Spoilers forSlow Horsesseason 4, episode 6!The Apple TV+ series,Slow Horses, is the television adaptation of the popular book series by Award-winning author Mick Herron. It follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5, calledSlough House, the purgatory for “slow horses” who’ve made career-ending missteps. Gary Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but irascible leader of the spies. Slow Horses Season 4, which is currently streaming in its entirety, is adapted from the fourth book of the series.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards joined theSlow Horsescast as Shirley Dander in season 2. While she is no stranger to the screen, she is more widely known as a voice actor for animated series, such asThunderbirds Are Goand101 Dalmatian Street, and video games, includingAssassin’s Creed: ValhallaandElden Ring.
All 18 Major Slow Horses Character Deaths Explained
Slow Horses has featured many prominent character deaths across three seasons, with each of them contributing significantly to the overall story.
Screen Rantinterviewed Aimee-Ffion Edwards, discussing her devastating loss in the finale ofSlow HorsesSeason 4. She details where she thinks Shirley goes from here, and what it was like to film such an intense moment. Edwards also talks about working with Gary Oldman and what she has learned from him.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards Was Not Looking Forward To Filming The Season 4 Finale
“I feel so privileged to have gotten to do this with Kadiff. Because there’s no Shirley without Marcus and there’s no Marcus without Kadiff.”
Screen Rant: What was it like filming the finale ofSlow Horsesseason 4?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: Shirley started this journey with Marcus, so this was a day we knew would come that we weren’t looking forward to. It was quite stressful. I think we both were really sad. We found the whole season really tense. But yeah, that last episode is so amazing. The stakes are so high for us as actors, but also for the characters. I feel so privileged to have gotten to do this with Kadiff. Because there’s no Shirley without Marcus and there’s no Marcus without Kadiff.
We developed this really unique, wonderful platonic relationship. A lot of the relationship is a lot of banter and laughs and fun and being mean to each other. But you know, I think there’s a lot of love there, deep down a lot of respect. And for it to end this way was really hard. It’s an amazing storyline, and it’s a great way to end the season.
Screen Rant: After Shirley loses Marcus, she doesn’t know how to handle it.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: When we film anything in Slough House, there’s something about that building that is incredible. The detail that the designers have put into it, you may smell it, the oppression is there. It feels like a character in itself. And it does affect you being on that set, the lighting, and the sequence aspect of it, it helps a lot. You spend a long time shooting these scenes, and you embody those feelings. When you’ve done a show this long, it feels a bit personal as well. It can’t help but not. So you want to go with your gut really, and I was angry, very angry.
Screen Rant: Where do you think Shirley goes from here? How do you think she moves on from this?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: I think she is always a day away from chaos. But a good day away from getting back on track. I think that’s what I love about her, is that you never quite know if she’s having a good day or a bad day. And there’s so much freedom in that. I think there’s so much more of her to show. She is, like everybody else, affected by the events of season four. And what’s to come? Watch this space.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards Loves The Group Scenes In The Office
“I think, that’s what really helps the audience to relate to these characters, because they feel like a big, dysfunctional family.”
Screen Rant: Was there anything this season that you were looking forward to filming, since this was a dreaded day?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: I’ve always said this, but I always love the big scenes when everyone’s in the office, and the bouncing off each other, and the digs. Those dynamics are so brilliant. I think this show does that so amazingly. With the mundane, it’s so extraordinarily ordinary and, I think, that’s what really helps the audience to relate to these characters, because they feel like a big, dysfunctional family. They can’t escape each other.
It’s not just everyone’s lines, but the script is so rich, and nuanced, and brilliant. We all get so much opportunity to be heroes, but to be absolute buffoons as well. And I think it’s the bits in between, the responses. Sometimes, when the characters have no response, there’s an amazing moment when Tom Brooke’s character just tells Shirley about herself, about how she’s just self-hating. He projects all that on the markers. It’s one of the first times that she just doesn’t have a comeback, because she knows it’s true. It’s a really wonderful bit to get to play, because it just says so much about her.
Screen Rant: It seems that the audience forSlow Horsesis growing with every season. How has that felt?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: It’s really exciting. And it’s such a privilege. I think those shows that grow with popularity because of word of mouth, I think they’re the special ones. You get into this because you want to entertain, you want to tell stories, and so to get to be a part of something that such a broad demographic of people are enjoying, it’s not lost to me how lucky I am to be a part of that. I’m really proud of it.
“I think they’ve done an amazing job of creating Mick Herron’s world, and the tone of it. It’s dark, it’s grimy.”
Screen Rant: Did you read the books?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: I did. I wasn’t that aware of them, actually, before I auditioned. But once I knew what the project was, I got to reading. It’s really helpful because it’s helpful to know the world that you’re in. I think they’ve done an amazing job of creating Mick Herron’s world, and the tone of it. It’s dark, it’s grimy. I think Mick Herron is so brilliant at creating that. And the script, Will Smith is such an amazing writer. He’s so clever and generous and collaborative. He’s taken that world and buffed it up a little bit and just thrown in so much magic and nuance and opportunities for us to play and grow.
Screen Rant: Is there anything that has surprised you about Shirley’s journey throughout the seasons?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: Yeah, I think just how unpredictable she is. I’m always surprised by her. It’s such a joy to play, because there’s no rule. You could go anywhere, and you don’t really know which way she’s going to go. Every now and again, I think she might respond or behave in a certain way that feels a little bit out of character. And that’s really fun to play. But, you know, Will Smith has given us the space to do that and to find those nuances and find a bit of depth and find new little dynamics with each other. I never quite know where they’re going to take it. It’s really great.
Slow Horses' Gary Oldman Is Full Of Stories & Anecdotes
“Every day is a learning day in a really fun and privileged way. And I’m going to grab that if I can.”
Screen Rant: What has it been like working with Gary Oldman?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: He’s incredibly generous. He’s an amazing person to work with. Just very generous and alive and sparkly. It allows you to be really present and to bounce off him. There’s been times when I’ve just got to sit in a room, and I’ve not really had any lines, and I can just be alive and be present, and be Shirley, although Shirley does not enjoy him that much, I can enjoy him myself. It’s exciting to watch. Every day is a learning day in a really fun and privileged way. And I’m going to grab that if I can. But he’s very funny.
He’s full of stories and anecdotes, so there’s never a dull moment. I think he’s fearless. But I think in terms of the role, he can make something out of nothing. He’s like a little boy. I think that’s what it is, there is a curiosity about him. There’s a curiosity about every line or every moment, and that’s really exciting to be a part of and to watch. I think that fearlessness is quite contagious. It’s fun, like you need to be on your toes. And to have a space where you feel safe to do that in a creative way. It’s so brilliant to have that because you can make magic from that, you don’t know what’s going to happen.
About Slow Horses Season 4
Slow Horses is an adaptation of CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron’s first novel in the “Slow Horses” series, which follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 – Slough House. Gary Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but irascible leader of the spies who end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes.
Slow Horses
Cast
Slow Horses follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents led by the notorious Jackson Lamb. Set against the backdrop of the espionage world, the agents must navigate complex operations and defend England from sinister forces, all while dealing with internal struggles and their abrasive boss.
