Summary
Slow Horses returns with an enticing opener. “Strange Games” includes some tense editing, cinematic chase sequences, and another hilarious turn from Gary Oldman.
Gary Oldman’s iconic Jackson Lamb and the rest of the Slough House gang are back for a third helping of Slow Horses this winter. The hit Apple TV+ series returns for Season 3, promising more high-stakes espionage and plenty of that droll British humor. Episode 1 of the new season, titled “Strange Games,” sets the scene with an intense kidnapping.
It’s great to be back in this spy thriller world for another intricate storyline. As always, you know that you are in safe hands.
Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 1 Recap
The third season opens in Istanbul, making the most of this cinematic setting. We are introduced to lovers Sean Donovan (Sope Dirisu) and Alison Dunn (Katherine Waterston), who also happen to be spies. Alison is saddened to find Sean rifling through her belongings after their latest lovemaking session.
Sean’s been tasked with locating a sensitive file, code-named Footprint, which Alison is about to leak. The couple argue and Sean is ordered to leave. He accepts her request but then follows her through the Turkish city. This soon turns into a chase, one that starts out on foot, before involving both boats and then cars, making for an exciting opener on the whole.
How does Alison Dunn die?
Eventually, Alison makes it to her rendezvous point at a stadium, where she hands over the precious documents. Sean arrives a little later but finds Alison already dead. It appears she has been pushed from a great height by the very man she was meeting with and it has been made to look like a tragic fall instead.
READ: Slow Horses Season 3 Filming Locations and Production
We pick up a year after these events. The Slough House gang is inundated with box after box of files. Disgraced agents River (Jack Lowden) and Catherine (Saskia Reeves) argue over the importance of these documents. River thinks they’re a waste of time, but Catherine is eager to complete her menial tasks professionally, regardless of their relevance. At the end of their shift, River calls Catherine a martyr, upsetting the colleague greatly as they part ways.
Meanwhile, Jackson Lamb goes for a medical checkup. He tells the doctor about his intense drinking and smoking habits. The doctor advises Jackson to start exercising and dieting regularly. The unhealthy agent thinks it’s a little too late for all of that though.
How is Catherine Standish kidnapped?
On his way home, Jackson is followed. At the same time, Catherine goes to an AA meeting. After the meeting, she is quizzed by Sean from the opening scene, who has infiltrated her AA group. They go to a nearby café to talk sponsors, but he’s really after information on Lamb. Spooked, Catherine bolts out of the backdoor. As she hurries away from the café, she is kidnapped by Sean and his team in a passing car.
That same night, Louisa indulges in casual sex with a stranger, whilst Roddy confronts Shirley at a local pub. Roddy wants Shirley to put in a good word for him with Louisa, who he is obsessed with. Louisa is still grieving the loss of her lover Min though. Shirley hits Roddy in response to his vulgar request.
What is Louisa hiding in her flat?
After the one-night stand, Louisa catches the stranger eating her ice cream from the freezer. She orders him to leave immediately. Surprisingly, Louisa is actually hiding a stolen diamond inside the ice cream pot. This links back to the Russian storyline in the previous season.
The next day, the Slough House gang gets back to their tedious duties. Jackson notices that Catherine hasn’t shown up for work and can’t be reached by phone. Concerned that she is missing, Jackson speaks with his co-workers. River thinks he may have upset Catherine, which would explain why she is absent, but he distracts Jackson instead with other information.
River mentions seeing a man (Sean) heading in her direction after they had parted ways the previous night. Marcus and Shirley head over to Catherine’s flat to check if she’s home. Shirley breaks in, finding specific clues that indicate that she has not been at her home since yesterday morning.
How does Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 1 end?
Next, Louisa speaks with the person leading Catherine’s AA meeting. He says that Catherine was last seen heading to a nearby café with the man River had clocked earlier that evening. Louisa investigates the surrounding area, finding vandalized CCTV cameras and Catherine’s hairpin on the ground. Jackson is updated on all the relevant information. He believes that Catherine has been abducted.
The premiere ends with River receiving a message from Catherine’s phone number. He is shown a photograph of Catherine tied up with a gun pointed at her head. River is then called by the kidnappers. He is told to meet at a specific bridge in one minute’s time, or else Catherine will be killed.
What did you think of Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 1? Comment below.
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