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Crime, Drama, Mystery  •  2022-2025  •  52 min  •  Adults (18+)

Slow Horses (2022-2025)

Slow Horses poster

Slow Horses (2022-2025)

Rating & Dimensions

Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Race Swap: Yes
Family Values: Leans Traditional
Islam: Positive
Viewer Rating
8.6

Overview

Follow a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

Starring Cast

Gary Oldman  •   Jack Lowden  •   Kristin Scott Thomas

Where to watch

Apple TV logoApple TV
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Bias by season

How we rate

Each season is analysed on its own. Tap a point to see why.

↑ Traditional↓ ProgressiveNeutralS1S2S3S4S5S6

Season 1 of 6

Season 1

Aired

PoliticalLeans Left
The show's central narrative strongly condemns far-right extremism and racial violence, portraying them as a significant societal threat, while also critiquing the internal corruption and bureaucratic failures within intelligence agencies.
Social valuesHigh
The first season of Slow Horses features a visibly diverse cast, with significant roles for characters of various racial backgrounds, including within the main team and high-ranking government positions. The central narrative explicitly addresses themes of racism and xenophobia, portraying a white nationalist group as the primary antagonists and condemning their ideology.
LGBTQ portrayalN/A
Season 1 of Slow Horses does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative centers on espionage, political intrigue, and the personal struggles of the disgraced MI5 agents, without exploring aspects of sexual orientation or gender identity for any character within this specific season.

Season 2

Aired

PoliticalLeans Left
The season's narrative, while centered on a national security threat, consistently critiques the corruption, incompetence, and moral compromises of the established intelligence apparatus. The solution is ultimately achieved by anti-establishment figures operating outside the flawed system, aligning with a left-leaning skepticism of powerful institutions.
Social valuesModerate
Slow Horses Season 2 features visible diversity within its main and supporting cast, with non-white actors in significant roles. The narrative centers on espionage and political intrigue, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or making DEI themes central to the plot.
LGBTQ portrayalN/A
Season 2 of Slow Horses does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative focuses exclusively on espionage, political intrigue, and the professional challenges faced by the Slough House agents, without incorporating queer identities or related storylines.

Season 3

Aired

PoliticalCenter
The season critiques the abuse of power and institutional corruption within a national intelligence agency, a theme that resonates across the political spectrum. Its solution emphasizes pragmatic, individual action by flawed agents against a 'deep state' faction, rather than promoting a specific progressive or conservative ideology.
Social valuesModerate
Season 3 of Slow Horses features a visibly diverse cast in significant roles, including characters of East Asian, Black, and South Asian descent. The narrative primarily focuses on espionage and political intrigue, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or centering DEI themes within its core plot.
LGBTQ portrayalN/A
Season 3 of Slow Horses focuses on an espionage plot involving a kidnapping and a rogue MI5 operation. The narrative does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or themes. The storyline is entirely centered on the spy thriller genre and the personal dynamics of the intelligence agents.

Season 4

Aired

PoliticalLeans Left
Slow Horses centers its espionage narrative on disgraced MI5 agents confronting white supremacist kidnappers whose actions tie into broader networks involving right-wing politicians and nationalist movements. The series frames these threats as intertwined with contemporary British political culture while exposing self-serving machinations within the intelligence bureaucracy.
Social valuesModerate
Slow Horses presents a cast with visible diversity in key supporting roles, including a highly competent Black female agent and an intelligent young Muslim character, while maintaining a narrative that does not center or critique traditional identities.
LGBTQ portrayalN/A
Slow Horses centers on a team of disgraced intelligence agents navigating espionage and personal failings without incorporating identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. The series maintains a focus on workplace dynamics, competence, and institutional intrigue.

Season 5

Aired

PoliticalCenter
Slow Horses follows disgraced MI5 agents who confront conspiracies threatening Britain, exposing incompetence within the intelligence services while underscoring the need to protect the nation from external dangers.
Social valuesModerate
Slow Horses assembles a visibly mixed cast that aligns with its source novels while weaving in passing references to contemporary cultural flashpoints such as cancel culture and white supremacists. The narrative keeps these elements in the background, focusing instead on the misfit spies of Slough House without centering identity politics or feminist empowerment.
LGBTQ portrayalN/A
Slow Horses centers on disgraced MI5 agents dealing with espionage, incompetence, and personal struggles. The series contains no LGBTQ+ characters or themes, with any potential elements from source material omitted in the adaptation.

Season 6

Aired

PoliticalLeans Left
Slow Horses centers its espionage plot on the kidnapping of a British Pakistani student by a white nationalist group called the Sons of Albion, while exposing links between those extremists and ambitious right-wing politicians amid broader cultural tensions over Brexit and cancel culture.
Social valuesModerate
Slow Horses assembles a visibly multi-ethnic ensemble to depict a team of MI5 operatives entangled in internal politics and external threats. Its narrative remains centered on espionage mechanics and institutional maneuvering without framing traditional identities as problematic or advancing explicit diversity themes.
LGBTQ portrayalN/A
Slow Horses centers on disgraced MI5 agents navigating espionage and personal failings, with no identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes woven into its storylines or character arcs.

Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...
Center

Primary

Political: Center
Confidence: High

The series offers a nuanced critique of intelligence agency bureaucracy and political maneuvering, focusing on the moral ambiguities and human cost of national security operations. It balances competing viewpoints by exposing flaws within the establishment while championing pragmatic, individual solutions rather than promoting a specific political ideology.

Diversity: Moderate
Confidence: High

The series features a visibly diverse cast, reflecting a contemporary setting without explicit race or gender swaps of traditionally white roles. Its narrative focuses on espionage and character-driven drama, offering a neutral portrayal of traditional identities and not centering on explicit DEI themes.

Secondary

LGBTQ: Neutral
Confidence: Medium

Slow Horses features Roddy Ho, an openly gay main supporting character. His sexuality is depicted as a matter-of-fact aspect of his identity, neither central to the plot nor a source of conflict or affirmation. The portrayal is incidental, avoiding strong positive or negative arcs, resulting in a neutral net impact.

Race Swap: Yes
Confidence: High

The character Louisa Guy, described as white in the source novels, is portrayed by a Black actress. Similarly, Shirley Dander, implied to be white in the books, is played by a Black actor. These instances constitute clear race swaps.

Family Values: Leans Traditional
Confidence: Medium

The series primarily focuses on espionage, but the significant family relationships depicted, such as River's respectful bond with his authoritative grandfather and the traditional structure of the Ahmed family, lean towards an affirmation of elder authority and established family units without critique.

Islam: Positive
Confidence: High

The series portrays Muslim characters as victims of a far-right terrorist plot designed to incite anti-Muslim hatred. The narrative strongly condemns the bigotry and manipulation, positioning the audience to sympathize with the Muslim characters and their community.

Trans: N/A
Confidence: High

The series 'Slow Horses' does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes within its narrative. The story focuses exclusively on espionage and the lives of disgraced MI5 agents, with no relevant portrayals.

Female Combat: N/R

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High

The show "Slow Horses" is a direct adaptation of Mick Herron's "Slough House" novels. All significant characters in the series maintain the same gender as established in the original source material, with no instances of canonical gender changes.

Viewer Rating Breakdown

8.6

Viewer Rating

Combines user and critic ratings from four sources

User Ratings

IMDB logo
8.4
The Movie Database logo
8.0

Critic Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes logo
9.8
Metacritic logo
8.2

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