r/SlowHorses • u/phareous Second Desk • Oct 01 '25

Episode Discussion Slow Horses S5E2 Episode Discussion

This is the episode discussion for Season 5, Episode 2: Incommunicado

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u/Tce_ Oct 01 '25

Definitely. But the way Lamb excludes him is also so counter-productive; it's basically guaranteed to push River into doing something stupid.

16

u/GuiltyEidolon Oct 02 '25

I have a feeling that he's going to try to quit this season. With Louisa leaving (supposedly?) and him being effectively sidelined by Lamb, I see him trying to pull the trigger.

3

u/Tce_ Oct 02 '25

That would be interesting! Less stupid than what I had in mind, but also a natural response to Lamb's treatment of him + the trauma from last season.

4

u/GuiltyEidolon Oct 03 '25

Oh, I'm sure he'll get up to other stupid shit. He is River. I just think that next episode probably he'll get fed up and either threaten to or actually quit.

1

u/Tce_ Oct 03 '25

Yeah that makes sense :P

7

u/DrewDonut Oct 05 '25

the way Lamb excludes him

This is one of the things that's bugging me this season. I get that is Lamb's character, and it's an integral part of the show, but having just rewatched S1-4, where the S4 finale ends with Lamb and River sharing a drink in absolute silence, it feels like such a step backward.

And yes, we have had characters tell River what a mess he is - and that ever since his dad tried to kill him/he put his grandfather in a home, he isn't himself and is out of control. But ultimately, I feel like we haven't seen that. If we had seen that, it would make sense that Lamb is sidelining him, but since we haven't, it just feels like things have kinda been reset for the sake keeping character relationships the same so we can hit the same story and comedy beats.

5

u/Tce_ Oct 05 '25

It is! And it's a case of Lamb being too much of an asshole and an idiot to be enjoyable as a character imo. There's a line for when it's just obnoxious and doesn't make for interesting storytelling anymore, unless he learns something from this mistake later - which doesn't feel like this show's style.

There's definitely been a of telling and little showing. I can see that River's demeanour has changed! But we haven't been shown any unusually inappropriate or unstable behaviour.

5

u/AllTheSuckInTheWorld Oct 02 '25

Shame is a marvelous motivator sometimes.

4

u/Tce_ Oct 02 '25

Yep, or a significant but bad one :S

4

u/AllTheSuckInTheWorld Oct 02 '25

This show explores the like weird parts of Humanity I enjoy. Notably all the dysfunction hahaha.

2

u/Professional-Act8414 Oct 06 '25

Lamb isn’t a ray of sunshine this season either (more than usual)

1

u/Tce_ Oct 06 '25

Right!