Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Identity Theft

Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1, “Identity Theft,” marks our return to Slough House and reunites us with all our favorite rejects.

However, it is an unusual premiere episode.

For one, early on in the episode, we’re led to believe that River is dead. His death happens in such a quick, strange manner that you immediately want to discredit it. But then, the show continues with the ruse for so long that you think maybe you were wrong, and he’s actually dead.

Aside from Lamb, River is one of the show’s main characters, and as such, you’d expect that his death would happen under certain circumstances. It would be a big, drawn-out thing or a heroic moment where he saves the day or another beloved character.

His death wouldn’t have happened as the result of his grandfather not remembering who he is and killing him in the bathroom in such a rapid manner during the season premiere.

Between the fact that we don’t get a good look at the guy and David going to a photo of him and River before going up the stairs and firing, there are plenty of hints that the person (fully dressed!) in David’s shower is not River.

And yet, Lamb positively identifies the body as River’s, and we see Slough House react to the news — Roddy’s reaction is as expected, and Louisa’s (and Shirley’s!) reaction is surprisingly devastating.

The reveal of River being alive comes at the very end of “Identity Theft,” and it doesn’t happen the way Lamb is expecting, which says quite a lot.

The reveal makes for an exciting lead into Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 2, “A Stranger Comes to Town,” but the question of what happened to River lingers over “Identity Theft,” tainting our viewing experience as we watch the rest of the episode.

As the episode progresses, you mainly just want the show to reveal the truth about River, whether that’s him walking into Slough House or the group determining he’s being held hostage somewhere  — My brain really did go through every possible scenario as to what happened with him.

So, it feels as if the episode is slowly dragging on because time is spent on everything but River. The rest of the episode isn’t bad by any means, but our (or at least my) focus is elsewhere.

The Park’s shenanigans aren’t engaging enough to make us forget about him and focus on this bombing investigation. Sure, somehow River’s side quest will end up dovetailing into the bombing case, and so eventually we’ll become a bit more invested in it but not right at this moment.

All we really care about right now is River and Slough House.

Stray Thoughts

• Marcus and Shirley placing bets that involve waterboarding and paper clips is very them.
• Diana deserves better than to be passed up for first desk by a man who doesn’t know what he is doing.
• Louisa and River are so much fun together. I need more.
• It’s too soon to tell on Emma. She could be a fun addition.
• There are so many newbies in Slough House!
• Roddy being dressed up and the only person at the holiday party makes me love him even more.
• River potentially going to Catherine says so much about their friendship.
• I’m going to need Louisa and/or Shirley to punch River the moment they see him.

What did you think of this episode of Slow Horses? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Slow Horses airs Wednesdays on Apple TV+.

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