Visiting Hours – The show begins with Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) scolding River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) for vomiting just outside the crime scene. He orders Cartwright and Louisa Guy (Rosalind Eleazar) to give up their cellphones. When Min Harper (Dustin Demri-Burns) emerges, he orders him to give up his cellphone as well. Min reluctantly complies because he utilizes his phone to video chat with his children. Lamb insists the phones are integrated with tracking software. A woman watches from an upper-floor window as he drops the phones down a public storm drain. He demands they pick up Struan Loy (Paul Higgins) and Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung), so they can all disappear. Cartwright reminds him that they don’t know their address. He provides them with their home addresses before leaving. He asks where they go from there. Louisa says, “Blake’s grave.”

As they get in the car, Cartwright informs them that he recognized the victim, Moe/Alan Black (Sam Hazeldine). Louisa says he worked at Slough House. When they pull out of the parking lot, the MI5 arrives. The agents enter the flat, with their guns raised.

Larry (David Walmsley) asks Curly (Brian Vernel) what he has done. Referring to Moe as a “spook,” Curly comes clean about communicating with Simmonds via a prepaid cellphone. He assures them that the phone does not have tracking software. He describes his action as self-defense. Larry argues that Moe was unarmed. He says Moe would have thrown them in jail. Larry reminds him of who set the scheme up. Zeppo (Stephen Walters) says they are supposed to finish what they started. He suggests they release Hassan Ahmed (Antonio Aakeel). Curly says Hassan can identify their faces and voices. Zeppo asks, what does it matter. Cury calls out a name and address. Zeppo asks Hassan if he heard what Curly said. He threatens to say it louder the next time when Larry calls him a “snake.”

Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) is at Regent’s Park when she receives a call from MI5 Agent Nick Duffy (Chris Reilly) who identifies the victim as Alan Black. She questions if there was any trace of Hassan or Lamb. He informs her of Lamb’s vehicle being found at the scene. He says a neighbor alleged Lamb wasn’t alone. She says, “Slow Horses.” Agent Singh (Bally Gill) alerts her of a call from the First Desk.  Ingrid Tearney (Sophie Okonedo) demands to know what is happening with the case. Diana tells her about Lamb missing in action. Ingrid contributes her decision to put Sidonie “Sid” Baker (Olivia Cooke) in Slow Horse because she was concerned about Lamb’s activities. Diana informs her of Sid getting shot alongside Cartwright. Ingrid orders her to bury Slow Horse if they are linked to the kidnapping.

Lamb buys a hat from a man. Min, Louisa, and Cartwright discuss Alan Black. Regent’s Park gave him the boot after it was discovered he was having an affair with the Venezuelan Ambassador’s wife. Cartwright tells them Lamb planned to utilize Jed Moody’s money to run, but he doesn’t think he will go through with it. They agree to pick up Struan and Ho before heading to Blake’s grave. Cartwright hotwires a vehicle while Lamb visits London Souvenir.

Duffy asks Diana what is happening with the case. She asks for his opinion on Lamb bolting. He believes it has something to do with the crime scene and Black’s decapitated head. She contributes his running to a foul-up in their op. He promises to find Lamb. Before he leaves, she tells him that her preference for someone getting hurt is Lamb.

Curly takes the backroads that do not have surveillance cameras. Their plan is to drive to Harwich, where a boat is waiting. They will travel to France or Holland via boat. Larry tells them that he refuses to get on a boat because of his daughter. Zeepo asks if it was Simmonds’ idea. Curly says Simmonds suggested they drop it.  Zeppo and Larry are stunned by the revelation. Larry reminds him of Simmonds having money to help them escape. Hassan listens to them arguing. Zeppo suggests they free Hassan, now. Curly and Larry agree.

Min and Louisa watch Struan hug his kids, goodbye. He asks MI5 Agent Pierce (Joey Ansah) if they are going to Regent’s Park. As they force Struan into the car, Louisa, and Min kiss.

Cartwright searches for Roddy who photoshops a dating profile photo, with a muscular physique when someone knocks on the door. A Stoner (Matt Hunter) answers the door to Hobbs (Chris Coghill) who punches him in the face. Roddy answers the door to Cartwright. He demands to know what he is doing there. He claims they received a complaint about “shit” music before ordering him to go with him.

MI5 Agent Spider Webb (Freddie Fox) and Duffy stop in at the London Souvenir shop to demand the surveillance footage from the last 20 minutes.

As Min drives down the road, he tries to convince Louisa to explain what happened back at Struan’s place. She tells him to focus on evading MI5 security. He asks if there is an “us.” She assures him that if it continues to mention it, there won’t be. When he gets quiet, she tries to cheer him up with a joke about them sharing cells.

The London Souvenir surveillance shows Lamb utilizing the store’s computer. Webb opens the computer to discover Lamb booked a flight to Istanbul. Duffy contacts Diana to alert her of their findings. While they are talking, Webb discovers that Lamb also booked flights to Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, London City, and Heathrow. She assures them that she knows Lamb’s travel plans.

Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) is awakened by someone knocking on her door. Picking up a glass bottle for defense, she warns the individual of being armed. Lamb tells her that she is lying. He orders her to get dressed.

