Apple TV Plus green lights Slow Horses season 5 as hit spy show sets new record for the streamer
Not so slow after all, eh?
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Slow Horseshas been renewed for a fifth season onAppleTV Plus – and set a new record for the streaming service in the process.
PerVariety, the hit spy thriller series will return for a fifth outing on one of the world’sbest streaming servicesafter the company’s film and TV division saw fit to green-light another entry. Season 5’s fast-tracking follows hot on the heels of the season 3 finale’s release on December 27, 2023, and 18 months afterSlow Horsesseasons 3 and 4 were simultaneously announced in June 2022.
It’s not a huge surprise to seeSlow Horsesrenewed for another installment. The Gary Oldman-fronted show is one of Apple’s most popular and critically acclaimed TV originals. Indeed, according to review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, the series' three previous seasons have scored 92% or higher among fans and critics alike – evidence thatApple TV Plusis more than a sci-fi fan’s paradise and/or a one-man show in multi-award-winning soccer comedy seriesTed Lasso.
For those unfamiliar with the program:Slow Horsesis based on Mick Herron’s Slough House book series, which follows the trials and tribulations of MI5 rejects who are seemingly resigned to spending their days conducting mundane paperwork and other trivial tasks. However, despite being led by the irritable, sloth-like Jackson Lamb (Oldman), Slough House’s gang of misfits – known as the titular ‘slow horses’ – always find a way to wrap themselves up in threats to the UK’s national security.
It’s a classic underdog story with relatable and hilarious characters (Oldman’s cruelly humorous Lamb is the pick of the bunch) and fun-filled, espionage-based plots that’ll thrill and delight in equal measure. No shock that it takes pride of place on ourbest Apple TV Plus showsguide, then.
A speedy renewal – and an Apple TV Plus landmark
Delighted as we are to hear thatSlow Horseswill be back for season 5, we’re even more pleased that the show has finally broken a long-standing Apple TV Plus record.
Until now, no other Apple TV original had made it past the four-season mark. Indeed, only two other series –For All Mankind(ongoing) andServant(ended after season 4) – have progressed past Apple’s seemingly desirable three-season plan. Where the former is concerned, Apple hasn’t officially confirmed a fifth season, althoughFor All Mankind’s continuing popularity means I expect it to be renewed.
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Even if it is, it’sSlow Horsesthat’s broken new ground by galloping past the season 4 mark to make Apple TV Plus history. Other popular shows might follow suit, such asThe Morning Show,Foundation,Mythic Quest, andThe Snoopy Show. Meanwhile,For All Mankind’s showrunners have a seven-season plan for their sci-fi hit, soSlow Horsescould end up being eclipsed in the years to come if it doesn’t return for more entries post-season 5.
For now, though, Lamb and his merry band of maverick agents can bask in the glow of being the first Apple TV Plus original to break the four-season barrier. If that’s not worth a celebratory nap for the ever-sluggish Lamb, I don’t know what is. While we wait forSlow Horsesseasons 4 and 5 to arrive,watch one of these six intrigue-packed thrillers.
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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
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