Mikes Film Talk

Episode 4 Recap/Review

Season 5, episode 4 of Slow Horses Missiles has a Final Destination moment that is, thus far, the highlight of the entire series. I initially thought it was Lamb’s trumping Park House, and Flyte, by working out where Tara was hiding. Then stopping the young woman in her tracks with his car door in her escape attempt. This was not to be, however.

Episode 4 (SPOILER ALERT)

Flyte “plays” Roddy to find out where Tara might be while the two Slough House duos cover the separate campaigns.

Roddy falls, sort of, for Flyte’s gambit. However, when he calls Tara, Roddy tells her after a minute on the phone call that they are tracing her. Flyte smugly informs him that since he left Park House, they can trace a call in 30 seconds.

Whelan reveals the dirt he dug up on Gimball and his wife to stop their inflammatory article about the “sex worker.” They are shocked to find that the secrets of their past are in Whelan’s possession. He explains the facts of the misunderstanding and promises to air their secrets if they run the article.

*Best bit of the entire scene at the Gimball’s residence is Whelan’s “Dennis Gimball, this is your life.” A cracking line.*

Cartwright and Coe

The two Slow Horses arrive at the Gimball venue and immediately disagree as to where an assassination might take place. Coe believes that the dressing room is the vulnerable spot. Cartwright thinks it will be the balcony. The two split up. Cartwright tells Coe, “That’s right. Go check where it’s not going to happen.”

*Cartwright disturbs a couple doing blow. The woman says to the gun welding Slow Horses agent, “Take it! Just take it!.”*

Lamb and Flyte

Flyte and her colleague go to Roddy’s flat. Tara eludes them both and is running down the street. Lamb opens his car door and she runs into it. She tells them all, “I am not safe.”

*Lamb tells Flyte to tell her two colleagues tied up at Slough House to pack their things. “At least my lot f**k up an epic scale. They’re not just run-of-the-mill f**ups like yours.”

Dander and Standish

The two women arrive at the Mayor’s campaign. Dander spots a man wearing combat boots, just like the men in the van, earlier. The assassin talks his way in. He claims to be there to fix a light in the ladies loo.

Cartwright and Coe Pt 2

Coe gets to the dressing room and spies Gimball practicing his speech behind the building. He tells Cartwright that he will keeps eyes on the politician from his vantage point. He moves out onto the painter’s scaffolding to see better. Cartwright says he will keep an eye on the crowd.

Dander and Standish Pt 2

Dander checks the ladies and finds there is nothing wrong with the light. Catherine sees someone in the upstairs plant room. Shirley makes her way there. The assassin prepares his makeshift weapon as the Mayor elicits a minute silence for the victims of the shooting.

Standish throws her bottle of water at the Mayor prompting his removal from the stage. No bigger than a minute Dander struggles with the assassin and he escapes as the building is evacuated.

Cartwright and Coe Pt 3

Bowman shows up to have a word with Gimball. The opposing politician resorts to a racist attack towards Bowman. Coe tells Cartwright that Gimball is “getting into it with a man outside the stage door.” As River heads down, Bowman punches Gimball. River and the Mayor’s advisor struggle. Cartwright tells Coe to come help.

Coe starts down the scaffolding and sets off a series of events that culminates in the “Final Destination” moment. The end result? Gimball is struck in the head with a full tin of paint.

This is, as Lamb would say, an epic f**k up. The two Slough House colleagues decide to leave the scene.

The Verdict

Slow Horses episode 4 rates a solid 5 stars. The sheer genius behind the demise of Gimball is just brilliant. The next episode of the show, titled Circus will have to pull out all the stops to beat Missiles. It is interesting to note that Lamb believes that Tara is not a professional.

The Cast

Gary Oldman – Jackson Lamb.

Jack Lowden – River Cartwright.

Christopher Chung is Rodney Ho.

James Callis is Claude Whelan.

Nick Mohammed is Mayor Zafar Jaffrey.

Abraham Popoola is Tim Bowman.

Kristin Scott Thomas – Diana Taverner.

Ruth Bradley – Emma Flyte.

Saskia Reeves is Catherine Standish.

Aimee-Ffion Edwards – Shirley Dander.

Tom Brooke is JK Coe.

Christopher Villiers is Dennis Gimball.

Victoria Hamilton is Dodie Gimball.