Slow Horses backdrop
Crime•Drama•Comedy

The Worst Episodes of Slow Horses

Every episode of Slow Horses ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Slow Horses!

Binge this in 1d 0h•Peaking at 8.8/10

Follow a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

Airs on
Apple TV
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons5

All12345

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 1 - Failure's Contagious
    7.5/10(4365 votes)

    #1 - Failure's Contagious

    S1:E1

    River Cartwright is ousted from MI5 and finds himself in a place worse than purgatory: Slough House, dumping ground for failed spies.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 2 - Work Drinks
    7.7/10(3773 votes)

    #2 - Work Drinks

    S1:E2

    River and Sid join forces. A misfired gun has dire consequences.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 1 - Bad Dates
    7.7/10(2310 votes)

    #3 - Bad Dates

    S5:E1

    A mass shooting rocks London, intensifying a testy mayoral race. Shirley believes one of the Slow Horses was the target of an attempted hit.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Will Smith, Mick Herron

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 2 - From Upshott with Love
    7.8/10(2780 votes)

    #4 - From Upshott with Love

    S2:E2

    Lamb liaises with a Russian defector who may hold a clue to sleeper agents. River is on the trail of a ruthless assassin.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writer:Morwenna Banks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 1 - Last Stop
    7.9/10(3020 votes)

    #5 - Last Stop

    S2:E1

    Jackson Lamb is on high alert after a former spy is found dead. Min and Louisa are tempted by an offer from outside Slough House.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 2 - Incommunicado
    7.9/10(1914 votes)

    #6 - Incommunicado

    S5:E2

    Lamb intercepts an assassin. Taverner receives a key piece of intel about the Abbotsfield shooting.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Will Smith, Mick Herron

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Slow Horses

    READ
  7. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 4 - Visiting Hours
    8.0/10(3362 votes)

    #7 - Visiting Hours

    S1:E4

    Taverner sends the Dogs to hunt down Lamb and the Slow Horses. River holds the secret to saving the gang.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writer:Morwenna Banks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 3 - Bad Tradecraft
    8.1/10(3600 votes)

    #8 - Bad Tradecraft

    S1:E3

    Slough House is the unlikely venue for a secret romance, but events take a dark turn when a dangerous encounter becomes deadly.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 2 - A Stranger Comes to Town
    8.1/10(2341 votes)

    #9 - A Stranger Comes to Town

    S4:E2

    A naive agent makes a discovery about the Westacres bomber. Lamb suspects that David knows more than he's letting on.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 3 - Penny for Your Thoughts
    8.1/10(2259 votes)

    #10 - Penny for Your Thoughts

    S4:E3

    River is trapped in France. Back at Slough House, the Dogs have come for Lamb.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writer:Morwenna Banks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 4 - Returns
    8.1/10(2214 votes)

    #11 - Returns

    S4:E4

    Taverner is desperate to hide dangerous secrets. River seeks answers at his grandfather's house.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 3 - Tall Tales
    8.1/10(1911 votes)

    #12 - Tall Tales

    S5:E3

    An act of sabotage grinds London to a halt. Taverner interrogates Roddy. Coe is convinced a destabilization strategy is at play.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Mick Herron, Sean Gray

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 5 - Fiasco
    8.2/10(3321 votes)

    #13 - Fiasco

    S1:E5

    The Slow Horses must disappear to avoid capture by MI5. Lamb and River head to The Park to outwit Taverner.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Slow Horses Season 1 Episode 6 - Follies
    8.2/10(3432 votes)

    #14 - Follies

    S1:E6

    Taverner and the Slow Horses attempt different approaches to locate the kidnappers and Hassan. Ho makes a shocking discovery about Sid.

    Director:James Hawes
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 3 - Drinking Games
    8.2/10(2765 votes)

    #15 - Drinking Games

    S2:E3

    River gets cozy in the Cotswolds while searching for a sleeper agent. Min discovers Russian drinking games are the most brutal of all.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writer:Morwenna Banks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 4 - Cicada
    8.2/10(2719 votes)

    #16 - Cicada

    S2:E4

    Louisa makes her move on Pashkin. Catherine makes moves of a different kind when she plays high-stakes chess with a sinister stranger.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 1 - Strange Games
    8.2/10(2891 votes)

    #17 - Strange Games

    S3:E1

    A romantic relationship in Istanbul ends badly. Lamb hits the panic button when one of his Slow Horses fails to show up for work.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 4 - Missiles
    8.2/10(1925 votes)

    #18 - Missiles

    S5:E4

    Flyte sets out to find Roddy's girlfriend. The gang is dispatched to two different campaign events to prevent another attack.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Mick Herron, Edward Docx

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 2 - Hard Lessons
    8.3/10(2671 votes)

    #19 - Hard Lessons

    S3:E2

    River has to steal something out of the Park to save a life. Lamb realizes a stranger game is afoot.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 4 - Uninvited Guests
    8.3/10(2557 votes)

    #20 - Uninvited Guests

    S3:E4

    Tearney makes a bold move. The Slow Horses assist the Tiger Team, unaware of their hidden agenda. Lamb and Ho take a road trip.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Slow Horses Season 4 Episode 1 - Identity Theft
    8.4/10(2812 votes)

    #21 - Identity Theft

    S4:E1

    A London bombing puts Taverner under pressure. When River grows concerned for his grandfather, Louisa encourages him to go for a visit.

    Director:Adam Randall
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 5 - Circus
    8.4/10(1942 votes)

    #22 - Circus

    S5:E5

    Lamb debriefs River and Coe. Roddy is pulled in to help decipher a piece of code as the destabilization strategy nears its final stage.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Will Smith, Mick Herron

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Slow Horses Season 5 Episode 6 - Scars
    8.5/10(2165 votes)

    #23 - Scars

    S5:E6

    It's up to the Slow Horses to stop Farouk's team from completing its mission in a final act of mass carnage.

    Director:Saul Metzstein
    Writers:Will Smith, Mick Herron

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 5 - Boardroom Politics
    8.6/10(2824 votes)

    #24 - Boardroom Politics

    S2:E5

    Lamb orders his Slow Horses to walk into traps. River believes something alarming is heading toward London.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writers:Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Slow Horses Season 2 Episode 6 - Old Scores
    8.6/10(3017 votes)

    #25 - Old Scores

    S2:E6

    Lamb and Katinsky go head-to-head. Ho finds himself trapped on a train with a Russian assassin.

    Director:Jeremy Lovering
    Writer:Will Smith

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Failure's Contagious" is the worst rated episode of "Slow Horses". It scored 7.5/10 based on 4365 votes. Directed by James Hawes and written by Will Smith, it aired on 4/1/2022. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Work Drinks".