In the newest season of Apple TV+’s hit spy thriller Slow Horses, the show’s arrogant tech expert, Roddy Ho, finds himself at the center of the action for the first time. The danger, however, doesn’t come from a typical spy mission but from his first serious romantic relationship. Actor Christopher Chung describes his character as being “blinded by love,” a vulnerability that places both Roddy and national security at risk.
Roddy Ho’s Dangerous New Relationship
Season five of Slow Horses, which started on September 24, 2025, adapts Mick Herron’s novel London Rules. The story kicks off when the show’s resident computer genius, Roddy Ho, lands a glamorous girlfriend named Tara, played by Hiba Bennani. To his colleagues at Slough House, it’s immediately suspicious that a woman like Tara would be interested in Roddy.
Christopher Chung, who plays Roddy, explains his character’s mindset. “He’s blinded by love. He’s a puppy dog,” he said. Roddy’s genuine crush makes him an easy target. He is so overwhelmed by the attention that he cannot see the possibility of betrayal, a naivete that threatens to undo him.
Without realizing it, Roddy becomes entangled in a deceptive plot. His relationship with Tara is not what it seems; she is secretly a spy working for an extremist cell. By trusting her, Roddy makes tragic errors in judgment that lead to the leak of highly confidential MI5 information.
A Season of Higher Stakes and Personal Drama
This season raises the stakes by focusing on the personal life of a character who has mostly provided comic relief. Roddy’s journey combines elements of comedy, heartbreak, and high-stakes espionage. The team at Slough House must scramble to control the fallout from his choices.
The show’s creator, Will Smith, and star Christopher Chung both emphasize that this season is about Roddy facing the consequences of his mistaken beliefs. Chung revealed, “Ho, this season, he manages to set off a chain of events that makes the Slow Horses enlist in a game using London as the play board, all because of one silly mistake that he makes.”
Roddy’s drama is not just a personal failure but a professional disaster that affects all of MI5. He unintentionally gives Tara access to MI5 systems, either to impress or help her, thereby compromising the very agency he is supposed to protect. As suspicion grows and the Slough House team investigates further, Roddy’s mistake puts everyone in danger.
Christopher Chung on Playing a “Blinded” Character
For Chung, portraying Roddy’s vulnerability required finding genuine empathy for the character. A significant part of his performance involved scenes with Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who plays the sharp and skeptical MI5 deputy director, Diana Taverner. Their exchanges become a key dynamic of the season, as Taverner tries to pierce Roddy’s illusions about Tara.
Chung shared that he had many conversations with the showrunner about how drawn-in Roddy becomes. “She’s trying to get through to me that perhaps Tara is more of a sinister force in his life,” Chung described, noting they worked to show how much clarity Roddy has about the situation. The actor wanted to portray the justification Roddy creates for himself, believing that Tara was coerced and does actually love him.
Breaking Stereotypes and Taking the Spotlight
This season is a significant moment for Christopher Chung, whose role has expanded from supporting comic relief to a central part of the narrative. He has spoken in other interviews about the challenges he faced earlier in his career, often being offered stereotypical roles for an actor of East Asian heritage. The part of Roddy Ho has been a game-changer for him.
Chung initially worried about his physicality not fitting the “geeky” stereotype, but the creative team built his real-life physique into the character, which he found liberating. This allowed him to challenge conventional beliefs about how a nerdy character should look on screen.
The role has brought him wider recognition, and working alongside stars like Gary Oldman has been a career highlight. The cast, he says, functions like a “dysfunctional family,” with Oldman as a very supportive father figure.
The Unfolding Crisis in London
The fifth season opens with a series of bizarre and violent events shaking London, including a mass shooting and an attempted hit on Roddy himself. The city becomes a playing board as the Slow Horses work to connect these events to Roddy’s new romance.
While the season starts with a more comedic tone thanks to Roddy’s storyline, the plot takes a darker turn as the consequences of his actions unfold. The team must work against time and amidst internal rivalries with MI5’s headquarters, “the Park,” to prevent a full-blown crisis.
Also Read: Slow Horses Films Seasons at Record Speed With Surprisingly Relaxed Schedule
