Warning: Spoilers for theSlow Horsesseason 4 finale, which is now streaming on Apple TV+
The character death at the end ofSlow Horsesseason 4 gets a candid response from two of the show’s stars. The spy dramedy ended its fourth installment on Apple TV+ by going full circle in several ways. One of those was the death of a prominentSlow Horsescast member, which was teased in the premiere episode. It ended up unfolding very differently, with Marcus Longridge (Kadiff Kirwan) dying in a shootout at Slough House.
In an interview withScreen Rant’s Tessa Smith, Kirwan and co-star Aimee-Ffion Edwards react to Marcus' death at the end of season 4. Kirwan reflects on filming the shootout, which he says took two weeks, and explains whyit was a “dream” to film. As for Edwards, who plays Shirley Dander, she focuses on theemotional weight of the deathconsidering the contentious but close relationship between Marcus and Shirley. Read their quotes below:
Kirwan:The shootout in Slough House in the season finale, those two weeks when we shot, that was just like, I didn’t realize it was the little boy’s dream to do that. But it turned out, it was, because I felt so powerful and so slick.
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 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 banter and laughs and fun and being mean to each other, but I think there’s a lot of love there, and deep down a lot of respect. And for it to end this way was really hard.
What The Slow Horses Season 4 Ending Means For The Show
It’s Surprisingly Emotional
The finale ofSlow Horsesseason 4is action-packed, featuring a major surprise in that mercenaryFrank Harkness (Hugo Weaving) turns out to be the father of River Cartwright (Jack Lowden). Due to some clever maneuvering on Frank’s part, it’s suggested that he will have to be let go. That leaves the story to be resolved another day. River has far more to worry about, though.
Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 5 Recap: David Cartwright’s Real Connection To Frank Harkness & 7 Other Reveals
In Slow Horses season 4, episode 5, viewers discover the connection between David Cartwright & Frank Harkness — as well as the purpose of Les Arbres.
Looping back tothe premiere ofSlow Horsesseason 4, River makes the heartwrenching decision to put his grandfather David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce) in a retirement home. The grandfather feels betrayed, though River realizes it’s something he should have done much earlier since he can’t assist David and his faulty memory on his own. Still, it’s devastating to hear David call out for River. The season ends withRiver and Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) quietly sharing a drink.
Marcus' death proves similarly devastating, though he’s only briefly part of the series. It’s an opportunity to show Lamb’s gentler side, as he goes out of his way to insist to Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) that Marcus' family should get full pay, rather than the halved amount that Taverner initially suggests. It’s emotional for Shirley too, as she comes to appreciate her friendship with Marcus once it’s too late.
Our Take On Slow Horses Season 4
It Shows The Benefits Of Allowing A Show To Evolve
Slow Horsesseason 5, which is confirmed, will focus on Mick Herron’s bookLondon Rules. The Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ Original has always been an entertaining jolt. But with each installment,, the adaptation has taken the opportunity to examine its characters more deeply. That will continue in the upcoming episodes, which focus on Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) and also circles back to the budding romance between River and Louisa Guy (Rosalind Eleazar).
Slow Horses Season 4’s Massive Book Change Is A Relief For Slough House
Ahead of Slow Horses season 4’s premiere, viewers feared that one beloved character wouldn’t return, but, thankfully, that isn’t the case.
At a time when far too many shows are cancelled after a single season, there’s an argument to be made thatSlow Horsesseason 4 is the strongest in terms of building on an emotional investment and paying off the backstory of characters like Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves). It shows the value of giving writer-producer Will Smith the space to grow the adaptation, six episodes at a time.
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.
