Who is likely to die in Slow Horses Season 4? Explored

 Jack Lowden as River Cartwright (Image via Apple TV+)
Jack Lowden as River Cartwright (Image via Apple TV+)

The new season of Slow Horses teases a major character's death. This spy thriller based on the popular spy novels by Mick Herron isn't afraid to balance action with drama, suspense, and humor, which has made it a hit on Apple TV+ in its first three seasons.

Season 4 of the show, based on Mick Herron's spy novels, is set to release on September 4, 2024. As per the trailer, River's grandfather, David Cartwright, will be involved in the show this time. The show is known for the sarcastic one-line remarks of Jackson Lamb, played by Gary Oldman. But in the trailer, he surprises fans by telling a detective that one of his team members has died.

Slow Horses follows a group of MI5 agents who have screwed up and are sent to Slough House, led by the talented but disheveled Jackson Lamb. While the show has funny moments, it doesn't shy away from the real danger these agents face - some have already died in previous seasons. Spider and Min Harper were killed off in the earlier seasons. Sid Baker also died in the first season.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this article are the author's take on the upcoming season. This article might also carry spoilers for the show.


Who faces the highest risk of dying in

Slow Horses season 4?

Slough House could be in for another loss in season 4 of Slow Horses. The trailer, released on August 13, 2024, puts several characters on edge and ends with Lamb hinting that one of his team members didn't make it. The victim can be anyone, but it is also to be remembered that the plot could also refer to River's fake death, which is depicted in the book Spook Street.

This year's installment starts with a bang when a shocking suicide bombing in a shopping center puts MI5's secrets at risk. The mismatched team of agents spring into action. The fourth episode features special guest star Hugo Weaving, known for his role in The Matrix, as Frank Harkness, a ruthless enemy with a personal vendetta against the agents and an unexpected connection to River.

At the end of the trailer, a new villain named Frank says to River,

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to kill you."

This raises the question of whether the show will surprise us by killing off its main character, River; at the same time, we see the rest of the team in action, so it's possible that any one of them could be in danger this season.


How is River’s death faked in the books?

The trailer for Slow Horses season 4 suggests that one of Lamb's agents might not make it, but the books say it's unlikely to be River. He's a big deal at Slough House, a rising star whose career took a hit after a messed-up training exercise. The new season is based on Spook Street, the fourth book in the series.

River is a crucial character in the story, juggling his spy work and caring for his grandfather, David. At one point in the book, it seems like River has died, with Lamb identifying his body. But this is just a trick by Lamb to distract everyone, and River is still alive and investigating. Because of this plot twist and how important River is to the show, it's unlikely that he will die in season 4 of Slow Horses. But this does not leave out the possibility of someone from the team dying in the show.


How does the trailer tease the death of a team member in the show?

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At the beginning of the trailer, we see that David Cartwright, River's grandfather, is showing some worrying signs of dementia. Unfortunately, those worries turn out to be true. River must deal with his grandfather's deteriorating mental state while dealing with a devastating bombing that kills dozens of civilians. Season 4 will be intense and tackle some challenging issues head-on.

There is also a high chance that the show might bring a new twist by showing the death of one of the major characters in the show, which might change the entire course of the show; the season 4 teaser trailer reveals that one of Jackson Lamb's team has died as announced by Gary Oldman's character.


All the previous three seasons of Slow Horses are available for fans to stream on Apple TV+.

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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala