Slow Horses Season 5 Ending Explained: What’s Next For MI5

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Warning! This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the Slow Horses season 5 finale.

The latest season of Slow Horses has wrapped up, and it seems like big changes are coming for the show. Season 5 was full of twists and turns, with the Slough House team making some major mistakes before ultimately managing to save London and MI5 from a huge crisis.

Season 5 felt slower and more contained than previous seasons, with most of the action happening in a limited area. However, the finale was gripping. River Cartwright made amends for past errors, Jackson Lamb reaffirmed his skills as a top agent, and MI5 underwent significant changes.

The story was made even more compelling with unexpected twists and revelations that deepened our understanding of the characters. It also skillfully built anticipation for exciting future storylines in Slow Horses, particularly in season 6 and beyond.

Diana Taverner Takes Over As The Head Of MI5

Credit: Sony Pictures Television Studios via MovieStillsDB

In season 4 of Slow Horses, Claude Whelan became the head of MI5, but he struggled in the role. He was often preoccupied with his own problems instead of focusing on leading the organization. As a result, Diana Taverner, a long-serving member of MI5, effectively took charge.

I really noticed the power dynamics in the finale. When Tara, one of the people threatening MI5, demanded to speak to whoever was really in charge, she specifically asked for Diana and totally ignored Claude. It felt like a setup, and it paid off later! Jackson Lamb actually used a recording of Claude to save Slough House and make him resign. It was a clever move and showed exactly who held the real power.

Diana Taverner has officially become the head of MI5, a goal she’s been working towards since the beginning of the series. While her extensive experience makes her well-prepared for the job, leading MI5 will undoubtedly bring new and unforeseen difficulties.

London Is Safe Once Again After A Penetrating Terrorist Attack

Throughout most of Slow Horses season 5, it wasn’t clear who was responsible for the chaos unfolding in London. Although the attackers appeared early on, their identities and reasons for acting remained a mystery for quite some time. However, episodes 5 and 6 revealed them to be a small group of Libyans who had previously been involved in peaceful demonstrations.

Frustrated with how Britain’s military was handling their nation and feeling abandoned, a group of determined individuals planned to get revenge on Claude Whelan. They aimed to publicly shame and expose the head of MI5, believing he was responsible for advising the UK to withdraw from Libya because of the financial burden and lack of benefits.

Honestly, it felt like a really personal attack, happening right out in the open on a huge scale, and so many people – and even poor penguins! – got caught up in it. Luckily, Jackson Lamb and his team figured out what was going on just in the nick of time. They managed to stop anyone from assassinating Mayor Jaffrey and they saved Claude Whelan, which was a huge relief.

Jackson Lamb’s Deformed Feet Reveal A Dark Truth About His Past

Courtesy: Apple TV+

Honestly, one of the weirdest and most memorable moments from the season 5 finale was this really close-up shot of Jackson Lamb’s foot – totally unexpected! It actually connects back to episode 3, where Slough House finally manages to escape the lockdown MI5 had them in. Lamb tells this pretty grim story about a spy being tortured in Russia, and it’s that story that helps them break free. It’s a small detail, but it really stuck with me.

Lamb describes how interrogators tried to force a young spy to reveal classified information. When the spy refused to talk, even while enduring intense pain, they resorted to a horrific tactic. They brought in the spy’s pregnant girlfriend, tortured her, and then killed her, hoping to break him.

The narrative cleverly suggested to Lamb’s team that they could fashion weapons from everyday items, but it also unveiled a painful secret from Lamb’s history. Although Lamb denied being the spy described in the story when Catherine Standish questioned him, the scars on his foot prove he was the man who witnessed the brutal murder of his pregnant partner – the same man featured in the tale.

River Cartwright Is Not Going Back To The Park

In season 5 of Slow Horses, River Cartwright nearly earned his way back to a prestigious position at the Park after saving Claude Whelan’s life. Whelan, as First Desk, had the authority to reinstate Cartwright, and seemed ready to do so. But when Lamb uses blackmail to force Whelan to step down, it becomes clear that Cartwright will remain at Slough House.

Lamb wasn’t trying to punish Cartwright, but he had to prevent Whelan from closing down Slough House. With Diana now in control, Cartwright probably won’t return to MI5 headquarters. She doesn’t like him, especially because his early actions at MI5 uncovered information about Taverner that she’d prefer to remain secret.

How Slow Horses S5’s Ending Sets Up Season 6

As a big fan of Slow Horses, I’m already thinking about season six after that finale! With the leadership shake-up, things are definitely going to be different at Slough House. After the team successfully dealt with the terrorists and basically saved MI5’s bacon, I really hope they finally get the recognition they deserve. It’d be great to see them earn a little more respect, don’t you think?

Despite earlier speculation, the season 6 trailer reveals that Slough House has been completely shut down, putting Lamb and his team in a more dangerous situation than ever before. Expect major changes for both the team and MI5 in the upcoming season of Slow Horses, as it promises to be a thrilling ride.

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2025-10-29 17:29