I’m Immensely Satisfied With Hilarious, Poignant Finale That Finally Answered My Biggest Questions

October 29, 2025

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Warning: This review contains spoilers for Slow Horses Season 5, Episode 6The season finale of Slow Horses season 5, “Scars”, matches the rest of a funny, smart, and thrilling season, bringing a close to pressing questions as well as some we might not have wanted answered after all. Like the rest of season 5, the finale does feel curiously lightweight compared to previous finales. It’s a slightness that works for the show, for the most part, allowing it to glide along with speed and precision, but it also means that we’re left wondering if perhaps there could have been more to send our horses galloping and the dogs barking.

Though season 5 may feel like a more minor adventure in the grand scheme of the series, it never forgets what makes the show excellent. Episode 6, “Scars”, moves between storylines with grace, giving every character a chance to put a period on their tale. The switch from chases to clever spycraft to heartbreaking depictions of the passage of time keeps you off balance in the best way possible, ensuring you’re never ready for the next scene tossed your way. Surprising, hilarious, and ultimately futile, “Scars” is as fine an ending to season 5 as you could hope.

Taverner & MI5 Are Forced To Pay A Ransom Or Pay A Heavy Price

Tara Is In Less Control Of The Terrorists Than She Thought

The clock is ticking at the start of the episode, literally. An hour countdown on the screens at the Park marks the time MI5 has to send Tara (Hiba Bennani) $100 million. Tara claims it’s a gross underestimate of the price of the oil reserves that the British stole years ago, but the humiliation MI5 will suffer will be sweeter than money. If the Libyans fail to be paid and are not given safe passage home, they will enact step 7 of the destabilization campaign: attack a place of worship.

Whelan (James Callis) says MI5 does not negotiate with terrorists, because everything he knows about espionage comes from movies, it seems. Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) thinks otherwise. They, in fact, do need to negotiate, or an entire church may be shot up. With that in mind, $100 million doesn’t seem like that much. Taverner is well beyond paying Whelan mind, and everyone is happy to defer to her, including Tara, who asks Whelan to put the “real” person in charge on the line. To his credit, Whelan hands the phone over.

Last week, did I say Tara might be in charge of this operation? If she is, the Libyans are as happy to ignore her as MI5 is to ignore Claude. Despite the money coming in, Farouk (Monty Ben) and Kamal (Fady Elsayed) still want revenge for their countrymen, and a church full of mourners for their massacre in episode 1, and the mayor of London will do. Sami (Ahmed Elmustrai), who has long harbored doubts about their mission, flees Farouk, saying he only wishes to kill those responsible, not the innocent.

Nothing Changes For The Slow Horses (& That’s The Way We Like It)

Jackson Lamb Answers A Disturbing Question From Episode 3

Lamb (Gary Oldman) talking to River (Jack Lowden) at a diner in Slow Horses season 5, episode 6.

How Lamb (Gary Oldman), River (Jack Lowden), Standish (Saskia Reeves), and the rest of Slough House save the day is fairly straightforward. There’s some reverse psychology, sharp-shooting and stabbing, and last-minute revelations. Everything is tucked neatly away, and we’re treated to some excellent humor and well-choreographed action as well. What’s always been more important with Slow Horses is the small things, and just because season 5 has been telling a smaller story than usual doesn’t mean there’s no room for small details.

Just about everyone has their time to shine. Taverner’s increasing reliance on Lamb and Slough House is a delightful development, and the chemistry between her and Lamb alone could power another two seasons if they’re allowed more scenes together. The combo of Coe (Tom Brooke), River, and Shirley (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) is almost like a Three Stooges routine with semi-competent members, and it’s always nice to have a reminder that, despite their occasional successes, most of the members of Slough House are screw-ups. This may be Standish’s standout season, and even Lamb seems to be mildly impressed with her.

By the end of “Scars”, there have been few changes. Whelan is finally out, and Taverner is first desk. Beyond that, it’s more of the same for Slough House. More of the same for David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce), whose Alzheimer’s plot line has been a tremendously sad story, and his grandson, River, who thought he was out of Slough. More of the same for Lamb, who keeps charge of the horses despite Whelan’s last-minute shot across the bow.

Things don’t change much for the Slow Horses, and it’s not a good idea to hope for much. As Lamb tells River, “It’s not the hope that kills you. It’s knowing it’s the hope that kills you, that kills you“. Lamb should know, as he places his heavily scarred and burned feet on his desk. Hope can be a painful dream.