Slow Horses Season 5 Is Here — Why Gary Oldman's Slough House Is Still TV's Best Spy Show on Apple TV+

Jackson Lamb Is Back — And He's Grosser (and Greater) Than Ever

Slow Horses Season 5 has galloped onto Apple TV+, and Gary Oldman's flatulent, brilliant, gloriously disgusting Jackson Lamb remains the best character on television. Based on Mick Herron's London Rules novel, the new season throws Slough House's screw-up spies into a fresh nightmare: a London mayoral race, a terrorist threat, and River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) questioning everything about the job.

What Makes Season 5 Sing

The formula hasn't changed, and that's the genius of it. Showrunner Will Smith (not that one — the British comedy writer behind Veep) keeps the machine humming: Lamb abuses his team, Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas, icier than ever) schemes from Regent's Park, and the Slow Horses stumble into saving the day despite themselves.

This season's standouts: Saskia Reeves gets a meatier turn as Catherine Standish, Christopher Chung's Roddy Ho continues stealing every scene, and new guest star Nick Mohammed (Nate from Ted Lasso — yes, really) adds chaos.

Why Slow Horses Is the Fall 2026 Show You Can't Skip

Every fall TV preview puts Slow Horses alongside heavyweights like Netflix's Monster Season 4 (the Ed Gein story with Charlie Hunnam) and Apple's own VisionQuest. Here's why it keeps winning:

• Consistency: five seasons, zero bad ones — unheard of in prestige TV
• Episodes that respect you: tight 40-minute chapters, no bloat, weekly drops done right
• Already renewed: Season 6 (adapting Joe Country) and Season 7 are confirmed
• Awards magnet: Oldman and Scott Thomas keep collecting nominations

The Verdict

In a fall packed with Fallout Season 2, Stranger Things Season 5, and Gen V Season 2, Slow Horses is the connoisseur's pick. Start from Season 1 if you're new; the whole glorious run is on Apple TV+. Slow Horses Season 5 is streaming now on Apple TV+.