In the latest episode of Slow Horses, London is in chaos, and the spies of Slough House are locked in their own office. As the city reels from exploding cars, a shocking attack at the zoo pushes the team to use their wits in a new way. Their boss, Jackson Lamb, devises a clever plan for escape, while a teammate’s mistake threatens the security of all MI5.
The Chaos in London
The episode, titled “Tall Tales,” opens with London at a standstill. The fuel sabotage from the previous episode has caused random vehicles to smoke and catch fire across the city. While no people are hurt, the chaos is immense, with gridlocked streets and widespread panic.
Amid this confusion, a new attack happens. A homeless man, paid by individuals posing as climate activists, throws a thermos into the penguin enclosure at Regent’s Park Zoo. The device explodes, killing 22 penguins. The bizarre and tragic event immediately dominates the news, shifting public attention away from the earlier fuel crisis and the Abbotsfield mass shooting.
The Destabilization Theory
Back at Slough House, the team is being held under lockdown by MI5 security, known as the “Dogs.” While confined, agent JK Coe connects the dots. He explains that the events are part of a classic destabilization strategy.
The steps of the plan, as outlined by Coe, are:
- Compromise an agent (Roddy Ho).
- Attack a civilian area (Abbotsfield mass shooting).
- Disrupt daily life and infrastructure (the fuel sabotage and car fires).
- Seize the media’s attention (the zoo bombing).
- Assassinate a populist leader.
Jackson Lamb, who usually dismisses such theories, agrees. He realizes that the emotional public reaction to the penguins’ deaths is a perfect media distraction. The team concludes that a political assassination is next, with mayoral candidate Dennis Gimball as the likely target.
Jackson Lamb’s Clever Escape Plan
With the team trapped and unable to warn anyone, Jackson Lamb takes action. His first attempt to escape fails, so he tries a different approach. He gathers everyone and tells a dark and detailed story about a British agent who was brutally tortured by the Stasi, the secret police of East Germany.
As Lamb tells his story, he subtly describes how the agent’s captors used everyday objects as weapons. He mentions a lighter and an aerosol can. His team slowly understands that his story is not just a tale; it is a set of hidden instructions.
Following Lamb’s cues, the agents create a makeshift blowtorch with a lighter and a can of air freshener, causing a distraction. They overpower their two guards, Devon and another agent, tying them up and successfully escaping Slough House to try and prevent the assassination.
Showrunner Will Smith discussed the scene, noting, “Even if none of it happened, the fact that you can think that, can summon that in the moment, says you probably have some issues.” He left it a question mark for the audience, wondering what parts of the story, if any, were true.
A Costly Mistake at MI5
While the Slough House team escapes, their colleague Roddy Ho is being interrogated at MI5 headquarters by Diana Taverner. Roddy is in denial that his girlfriend, Tara, was a “honey-trapper” who was only using him.
Under pressure, Roddy finally reveals a critical security breach. To impress Tara, he hacked into the main MI5 database. Worse, he left her alone with his computer for about twenty seconds while he went to get a pizza. This gave Tara, who was likely working with terrorists, unfettered access to MI5’s most sensitive information. This mistake is a major victory for the people trying to destabilize the country.
A Family Problem for a Politician
In another part of the story, mayoral candidate Zafar Jaffrey faces a personal and political crisis. It is revealed that the lead climate activist who contaminated the fuel is his own son, Irfan. The son confronts his father, calling him a “plastic politician” who is all talk and no action on the environment. Irfan is arrested, causing a public scandal that threatens to destroy Jaffrey’s campaign.
The Team Splits Up on New Missions
Now free, the Slow Horses split into two groups to protect the potential assassination targets. River Cartwright and JK Coe head to the rally for Dennis Gimball, who they believe is the obvious target. Meanwhile, Shirley Dander and Catherine Standish are assigned to protect Zafar Jaffrey, whose rally is also a potential site for an attack. Jackson Lamb, as always, goes off on his own.
Also Read: How Slow Horses Season 3 Changed Sean Donovan’s Story from the Books
