Slow Horses season two opens with a bang—or rather, a thud. The episode,
aptly titled "Last Stop," sets the stage for another season of bureaucratic
espionage, personal vendettas, and the peculiar charm of Slough House.
The narrative kicks off with a grisly scene: a middle-aged man, the owner of an adult toy shop, is found dead on a replacement rail bus. A seemingly mundane death, but not for the eagle-eyed viewer. The man had been pursuing another, a figure in a flat cap, a face from his traumatic past in Berlin. A chase ensues, ending abruptly with the man's demise. A cryptic note, “cicada,” is found tucked into his phone.
The death is initially dismissed as a heart attack, a convenient explanation for a man of his age and lifestyle. But Jackson Lamb, the irascible head of Slough House, is unconvinced. A former colleague of the deceased, Lamb recognizes a kindred spirit in the victim and senses something amiss. With his trademark blend of cynicism and intuition, he launches an unofficial investigation.
The episode deftly reintroduces the colorful cast of Slough House. We find River Cartwright, still reeling from his demotion, attempting to find employment in the private sector. His interviews are a comedic goldmine, as he struggles to reconcile his past with his current, rather lackluster, reality. Meanwhile, the office dynamic at Slough House is as chaotic as ever. Standish, the steadfast secretary, is back at her post, while Roddy Ho, the tech-savvy agent, is now sharing cramped quarters with the newly introduced Shirley. Louisa and Min, a burgeoning couple, are juggling their relationship with a side job in security.
The episode also serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between Slough House and Regents Park. The rivalry between Jackson Lamb and Diana Taverner, the head of Regents Park, is palpable, setting the stage for potential future clashes. The introduction of a new character, Shirley, adds a fresh dynamic to the Slough House team. Her quick wit and resourcefulness are evident in a scene where she expertly infiltrates a data center to retrieve crucial information.
The "cicada" clue introduces a new layer of mystery to the narrative. River, with a bit of nepotistic help from his grandfather, David Cartwright, uncovers the truth about "cicadas": sleeper agents embedded within British society. This revelation suggests a larger, more sinister plot at play, hinting at a potential confrontation with Russian intelligence.
As the episode draws to a close, the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. The death of the toy shop owner is no longer a mere isolated incident but a potential entry point into a world of espionage and betrayal. The Slough House team, with their unique blend of incompetence and brilliance, is slowly but surely getting closer to the truth.
"Last Stop" is a strong opening to Slow Horses season two. It reestablishes the show's signature blend of humor, intrigue, and character development. With the introduction of the "cicada" plot, the season promises to be even more thrilling and complex than its predecessor.