Following the 2024 premiere ofSlow Horsesseason 4, audiences are already preparing for the fifth season, yet the next installment may face some competition from another similar spy thriller. Since 2022,Slow Horseshas been a rising star in television. With an astonishing 98% onRotten Tomatoes, the series is lauded for its reworking of the espionage genre and its incredible cast, which includes Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, and Kristin Scott Thomas. Now,Slow Horsesseason 5is on the way and season 6 has been confirmed, meaning its reign is not ending any time soon.
At the moment,Slow Horseshas very little competition in its genre. Although there are a number ofpopular crime and spy showsstreaming at the moment, fromReachertoThe Night Agent,Slow Horsesstands out in a few different ways.First and foremost,Slow Horsesstreams on Apple TV+, which means it is the leader on its particular platform. Furthermore,Slow Horsesfeels quite different from shows likeReacherbecause it lacks American sentiments and portrays its characters not as dashing heroes but regular everyday people.
Slow Horses Season 5 Shares DNA With The Amateur (& Could Release Around The Same Time)
What Is The Amateur Explained
For four seasons,Slow Horseshas been able to successfully expand and gather more dedicated viewers, yet season 5 may see a slight hitch with the release ofa spy thriller calledThe Amateur.The 2025 movie followsCharles Heller, a CIA cryptographer who struggles after losing his wifein a terrorist attack. After realizing that his agency won’t do anything about the event, Heller blackmails them into training him so he can get revenge himself.The Amateurstars Rami Malek, alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, and Laurence Fishburne.
The director ofSlow HorsesandThe Amateuris James Hawes.
The Amateurshares some very interesting commonalities withSlow Horses.First and foremost,the director ofSlow Horsesis also directingThe Amateur.Beyond that, it seems as though Heller will loosely resemble the characters at Slough House. Although Heller doesn’t necessarily have the experience to be leading a dangerous operation, he does it anyway, learning as he goes. The same can be said for the “slow horses,” who have been known to mess up jobs, but plow ahead onto important missions anyway. Notably,The Amateur’sterrorist attack occurs in London, which is another connection.
How Slow Horses Is Different From The Amateur
Slow Horses May Benefit From Another Espionage Thriller
Of course,The Amateurisn’t exactly likeSlow Horses.Although Heller will likely be in over his head inThe Amateur,it could be that the movie frames him as a suave spy, which is the complete opposite of whatSlow Horsesattempts to do. Furthermore,Slow Horseshas a heavy emphasis on the ensemble cast, whereasThe Amateurwill likely narrow in on Heller specifically. Plus, once again,Slow Horseswill likely always stand out because of its distinct setting and culture, which feels vastly different from any American production.
Slow Horses Season 4 Ending Explained: What Happens To Frank Harkness & MI5’s Cover-Up
In the Slow Horses season 4 finale, River Cartwright finally comes face-to-face with Frank Harkness, as well Diana Taverner’s team of MI5 agents.
Regardless of similarities and differences,Slow Horsesmay actually benefit from the release ofThe Amateur.If the two projects premiere around the same time,those who enjoyedThe Amateurmay find themselves checking outSlow Horses,or vice versa. Their commonalities seem more like advantages than a sign of doom forSlow Horses.In reality,Slow Horsesprobably won’t actually slow down for many seasons to come.
Slow Horses
Cast
Slow Horses follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents led by the notorious Jackson Lamb. Set against the backdrop of the espionage world, the agents must navigate complex operations and defend England from sinister forces, all while dealing with internal struggles and their abrasive boss.
