In Slow Horses Season 4, the tension escalates as River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) embarks on a perilous mission to France, adding a gripping new chapter to Apple TV+’s unconventional spy thriller. Adapted from Mick Herron’s Spook Street, this season delivers a complex narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, especially as River navigates his grandfather’s deteriorating mental state and uncovers a conspiracy that runs deeper than MI5 anticipated.
Episode 2, “A Stranger Comes to Town,” raises the stakes for River as he decides to disappear from the grid, convincing his colleagues at Slough House and MI5 that he’s dead. But why does River want to be presumed dead? What awaits him in the small, desolate French town of Lavande? Here’s a deep dive into River’s motives and the shocking revelations that unfold in Slow Horses Season 4.
A Grandfather’s Mistake and a Family in Crisis
The new season begins with David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce), River’s grandfather and a former MI5 agent, grappling with dementia. When David mistakenly kills an intruder in his home, he fears he may have accidentally shot his own grandson. In a panic, he presses his emergency button, calling MI5 to the scene.
Emma Flyte (Ruth Bradley), the new Head of the Dogs, arrives and discovers a body she assumes is River, as the victim has River’s wallet and ID. Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) is called in to identify the body, and although he knows River is still alive, he plays along, keeping River’s cover intact. This decision leaves the other agents in Slough House believing River is dead.
Why River Wanted to Be Presumed Dead
The reveal in Episode 2 that River is alive but wanted to be presumed dead leaves viewers questioning his motives. The answer lies in the aftermath of the home invasion. After David kills a man who looks eerily similar to River, the real River arrives at his grandfather’s house and finds him standing over the intruder’s body, shotgun in hand. Realizing they are running out of time before MI5 arrives, River takes drastic measures.
To protect himself and his grandfather, River disfigures the intruder’s face using the shotgun and plants his own ID on the body, effectively staging his own death. By doing so, River hopes to evade MI5’s oversight and continue investigating who this look-alike assassin was and what led him to target David.
A Mysterious Ticket to France
River’s investigation takes a dark turn when he discovers a return-trip ticket to Lavande, a small town in France, in the pockets of the dead man. Along with the ticket, he finds diazepam, indicating the intruder was likely planning to use the sedative to kill David. These clues push River to pursue the assassin’s trail in France, believing that Lavande holds the key to unlocking the mystery behind the attack.
Determined to learn more about his grandfather’s would-be assassin, River heads to France, using the dead man’s ID and ticket as a cover.
A Journey to Lavande: Secrets in the French Countryside
Once in Lavande, River quickly realizes that the town is far from ordinary. As he explores the rural, deserted streets, River stumbles upon an abandoned estate on the outskirts of the town, which seems to be a breeding ground for dark, unsettling activities.
The estate is littered with ominous remnants: books on warfare, stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, and even disturbing signs of children—baby prams and toys scattered throughout the compound. These findings suggest the possibility of child soldiers being trained or radicalized in this remote location, adding a chilling layer to River’s investigation.
The Hunt for Clues Turns Deadly
While River searches the compound, he comes across a photograph that raises even more questions. In the picture, an older man, later revealed to be played by Hugo Weaving, stands with several younger men around an animal they’ve hunted. This cryptic image ties the older man to the assassin who tried to kill David, indicating a larger conspiracy at play.
Just as River begins to piece together the clues, Weaving’s character ambushes him. In a violent confrontation, the older man nearly strangles River, but the attack is interrupted when a mysterious figure, who has been tailing River since his arrival in France, bursts into the compound and kidnaps him. This shocking twist leaves viewers with more questions than answers: Who is this new assailant? And how does this all connect to the WestAcres bombing, a key plot point from the previous episode?
Slough House’s Involvement
Meanwhile, back in London, Jackson Lamb is aware that River is alive but keeps his mission under wraps. Despite instructing the rest of Slough House to maintain the illusion that River is dead, Lamb ensures his team offers whatever remote assistance they can. In classic Slow Horses fashion, Slough House agents continue to conceal their true objectives from MI5’s higher-ups, including the manipulative Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas).
As new layers of the conspiracy unfold, it becomes evident that River’s investigation may be tied to the WestAcres bombing, which was carried out by the bomber known as “Robert Winters.” Could the Lavande compound be connected to this broader plot? And what dark secrets does River’s mission in France truly hold?
What’s Next for River Cartwright?
The upcoming episodes of Slow Horses Season 4 promise to unravel even more of this complex mystery, with River’s abduction marking a pivotal moment in the series. As he delves deeper into the dangerous web of espionage, River will need all his skills—and perhaps the help of his Slough House colleagues—to survive the threats lurking in the shadows.
Fans of the series won’t have to wait long to find out what happens next. New episodes of Slow Horses premiere every Wednesday on Apple TV+ through October 9, 2024.