The highly anticipated fifth season of Apple TV+ spy thriller ‘Slow Horses‘ began with an intense premiere on September 24, placing resident tech expert Roddy Ho at the center of a dangerous new mystery. While the episode, titled “Bad Dates,” primarily focuses on the aftermath of a mass shooting in London, a separate, more personal incident involving Ho suggests that the Slough House agents are being deliberately targeted. The premiere strongly indicates that Roddy’s life is in serious danger, setting up a core plot point for the season.
Roddy Ho Targeted in a Van Attack
The episode opens with the chaotic and horrifying scene of a mass shooting at a London shopping center, an event that MI5 quickly begins to investigate. Meanwhile, the members of Slough House are seen dealing with their personal lives and past traumas. It is during this time that Roddy Ho, played by Christopher Chung, is nearly run over by a white van while walking to the office, completely unaware of the threat due to his loud music.
The incident is witnessed by his colleague, Shirley Dander (Aimee-Ffion Edwards), who quickly shoves him out of the way. Shirley, who is still shaken by the death of her close friend Marcus last season, is convinced the van was a deliberate attack. She is the only one who takes the threat seriously at first, while others, including River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), dismiss it as a random traffic incident. The premiere’s final moments, however, reveal that Shirley was right: the van that nearly hit Ho is the same vehicle that was involved in the mass shooting.
The Link to the London Massacre and Roddy’s Girlfriend
The connection between the van and the mass shooting makes it clear that Roddy’s near-miss was not a coincidence. The shooting, which resulted in 11 deaths, was a carefully planned operation. The gunman was provided a weapon by a white van and then killed by an unknown sniper, also connected to the same vehicle. This suggests that the whole event was premeditated. The fact that the same van later targeted a Slough House agent strongly implies that the team is now in the crosshairs of a major, possibly political, conspiracy.
Further adding to the mystery is the new plot point that Roddy has a new, glamorous girlfriend named Tara (Hiba Bennani). This development is a source of suspicion among the other Slow Horses, who find it hard to believe that the arrogant, socially awkward Roddy could have attracted such a partner. The new season is based on Mick Herron’s novel London Rules, which centers on the idea that Roddy’s new girlfriend might be a spy trying to use him to access classified intelligence. This storyline puts Roddy at the center of the season’s main conflict, making him a primary target and putting his life at risk.
The Stakes for Roddy and the Slow Horses
Roddy Ho’s life is definitely in danger, both from the mysterious group targeting the Slow Horses and from his own questionable choices. The premiere’s events set up a high-stakes scenario where the Slough Horses will have to protect one of their own while also solving a complex case involving a political conspiracy and violent attacks. Gary Oldman‘s character, Jackson Lamb, seems to recognize the seriousness of the situation, even if he doesn’t show it outwardly, confirming Shirley’s suspicions and implicitly acknowledging the danger Ho is in.
The season is expected to be more Roddy Ho-centric, as confirmed by Gary Oldman himself, and will lean into the comedic and tense situations his character creates. The fact that the white van appeared again, this time targeting Roddy, elevates the danger from a random event to a direct threat against the team. The Slow Horses will now have to navigate this threat, all while figuring out if Roddy’s new girlfriend is friend or foe.
Also Read: Slow Horses Season 5 Release Time: When Episodes 1 and 2 Drop in Your Region
