'Masterpiece' series with 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating returns to TV today

One of telly's finest offerings from 2024 has somehow managed to get even more brilliant with its fifth series.

MI5 thriller Slow Horses has made its comeback with a flawless Rotten Tomatoes rating following glowing praise from critics.

The espionage drama, adapted from Mick Herron's Slough House book series, features Harry Potter star Gary Oldman as the gruff boss Jackson Lamb.

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The show centres on a misfit squad of British spies operating from a division rather cruelly dubbed Slough House.

Having been banished to this unwanted MI5 outpost following catastrophic blunders that destroyed their careers, they must work through the shadowy world of intelligence to protect Britain, reports the Express.

Alongside Gary, the ensemble features Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar and Christopher Chung, who takes centre stage in this latest chapter.

Drawing from the fifth Slough House novel, London Rules, the plot summary for series five hints: "In season 5 of Slow Horses, everyone is suspicious when resident tech nerd Roddy Ho has a glamorous new girlfriend.

"When a series of increasingly bizarre events occur across the city, it falls to the Slow Horses to work out how everything is connected.

"After all, Jackson Lamb knows that in the world of espionage, the London Rules - cover your back - always apply."

Slow Horses series one debuted in April 2022, with the second and third series arriving in December 2022 and November 2023 respectively.

Whilst the first and third secured near-flawless Rotten Tomatoes ratings, the second and fourth, which hit screens last year, managed to achieve a perfect 100%.

At the time, it set a new record for Apple TV+, as the 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for season four meant the show has never dipped below 98% since its launch, making it officially the streamer's highest-rated show ever.

Previous series were hailed as a "masterpiece" by viewers, who dubbed it essential viewing with a "sublime" ensemble cast.

The fourth was also crowned Rotten Tomatoes' top television programme of 2024, and the fifth appears poised to follow suit, judging by initial reviews.

A reviewer from The Age penned: "It's this mix of high-octane action, humour - sometimes juvenile, sometimes sophisticated, always dark - and human frailty that makes Slow Horses such a compelling watch."

Another critique stated: "And, after a pretty good but not great season four, season five is a true tour de force that gives every member of Slough House a chance to shine."

"Slow Horses, Season 5, continues to test the limits of audience expectations, and comes one step closer to becoming truly iconic," a third penned.

A Metro reviewer commented: "I can't think of a thing I didn't like about it. The cast is brilliant, the story's engaging, and the dialogue sharper than ever."

Meanwhile, a FandomWire critic commented: "For those worrying that Slow Horses is moving too expediently for its own good, season 5 shows that there's no slowing down, and television is all the better for it."

The sixth series of Slow Horses has already been given the green light, with Gary previously telling Deadline: "That is truly the wonderful gift that keeps on giving.

"I just adore the hell out of it, and the people. It is just such a wonderful thing really to be part of."

Slow Horses can be streamed on Apple TV+.