Slow Horses Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2 Review: Last Stop / From Upshott With Love
Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 1, “Last Stop,” and Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 2, “From Upshott With Love,” deliver a solid Season 2 premiere.
Aside from the appearance of two newbies, it feels as if we’ve never left Slough House. It’s easy to fall back into a familiar rhythm with Jackson and company as they go about the day, bantering and bickering with each other.
I cannot stress how immensely happy it makes me to watch them jokingly crush each other’s souls, especially when Jackson is involved. It’s a good time and one of the reasons why we fell in love with this group in the first place.
Season 1 set up how Slough House is a place for the agency’s rejects who are sent there as punishment where they will do absolutely nothing. It’s not real spy work, especially not when compared to The Park. As the season progressed, we finally get to see the team do some spy work, much to everyone’s (mainly River’s) delight.
So, it is a relief to see that Season 2 skips that preamble and dives into Slough House taking on a case.
This is still Slough House, so it’s less of an official case and more of everyone trying to figure out what Jackson is looking into and running off to be of value.
Yes, we still have moments of people commenting on the lackluster abilities of the group, but it’s not the focus. Everyone minus Marcus is off doing something important for the case, and Min and Louisa are off on their own side mission for Spider, which will undoubtedly connect to the cicada mystery.
When it comes to The Park, so far, it is primarily in the background, which is great. We covered them extensively in Season 1, so we don’t need to re-tread the same ground. Instead, it seems like we will only tap into that side when it serves the Slough House story, which is how it should be.
River and Jackson were a fun dynamic in Season 1, and Slow Horses Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2 do a decent job of developing their relationship.
River’s still trying his best to do some real spy work, set on showing Jackson that he can figure things out and do a good job. Instead of Jackson shutting him down, which is what he primarily did last season, he lets River into what he’s learned and gives River assignments.
While Jackson’s still an ass a lot of the time, he voluntarily takes on the role of a somewhat supportive boss with River, which is fantastic. Also, River’s joy at being handed a cover at the end of “From Upshott With Love” is just one of the reasons why I love him.
I’m excited to see where their relationship goes this season.
Stray Thoughts
- I have not forgotten about Sid Baker. I still want answers.
- Min is stressing me out as he makes poor life decisions and tails the Russians.
- Catherine is crushing it at her job, and well, everyone’s job.
- Jackson writing a decent recommendation for River is beyond adorable. He’s so bitter about it.
What did you think of this episode of Slow Horses? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New episodes of Slow Horses premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.
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Allison Nichols
Allison is in a love affair with television that doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Slightly damaged fictional characters are her weakness. She loves to spend her free time curled up with a cat and a show to binge-watch. Allison is a Tomatometer-approved critic (Rotten Tomatoes).