Slow Horses, an exciting spy story on AppleTV+, is back with a new episode “Returns” that delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the London bombings. The stakes are raised in Episode 4 when the evil reasons behind Frank Harkness’ actions are revealed. At the same time, a web of international plot starts to form. This episode not only shows what happened after the bombings, but it also reveals MI5 secrets that have been kept secret for a long time and gives River Cartwright a shocking new link.
The Plan to Bomb Frank Harkness
In a shocking turn of events, it turns out that Frank Harkness planned both the bombs and the attempt to kill MI5 veteran David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce). After first showing up in France in Season 2, Frank comes back to the show in London for a secret meeting in a fancy flat. At that point, we see him talking to a high-ranking Middle Eastern royal who hired Frank to do the bombing. This unknown person wanted to kill a certain person in what was meant to be a clean operation, but terrible things happened.
It was supposed to be a “accidental” death for the target, but it turned into a public suicide bombing that made it hard to find Frank and his boss. Frank’s name as a hitman is in danger because he failed to kill the target cleanly and because the bomber, Robert Winters, left a video. Not only did the plan fail, but it also showed ties to MI5. This makes his client very angry. Frank buys some time by offering to silence anyone who could figure out the plot. He is in danger of being executed.
A dangerous mission to hide the tracks
Right now Frank only has one job to do: eliminate anyone who could link the botched explosion to the secret things MI5 was doing. Frank says that he has tried to eliminate David Cartwright, and Sam Chapman, who used to work as security for David. Throughout the show there are indications that Frank has some ill feelings towards the two men; which probably explains why he was inclined to take on this mission. .
Frank sends a killer to kill Chapman and Cartwright just as he is getting ready to tie up loose ends. It’s still not clear what Frank wants, but it’s clear that both the bombing and the attempts on his life are connected to a bigger plan involving MI5’s secret creation of fake identities, or “cold bodies,” like Robert Winters.
The situation at MI5 gets worse when Giti Rahman finds out that Robert Winters is using a fake name. This brings up more questions. Her research shows that Winters wasn’t just a made-up name; it was an MI5 creation, which means that the bombs were planned by someone from the agency. However, MI5 does not want this information to be known by the people. As a result, the Second Desk at MI5, Diana Taverner attempts to conceal the investigation by transferring Rahman to a different post so she cannot further investigate. Things go further south between Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her superior, First Desk Whelan, after Whelan begins to suspect Taverner of amorous interest in him.
Whelan instructs Rahman to investigate other such fake identities as this one, and Taverner continues to withhold key details from both of them in order to maintain the chain of command. Through Taverner’s work behind the scenes to hide MI5’s dirty secrets, the episode shows how these two leaders are still competing for power.
A Race Against Time to Save David Cartwright
David Cartwright is in great danger because he is lost in London and his Alzheimer’s is making it harder for him to remember things. MI5 races to find David before it’s too late as Frank’s killer gets closer. At the same time, Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman)‘s agents at Slough House are keen to keep David away from MI5, because they think that if they do, David will be blamed for the bombings.
In an exciting scene, Catherine Standish and Sam Chapman are in a race against time to find David before MI5 does. Just in time, they get to him at a hotel that used to be MI5’s main office. But Frank’s killer isn’t far behind. In a brutal scene, the killer attacks Chapman and kills him, leaving his fate unknown.
River Cartwright’s Shocking Connection
River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) comes back from France at the end of the show, having found some strange clues about his family’s past. River gets the evidence that he may be associated with the gang at Les Arbes, the same gang which was connected with Frank Harkness. This could change everything. River stumbles on some paintings linked to a woman of intrigue that once lived in Les Arbes while sorting through his grandfather’s items. River might not be David’s biological child after all now that this information has come to light. Emma Flyte from MI5 catches up with River as he thinks about what he has learnt. This sets the scene for an intense questioning in the next episode.
By the end of episode 4 of Slow Horses, various plots set the scene as to what actually happened with the bombs and the secrets of MI5 missions. There are more at stake than ever before: David Cartwright is a man in hiding, River has a new connection and Frank Harkness targets to hunt. Individuals are sitting on the fence during this show, and with just the remaining two episodes, these questions will climax in a big way..
Slow Horses Season 4 Premiere: Is River Cartwright Dead? What Really Happened to Him?
