The Worst Episodes of Slow Horses
Every episode of Slow Horses ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Slow Horses!
Follow a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Slow Horses" is "Failure’s Contagious", rated 7.5/10 from 2665 user votes. It was directed by James Hawes and written by Will Smith. "Failure’s Contagious" aired on 4/1/2022 and is rated 0.2 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Work Drinks".
7.5/10 2,665 votes#1 - Failure’s Contagious
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/1/2022
River Cartwright is ousted from MI5 and finds himself in a place worse than purgatory: Slough House, dumping ground for failed spies.
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Will Smith
7.7/10 2,322 votes#2 - Work Drinks
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/1/2022
River and Sid join forces. A misfired gun has dire consequences.
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Will Smith
7.9/10 1,622 votes#3 - From Upshott with Love
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 12/2/2022
Lamb liaises with a Russian defector who may hold a clue to sleeper agents. River is on the trail of a ruthless assassin.
Director: Jeremy Lovering
Writer: Morwenna Banks
8.0/10 2,031 votes#4 - Visiting Hours
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 4/15/2022
Taverner sends the Dogs to hunt down Lamb and the Slow Horses. River holds the secret to saving the gang.
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Morwenna Banks
8.0/10 1,799 votes#5 - Last Stop
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 12/2/2022
Jackson Lamb is on high alert after a former spy is found dead. Min and Louisa are tempted by an offer from outside Slough House.
Director: Jeremy Lovering
Writer: Will Smith
8.1/10 2,195 votes#6 - Bad Tradecraft
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/8/2022
Slough House is the unlikely venue for a secret romance, but events take a dark turn when a dangerous encounter becomes deadly.
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Will Smith
8.2/10 2,000 votes#7 - Fiasco
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 4/22/2022
The Slow Horses must disappear to avoid capture by MI5. Lamb and River head to The Park to outwit Taverner.
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood
8.2/10 2,075 votes#8 - Follies
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 4/29/2022
Taverner and the Slow Horses attempt different approaches to locate the kidnappers and Hassan. Ho makes a shocking discovery about Sid.
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Will Smith
8.2/10 1,626 votes#9 - Drinking Games
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 12/9/2022
River gets cozy in the Cotswolds while searching for a sleeper agent. Min discovers Russian drinking games are the most brutal of all.
Director: Jeremy Lovering
Writer: Morwenna Banks
8.2/10 1,696 votes#10 - Strange Games
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 11/29/2023
A romantic relationship in Istanbul ends badly. Lamb hits the panic button when one of his Slow Horses fails to show up for work.
Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer: Will Smith
8.3/10 1,598 votes#11 - Cicada
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 12/16/2022
Louisa makes her move on Pashkin. Catherine makes moves of a different kind when she plays high-stakes chess with a sinister stranger.
Director: Jeremy Lovering
Writer: Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood
8.3/10 1,537 votes#12 - Hard Lessons
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 11/29/2023
River has to steal something out of the Park to save a life. Lamb realizes a stranger game is afoot.
Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer: Will Smith
8.3/10 1,426 votes#13 - Uninvited Guests
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 12/13/2023
Tearney makes a bold move. The Slow Horses assist the Tiger Team, unaware of their hidden agenda. Lamb and Ho take a road trip.
Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer: Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood
8.4/10 482 votes#14 - A Stranger Comes to Town
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 9/11/2024
A naive agent makes a discovery about the Westacres bomber. Lamb suspects that David knows more than he's letting on.
Director: Adam Randall
Writer: Will Smith
8.4/10 267 votes#15 - Penny for Your Thoughts
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 9/18/2024
River is trapped in France. Back at Slough House, the Dogs have come for Lamb.
Director: Adam Randall
Writer: Morwenna Banks
8.6/10 1,667 votes#16 - Boardroom Politics
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 12/23/2022
Lamb orders his Slow Horses to walk into traps. River believes something alarming is heading toward London.
Director: Jeremy Lovering
Writer: Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood
8.6/10 1,784 votes#17 - Old Scores
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 12/30/2022
Lamb and Katinsky go head-to-head. Ho finds himself trapped on a train with a Russian assassin.
Director: Jeremy Lovering
Writer: Will Smith
8.6/10 1,712 votes#18 - Footprints
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 12/27/2023
The Slow Horses fight for their lives. Lamb shares some devastating truths with Catherine.
Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer: Will Smith
8.6/10 819 votes#19 - Identity Theft
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/4/2024
A London bombing puts Taverner under pressure. When River grows concerned for his grandfather, Louisa encourages him to go for a visit.
Director: Adam Randall
Writer: Will Smith
8.7/10 1,643 votes#20 - Negotiating with Tigers
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 12/6/2023
Marcus and Shirley face Lamb's wrath. River discovers revenge is a dish best served cold.
Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer: Will Smith
8.7/10 1,565 votes#21 - Cleaning Up
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 12/20/2023
Taverner and Tearney face off for control of MI5. River and Louisa find themselves caught in the crossfire.
Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer: Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood