The season 5 finale, episode 6: titled Scars, of Slow Horses ties everything up in a neat bow for a great finale. Moments into the episode, it appears that our supposition of Tara as leader was way off base. We learn that she is a “recruit.” The men are the real leaders here, in the guise of Farouk.
Episode 6 Recap/Review (Spoilers Ahead)
Slough House has to pull Park House’s bacon out of the fire. It is Lamb’s dogs who have to save the day and prevent another massacre at Abbottsfield.
Tara
Tara, as the “acting” head of the terrorist cell, orchestrates the £100 million payoff and safe passage with Taverner. Whelan continues to show his complete irrelevance. Diana works out that the company where the funds will be transferred is connected to Peter Judd.
Slough House then works out that the reminder of the cell will follow the rest of the destabilisation plan. They will be attacking a religious establishment. In Abbottsfield, where the initial attack took place. Lamb sends River, Coe and Dander to clear the multi-faith building.
Afterward, Catherine does her own orchestration, via Lamb’s suggestion, of getting Tara out of the Libyan Embassy. Tara takes Catherine hostage and slips the dogs. Lamb is waiting though, in a history repeating itself moment, and Park House catch the “recruit.”
Abbottsfield
Back outside the multi-faith building, the two remaining cell members load up. River, Dander and Coe arrive just before the two killers are ready. Dander still has no weapon. Dander complains, again, about not having a gun. River assures her that he and Coe still have theirs.
The London mayor manages to somehow combine William Blake and Furious 7 via Dominic Toretto; AKA Vin Diesel. The three Slow Horses’ joes enter the building to clear everyone out. Coe finally hits the fire alarm to facilitate people leaving.
Farouk and his minion enter the building while the mayor wants to argue the point. Hearing his earlier target, Farouk decides to take the elected official out before moving on. The mayor checks with Whelan who then speaks to River. As they argue, shots are fired in the multi-faith building.
Dander finally gets a gun and takes out the shooter. Farouk then takes the mayor hostage. River and Dander disagree about how to handle the situation. Coe sneaks up beside the terrorist and his hostage and immobilises Farouk. The London mayor decides the argument was staged to cover Coe’s movement. Dander is clearly disgusted.
London Rules
Back at Park House, Flyte tells Taverner that she will be exonerated. Taverner replies, “It’s London rules. If you were service you’d know that. Cover your arse.” Judd calls Whelan with a possible solution to cover his.
The Cartwrights
River visits his grandad and David remembers what he wanted to tell his grandson. He reveals the final step in the destabilisation technique. The “sting in the tale.” River suddenly remembers that not all of the terrorist cell are in custody.
Sic Transit Whelan Mundy
Sami interrupts Whelan’s run in the park, kills his driver and then tries quite earnestly to take out the number one chair of Park House. River arrives just as Whelan is about to be shot to death and saves the day.
Later, River meets Lamb at the cafe. He tells the Slough House boss that Whelan is waiting for him in the office. River urges Lamb to move him back to Park House.
Based upon Judd’s suggestions, Whelan tells Lamb that he is out and Slough House is done. Jackson Lamb then turns the tables letting Whelan hear a recording of the number one threatening blackmail and sleeping with an escort. Lamb gives the now former number one an hour to leave his post and that Molly be reinstated at Park House.
Taverner is now back to where she belongs as number one chair. She tells Lamb that under no circumstances will they take back River Cartwright.
As the Slough House head speaks to Taverner, we see his feet. The story he told about one of his joes getting the soles of his feet burned off? Catherine was right all along, it was Jackson Lamb the story was about.
Final Thoughts
This series just keeps getting better and better. Coe stepped up nicely in this season as did Dander. Catherine is becoming a new kind of joe and Lamb shows a side we’ve not seen before. The best move of all is the ejection of Whelan. James Callis was perfect as the man promoted out of his depth, he will be missed.
Season 6 Preview
After the end credits roll, there is a Slow Horses preview for the next season. Frank is, apparently, back and on fine form.
The Slow Horses 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.
Kristin Scott Thomas – Diana Taverner.
Ruth Bradley – Emma Flyte.
Saskia Reeves is Catherine Standish.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards – Shirley Dander.
Tom Brooke is JK Coe.
Naomi Wirthner is Molly Doran.
Monty Ben is Farouk.
Fady Elsayed is Kamal.
Ahmed Elmusrati is Sami.
Hiba Bennani is Tara.
Samuel West is Peter Judd.
Jonathan Pryce is David Cartwright.
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