Roddy demands to know where they are heading. Cartwright informs him of the MI5 surveilling them. When he looks for a car to hotwire, Roddy offers his services for a price. He follows a man into a nearby restaurant to pickpocket his car keys.

Struan is transported to Regent’s Park, where he meets with Diana. She tells Struan that the room he is in was specifically chosen to ensure no one finds out about his being there. He assures her that his wife knows where Pierce took him. She reminds him of the lie he has been telling his wife who thinks he is still working at Regent’s Park. He asks why he was brought there. She warns him about his children knowing he isn’t really an MI5 agent. He questions if that is the purpose of his visit. She accuses him of sending an anonymous email about Tearney working for ISIS. He claims it was a joke. She tells him it is important for her to believe he learned from his past mistakes before returning to Regent’s Park. She asks him to tell her if anything unusual has been going on at the Slough House.

As Cartwright drives recklessly through the city, Roddy assures him it is a “Mario Kart.” Cartwright demands that he access Black’s MI5 record. Roddy says it would breach security while demanding to know how he found him. Cartwright asks why Black was involved with Hassan’s kidnapping. Roddy sarcastically says Black cursed at him before telling him about his plan to kidnap a Muslim kid. As Roddy pulls up Black’s file, Cartwright looks over at his laptop screen. Roddy orders him to keep his eyes on the road.

Struan identifies Black in a photo. He tells Diana that Black arrived at the Black House after him. She asks if he has seen Black and Lamb together recently.

Cartwright stops at St. Stephen’s Hospital to check in on Sid before heading to Blake’s grave.

Lamb gets his gun when a car pulls in front of Standish’s house. While Standish gets dressed, she listens to a voicemail from Diana who asks her to immediately visit Regent’s Park. Standish is concerned by Diana’s comment about Lamb turning villain. Her second voicemail mentions Charles Partner’s death. While she has a flashback, Lamb enters to rush her up. She asks him about Diana’s voicemails. He assures her it is just Diana messing with her head.

Cartwright enters the hospital to check on Sid. He asks a Nurse (Pui Fan Lee) which room she is in. MI5 Agent McCrae (Pierro Niel-Mee) alerts Pierce of Cartwright’s visit to the hospital. Pierce orders Hobbs to head to the hospital.

Standish blames their situation on Cartwright. He informs her of Sid and Jed. They encounter Duffy and Web outside the apartment building. Duffy searches him for a weapon. He orders them to get in the car.

Roddy watches the hospital surveillance footage when Hobbs arrives. He leaves in the stolen car. Sid is intubated in ICU. He has a flashback of the minutes before she is shot by Jed Moody (Steven Waddington). She inquires about a rumor that he followed Diana. He assures her that it actually happened. As he leaves her room, he encounters Hobbs in the hallway. A chase ensues. Jumping in the elevator, the door barely shuts before Hobbs arrives. After activating the emergency button, he jumps out of the elevator. He approaches Hobbs from behind and clocks him with a fire extinguisher. When he gets outside the hospital, he realizes Roddy has left without him.

Larry suggests they drop Hassan off near some woods. When he asks Curly if he is on board, he aggressively says whatever you like. Zeppo tries to assure Hassan it will be okay before apologizing for his being kidnapped. Curly asks if Muslims feel bad for sexually assaulting their women. Zeppo reminds him about Hassan not killing anyone. Raising his voice, Curly dares them to stop him from killing Hassan. Larry and Zeppo look at each.

Duffy alerts Diana of Standish and Lamb’s capture. She tells Struan that Standish is being brought in for interrogation. He asks if she will tell his wife about his lie. When she acknowledges it is part of her plan, he claims to have seen Lamb and Black together.

Lamb says Diana is going to pin Hassan’s kidnapping on Slough House. He tells Duffy that if Diana had the option, she would choose for Hassan to be decapitated to her getting found out. Duffy admits he will continue to heed Diana’s orders as long as she is in charge. Lamb suggests he find Hassan, not heed Diana’s orders. After sneezing, he asks Standish to give him a tissue out of her bag. She demands he explain a voicemail before he gets the tissue. He promises to explain later. Pulling a gun out of her bag, she points it directly at Webb. She orders him to pull over. They drop them off before heading out.

Cartwright runs down the street while Curly heads out to their destination. A frightened Hassan can be seen laying in the back of the van as the episode comes to an end.

 

Slow Horses Review

Diana’s plan to pin Hassan’s kidnapping and potential beheading on Slough House is slowly falling apart. Cartwright’s determination to see Sid nearly put him in Diana’s clutches. Struan is just as desperate to keep his secret from spilling over to his wife and children. His confession could seal Lamb’s fate, whether it is genuine or fake.

Nothing has changed about the episodes being repetitive and too long, with a lot of filler. The episode could have been reduced to 10 minutes and nothing would be missed. Roddy Ho still steals the show, with his constant silly badgering.

Curly is determined to finish what he started. With Moe out of the way, there will be no one brave enough to stop him. MI5 agents are too busy aiding Diana in pinning a screwup on Slough House to search for Hassan. The outcome will probably come down to Nick Duffy who knows everything. Will he let Lamb go down or rat Diana out?

Kristin Scott Thomas does a fabulous job making Diana a villian.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more Slow Horses recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.