‘Slow Horses’ Recap: ‘Returns’

9/25/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jonathan Price as David Cartwright in Episode 404 of ‘Slow Horses’ – ‘Returns’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 404 of ‘Slow Horses’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.

Normally in a spy story, the cat and mouse game, the give and take that we so enjoy, takes place between the villain and the spy. For they are always set up as the immovable object and the unstoppable force, destined to fight and endure their little dance, and we of course… love that. Because it is a new iteration of good versus evil and it always plays out in a clever manner, one full of twists and turns and this formula works so well it is rarely deviated from. Which is why this week’s episode of Slow Horses on Apple TV+ is of note. Simply because, ‘Returns’, once again, found new ways to bring forth a good old-fashioned cat and mouse game.

After all, it wasn’t just MI5 and Slough House versus Frank Harkness and his dastardly plans in this tale. It was MI5 versus Slough House, and even MI5 versus MI5. Simply because there are secrets that so many are trying to keep and that fight to keep them in the shadows and the fight to reveal them brought about an episode filled with a stunning cat and mouse game. One that saw Taverner and Claude duke it out at MI5 since he took the time to re-open the files and showcase that he had plans to still set things right. Which of course, meant that MI5 had to find David Cartwright post haste and that was no easy task either.

Because he was simply on the streets, moving about without any apparent purpose or direction. Which prompted a little gathering at Slough House to ponder upon what was happening and why, and Chapman finally filled in some blanks on the matter. By revealing that David sent him to that creepy cottage many years ago to basically, buy a woman. For all he did was transport cash and guns and IDs and everything mercenaries would need to France, and he brought home one of Harkness’ brides and she sadly… disappeared into the world and that was that regarding that matter. In large part because that offered minimal clues on what was going on in London, but also because… that conversation flagged David’s position.

Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness in Episode 404 of ‘Slow Horses’ – ‘Returns’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Simply because the conversation turned to the fact that something David declared he wanted to accomplish before he disappeared, was to talk to First Desk, and that of course was interpreted as language that indicated he was heading to The Park. But with a wonky memory in hand, that likely meant instead he was heading to the old MI5 HQ. An epiphany that pushed Slough House to head that way post haste, and indeed, compete with MI5 in the process. For they too put this together, giving rise to a tense race against time that ended in a bittersweet manner. Because while Slough House got to David first, they likely lost a good ally in Sam. Mainly because a resurgent and frightened Harkness, whom we learned is getting paid handsomely by a prince from a faraway land to cause trouble, saw to it that his super strength lackey, met up with Sam to get some answers as to the whereabouts of David.

Yet while all of that could have carried this episode and truly did showcase a different kind of cat and mouse game, the show wasn’t done with such matters just yet. After all, River was heading back to London and MI5 and Flyte were quite interested in meeting up with him. Something he denied them for a better part of this episode. Since he was able to evade them at the train station, and he managed to mostly evade them back at the Cartwright estate. Where he returned to, to get some answers. Because something about this mission bothered him deeply, and certain aspects of it were familiar and in digging through memories, it was heavily implied that the woman that came back to London with Chapman… may know River in a more intimate manner than expected. In fact, it was implied she might be his mother.

But of course, any further information on that will have to wait, mainly because… Flyte managed to find a way to meet River face to face in that very house. Giving rise to trouble for him and that left us… with another stellar episode. One that truly was filled to the brim with amazing tension and amazing moments and above all… a stunningly different cat and mouse game. One mostly played by the good people of MI5 at every level, and you really don’t see that in spy stories all that often and that made, for one enjoyable ride. One that of course, has us ready for next week’s episode since it would seem we are so, so close to finally having the answers we seek, and it will indeed be interesting to learn about all of the secrets MI5 is hiding as we inch toward the end of season four of this brilliant series. Until next time.

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