Slow Horses

I watched this because I'd been watching foreign series and was tired of subtitles. So glad I did!

Great cast of true characters - Gary Oldman - you can't go wrong with him. And same with all the rest. Finally a series that isn't polished and pretty, but it has a lot of grit and history.

Binged all of Season 1 in one evening. Am anxious for Season 2.

Something interesting to look forward to!!

This is an unusual case where it is better than the book it was based on. The books are SLOW, often going over unnecessary details not relevant to the story. All that is gone in the translation to visual media. The story is tight and while some details have changed, its to better fit with the format.

Production values are top notch and Gary Oldman is great as Jackson Lamb. I don't know where some folks got that this is some woke drama, but the gender and racial makeup is on par with the original source material, so that guy who wrote the review needs to put his big boy pants on and join the real world.

Gary Oldman plays the quintessential crusty old curmudgeon, an MI5 spy left over from the Cold War (and ostracised to Slough House), still parrying at shadows, and seeing real threats before anyone else.

This is stylised Cold War spy craft in a modern setting - and it's a very satisfying watch. Another well-realised show that creates its immediate world with details of environment, character (and subterfuge) - the indispensable building blocks of good story telling.

If you're just coming upon this show now that season 2 is released you should do yourself a favour and binge season 1 first - it's a good yarn and will offer a depth of character and situation that will add to your enjoyment

Season 2 appears to have lifted the game in terms of production design and cinematography - it's really paid off and elevated the show above the usual weekly episodic grind TV.

Highly recommended - Oldman and Kristin Scott-Thomas are terrific, as are Jack Lowden and Saskia Reeves.

I have seen the first two episodes, and was disappointed only by the fact there will be only six, and then another six. Cast is fantastic, and though the dialog requires higher volume for these American ears, it is well written. I usually wouldn't watch the screen version of a book I might like to read, but I wanted to see this as soon as it came out, and didn't know if the books. I'll definitely read them later though. The theme song. As soon as I heard it, I thought, "Surely they didn't get Mick Jagger"?! But it is, and the song is cool, with relevant lyrics and thematic elements of the score too. I see several reviews complaining about a 'leftist' bent to this one, but all I see is art imitating life with some of the plot lines. I recommend this one, unless you don't like elevated espionage fare. It's good, real good based on the first two hours.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy Slow Horses as much as I did. I was looking for a new show to watch to heard really good things about this show and you can't go wrong with Gary Oldman either. He's great in just about everything he's ever been in. It's no different here. He's the best thing about the show but not the only thing. The rest of the cast more than holds their own. I got so into this that I binged both seasons in just few days. It seems that most people enjoyed as much as I did because it's already been renewed for another two seasons! I can't wait to see more of this group of dysfunctional MI5 agents!