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The Worst Episodes of Slow Horses

Every episode of Slow Horses ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Slow Horses!

Binge this in 1d 0h•Peaking at 8.5/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 1 - Failure's Contagious
    7.3/10(44 votes)

    #1 - Failure's Contagious

    S1:E1

    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

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  2. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 2 - Work Drinks
    7.5/10(38 votes)

    #2 - Work Drinks

    S1:E2

    River and Sid join forces. A misfired gun has dire consequences.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writer:Will Smith

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  3. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 4 - Visiting Hours
    7.6/10(34 votes)

    #3 - Visiting Hours

    S1:E4

    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

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  4. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 1 - Last Stop
    7.6/10(34 votes)

    #4 - Last Stop

    S2:E1

    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

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  5. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 4 - Cicada
    7.7/10(31 votes)

    #5 - Cicada

    S2:E4

    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
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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  6. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 3 - Bad Tradecraft
    7.8/10(34 votes)

    #6 - Bad Tradecraft

    S1:E3

    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

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  7. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 2 - From Upshott with Love
    7.8/10(30 votes)

    #7 - From Upshott with Love

    S2:E2

    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

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  8. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 - Bad Dates
    7.8/10(25 votes)

    #8 - Bad Dates

    S5:E1

    A mass shooting rocks London, intensifying a testy mayoral race. Shirley believes one of the Slow Horses was the target of an attempted hit.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writer:Will Smith

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  9. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 6 - Follies
    7.9/10(35 votes)

    #9 - Follies

    S1:E6

    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

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  10. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 1 - Strange Games
    7.9/10(29 votes)

    #10 - Strange Games

    S3:E1

    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

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  11. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 2 - Incommunicado
    7.9/10(23 votes)

    #11 - Incommunicado

    S5:E2

    Lamb intercepts an assassin. Taverner receives a key piece of intel about the Abbotsfield shooting.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writer:Will Smith

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  12. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 5 - Fiasco
    8.0/10(37 votes)

    #12 - Fiasco

    S1:E5

    The Slow Horses must disappear to avoid capture by MI5. Lamb and River head to The Park to outwit Taverner.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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  13. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 3 - Drinking Games
    8.0/10(31 votes)

    #13 - Drinking Games

    S2:E3

    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

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  14. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3 - Tall Tales
    8.0/10(20 votes)

    #14 - Tall Tales

    S5:E3

    An act of sabotage grinds London to a halt. Taverner interrogates Roddy. Coe is convinced a destabilization strategy is at play.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writer:Sean Gray

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  15. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 2 - Hard Lessons
    8.1/10(27 votes)

    #15 - Hard Lessons

    S3:E2

    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

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  16. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 3 - Penny for Your Thoughts
    8.1/10(22 votes)

    #16 - Penny for Your Thoughts

    S4:E3

    River is trapped in France. Back at Slough House, the Dogs have come for Lamb.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writer:Morwenna Banks

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  17. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 4 - Returns
    8.1/10(23 votes)

    #17 - Returns

    S4:E4

    Taverner is desperate to hide dangerous secrets. River seeks answers at his grandfather's house.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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  18. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 3 - Negotiating with Tigers
    8.2/10(28 votes)

    #18 - Negotiating with Tigers

    S3:E3

    Marcus and Shirley face Lamb's wrath. River discovers revenge is a dish best served cold.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writer:Will Smith

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  19. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 4 - Uninvited Guests
    8.2/10(27 votes)

    #19 - Uninvited Guests

    S3:E4

    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
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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  20. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 5 - Boardroom Politics
    8.3/10(29 votes)

    #20 - Boardroom Politics

    S2:E5

    Lamb orders his Slow Horses to walk into traps. River believes something alarming is heading toward London.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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  21. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 6 - Old Scores
    8.3/10(30 votes)

    #21 - Old Scores

    S2:E6

    Lamb and Katinsky go head-to-head. Ho finds himself trapped on a train with a Russian assassin.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writer:Will Smith

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  22. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1 - Identity Theft
    8.3/10(24 votes)

    #22 - Identity Theft

    S4:E1

    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

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  23. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 2 - A Stranger Comes to Town
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    #23 - A Stranger Comes to Town

    S4:E2

    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

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  24. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 5 - Grave Danger
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    #24 - Grave Danger

    S4:E5

    Lamb questions David about France as River comes face to face with the enemy.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writers:Will Smith, Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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  25. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 5 - Cleaning Up
    8.4/10(29 votes)

    #25 - Cleaning Up

    S3:E5

    Taverner and Tearney face off for control of MI5. River and Louisa find themselves caught in the crossfire.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Failure's Contagious" is the worst rated episode of "Slow Horses". It scored 7.3/10 based on 44 votes. Directed by James Hawes and written by Will Smith, it aired on 4/1/2022. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Work Drinks".