Slow Horses season 3: how to watch, recaps and everything we know about the spy drama

Gary Oldman in Slow Horses
Gary Oldman in Slow Horses (Image credit: Apple TV)

Slow Horses continues to be a diamond in the rough for Apple TV Plus, as both critics and fans who watch the spy drama have nothing but high praise for the show (the first two seasons have a combined 97% "Fresh" score from critics and a 94% score from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes). More of the spy thriller is here, with Slow Horses season 3 now playing on Apple TV Plus.

The show is based on Mick Herron's series of novels centered around a group of disgraced MI5 agents who have been exiled to a place called Slough House. Nicknamed "Slow Horses," they are led by the seemingly over-the-hill Jackson Lamb. However, Lamb and his Slow Horses are time and time again required to show they are still capable of handling dangerous missions.

Here is everything that we know about Slow Horses season 3.

How to watch Slow Horses season 3

All episodes of Slow Horses season 3 are now available to stream on Apple TV Plus. To watch the latest season, you are going to need an Apple TV Plus subscription, as it plays exclusively on the streaming service. The good news is that Apple TV Plus is still among the cheapest paid streaming service options and offers a seven-day free trial to new subscribers, as well as a three-month free subscription if you purchase a new Apple product.

If you want to catch up with Slow Horses seasons 1 and 2, then you can watch them all on Apple TV Plus as well.

Slow Horses season 3 plot

Here is the official synopsis for Slow Horses season 3:

"A romantic liaison in Istanbul threatens to expose a buried MI5 secret in London. When Jackson Lamb and his team of misfits are dragged into the fight, they find themselves caught in a conspiracy that threatens the future not just of Slough House but of MI5 itself."

There are eight books in Herron's Slough House series, with season 1 and season 2 of the show being based on the first two books, Slow Horses and Dead Lions. Slow Horses season 3 continues that tread as it is based on the third book from Herron, Real Tigers.

Slow Horses season 3 recaps

Here are the synopses for the Slow Horses season 3 episodes that have been released thus far, along with links to our in-depth recaps for each episode:

Slow Horses season 3 episode 1, "Strange Games"
"A romantic relationship is Istanbul ends badly. Lamb hits the panic button when one of his Slow Horses fails to show up for work." Read WTW's Slow Horses season 3 episode 1 recap.

Slow Horses season 3 episode 2, "Hard Lessons"
"River has to steal something out of the Park to save a life. Lamb realizes a stranger game is afoot." Read WTW's Slow Horses season 3 episode 2 recap.

Slow Horses season 3 episode 3, "Negotiating with a Tiger"
"Marcus and Shirley face Lamb's wrath. River discovers revenge is a dish best served cold." Read WTW's Slow Horses season 3 episode 3 recap.

Slow Horses season 3 episode 4, "Uninvited Guests"
"Tearney makes a bold move. The Slow Horses assist the Tiger Team, unaware of their hidden agenda. Lamb and Ho take a road trip." Read WTW's Slow Horses season 3 episode 4 recap.

Slow Horses season 3 episode 5, "Cleaning Up"
"Taverner and Tearney face off for control of MI5. River and Louisa find themselves caught in the crossfire." Read WTW's Slow Horses season 3 episode 5 recap.

Slow Horses season 3 episode 6, "Footprint"
"The Slow Horses fight for their lives. Lamb shares some devastating truths with Catherine." Read WTW's Slow Horses season 3 episode 6 recap.

Slow Horses season 3 cast

Gary Oldman leads Slow Horses as Jackson Lamb, the skilled spymaster exiled to Slough House, even if his appearance and attitude doesn't necessarily look like it. Oldman is an Oscar-winner best known for roles in The Professional, The Dark Knight and The Darkest Hour; he also appeared in one of the biggest new movies of 2023, Oppenheimer. Oldman has hinted he may retire from acting when Slow Horses ends its run, but with season 3 and an already confirmed season 4 still to come (plus even more books they can continue to adapt), it's TBD on when that may be.

The other members of Slough House include Jack Lowden (Fighting With My Family) as River Cartwright, Saskia Reeves (Wolf Hall) as Catherine Standish, Rosalind Eleazar (Harlots) as Louisa Guy, Christopher Chung (Waterloo Road) as Roddy Ho, Aimme-Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders) as Shirley Dander and Kadiff Kirwan (This Is Going to Hurt) as Marcus Longridge.

Also back for season 3 are Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) as Diana Taverner, Freddie Fox (The Great) as Spider Webb, Chris Reilly (The Feed) as Nick Duffy, Samuel West (All Creatures Great and Small) as Peter Judd, Sophie Okonedo (Death on the Nile) as Ingrid Tearney and Jonathan Pryce (The Crown) as David Cartwright.

New members of the cast for season 3 include Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù (Gangs of London) as Sean Donovan, the former head of security at the British Embassy in Istanbul, and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts) as Alison Dunn, an MI5 agent who uncovers a dark secret at the heart of the agency.

Slow Horses season 3 trailer

The official trailer for Slow Horses season 3 is here, showcasing Oldman's Lamb and his ragtag bunch of spies are back in the thick of things. Watch the trailer directly below:

You can also watch the teaser that was included at the very end of Slow Horses season 2.

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Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.