Impeccable Performances
What makes Slow Horses a near-perfect series is the writers' ability to provide plenty of edge-of-your-seat plots. There are countless shocking moments and cliffhangers that will have you eagerly anticipating the next episode. One of the best parts of the series is the high-stakes action taking place. This ultimately signifies that no character in Slow Horses is ever completely safe. Sure, it can be heartbreaking to lose some beloved characters, but surprising deaths also means that the series never shies away from following the most intriguing and powerful storyline. This type of bold writing also helps to remind viewers of the incredibly dangerous world the Slow Horses are involved in. Whether it's River chasing a suspect through London (which happens frequently), a terrifying shoot-out with some criminals, or the twists and turns of backstabbing individuals working in MI5, Slow Horses never fails to be utterly entertaining.
Some spy thrillers merely focus on the action, but another area where Slow Horses rises above is by providing impressive performances by the entire cast. Of course, Oldman is in a league of his own as the irascible, yet brilliant Jackson, but the rest of the cast clearly raises the bar every season as well. Lowden brilliantly captures River's goofy mishaps and his frustration at not getting out of Slough House with spot-on, authentic emotions. Both of these actors have already nabbed Emmy nominations for their roles, along with Jonathan Pryce, who plays River's retired spy grandfather. Each of the supporting actors also helps to infuse the series with wry humor and heart. Christopher Chung, as Roddy Ho, fills every scene he's in with bombastic, silly humor, and Saskia Reeves, as Catherine Standish, offers the members of Slough House a necessary warmth and kindness. It's inherently easy to root for the Slow Horses to succeed, and this is, in large part, because the actors bring a much-needed depth and vulnerability to their roles.
Slow Horses wrapped up its fifth season in October, and has already been renewed for Seasons 6 and 7. With a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, two Emmy wins, and 14 Emmy nominations in total, it's clear that the series has earned the fan support they've received so far. Plus, there are only six episodes in each season, so it's also easy to binge the whole series if you haven't already. There might be a lot of spy shows out there right now, but you certainly won't regret spending time watching the very best one.
Seasons 1–5 of Slow Horses are available to stream on Apple TV in the U.S.
Release Date April 1, 2022
Network Apple TV+
Showrunner Douglas Urbanski
Directors Adam Randall, James Hawes, Jeremy Lovering, Saul Metzstein
Writers Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood
English (US) ·