Slow Horses (TV Series) Footprints (2023) User Reviews

Absolute top

[uxdnubfwg · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

This show has the perfect build from episode one to the climactic episode six..

The final episode, in particular, is like a punch in the face throughout. I'm someone who likes to get lost in the farfetched and amped-up action of some shows, sometimes overlooking the lack of plausible structure.

However, all the action in Slow Horses is believable. All the 'last minute escapes' are convincing and meticulously lined up, with just the right amount of Hollywood action flavour. Some scenes are so hairy you're left wondering if there's one last attack from the opposition that gets them because anything could happen.

If you are into rich complex characters, spy, action hero, drama, comedy, and occassional gore then this is for you.

I'm someone who loves to get lost in the story and enjoy.

Best One Yet?

[djsmith · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

My favorite Slow Horses series so far. And, it ends with this spectacular episode. I've read all the Slow Horses novels, the novella, and the short stories. Loved them alI. I usually never watch video productions of books I've read. Good books create images and characters in my head that I worry will be damaged by a director or an actor's interpretation. (Compare "Seabiscuit" the movie to the book. The 15 minutes I watched of the movie were awful. The book is a classic.) This series is the exception. As good as Mick Herron's description of Jackson Lamb is, Gary Oldman's is better. Everything is better. And, I loved the books. Waiting anxiously for news he's written another. Can't wait for series number 4 even though I know the story. This wonderful episode continues the excellence of a continuing series that has had no missteps. Well done.

Epic! Fantastic episode!!!

[ingra88 · 10/10 · 29 December 2023]

Yes!

Oh my god!........ This is one action packet episode..., Never seen a U. K. series as good and fast paced as this!

Gary Oldmans Jackson Lamb, shines through using his crazy comedic sarcastic one liners!

Ladin Kirwans 'Marcus Longbridge' and Aimee F-Edward's 'Shirley Dander, work really well as a duo with their banter at one and other, it gets better when they have to fight together to stay alive!

Their characters in this season has been more at the front!

Jack Lowdens 'River Cartwright' and Rosalind Eleazar's Louisa Guy characters again works the magic of the series, switching all characters and partners around does wonders and creates different tensions!

Just like Rodney Ho's and Jackson Lamb with Catherine Standish, these tensions are very clever and never exhaust the run of the series!

10 out of 10.

The Best Episode from the Season

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 12 January 2024]

Slow Horses' third season concludes with a thrilling action-packed finale, following a shootout at the MI5 storage facility. The series showcases production values and a sense of jeopardy, with the Slough House crew facing danger. Lamb, Standish, and Sarah Dunn face a fight for survival against Park's operatives in London, resembling Skyfall's home invasion sequences. Lamb and Standish also discuss Charles Partner's principles, with Catherine seemingly quitting the service. The finale is a satisfying and action-packed experience, showcasing the series' production values and the potential for a major thread in the fourth season. Kristin Scott Thomas and Sophie Okonedo portray Taverner and Tierney, striving for the First Desk position, showcasing their narrow-mindedness and egotistical nature. While there have been few quality scenes between Lamb and Taverner this season, fans will be rewarded with more quality scenes when the episodes end. Slow Horses is a sharply written and perfect-performing series with numerous adaptations. Fans can expect to see these characters on screen for years, and if they continue to deliver quality, they will be devoured. The finale of the show, Real Tigers, builds on the previous episodes, featuring action, humor, and heart. The season effectively translated Mick Herron's work to the small screen, expanding on background details and character relationships. The biggest departure is accelerating David Cartwright's mental state, which will be a major part of the next season, expected in 2024. Slow Horses Season 3 Episode 6, "Footprints," is a solid season finale where the slow horses find their way out of a dodgy situation with a surprising amount of casualties. The episode also delivers an action-packed finale with every storyline keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The characters, including Lamb's version of Home Alone, Louisa and River, and Shirley, face various challenges and must make it out alive. River's grandfather, suffering from dementia, may have been aware of the truth about leaking a file. The upcoming Slow Horses Season 4 may see negative repercussions, as it would be unrealistic if nothing positive happened after the leak. River's tendency to ignore advice and pursue his own desires is evident. Catherine discovers the truth about her favorite human being, Charles, and finds it less painful to learn Lamb killed him than how Charles used her. The emotional confrontation between Catherine and Lamb is well-executed, leaving viewers wondering if Jackson Lamb will share something devastating or remain his annoying self. Jackson Lamb is not kind, and his actions are portrayed as he goes for the jugular.

This episode was comically bad action.

[leahthar · 6/10 · 5 January 2024]

I'm a big fan of this series. Full stop. It's great story telling and pacing. But the firefight was just extremely bad.

The filming of it was ok, but the entire scene made absolutely zero sense from a tactical / strategical sense.

There were so many things wrong with that drawn out scene that I wasn't sure whether it's just a joke that I'm missing.

I highly recommend to suspend any belief and semi sense when it comes to the choreography of this firefight.

If you ever held a gun or played a game with a gun you will cringe at this particular episode. There are SO many things wrong with it. The plot armor was way way overdone without the need to.

It speaks to the overall series that I still rate this season reasonably high because of the story telling.

Solid show but season 3 tanked

[brandonclark-95436 · 3/10 · 28 December 2023]

The first two seasons are enthralling. There are several moments a little over the top, but those moments provide entertainment value and you don't have to suspend your disbelief too much. The show does a great job of balancing thriller with levity and humor. It looks like they tried to downsize in season 3 and keep the scope small with a couple of interesting new characters. The plot was predictable, but the returning characters (especially Gary oldman) make it tolerable and worth watching. My biggest hang up about this season, particularly the season finale, was the countless number of cliche moments during action sequences. Several guns misfiring at the worst moment....bad guys pausing to say an eye-rolling line only to be attacked from behind, elite MI5 agents unable to shoot targets directly in front of them with thousands of rounds of ammo, two characters coincidentally running out of ammo at the same time so they have to get into a fist fight..... I get it's television and it should be entertaining, but this is supposed to be a spy thriller grounded in reality. Some of these redundant errors were too frequent to overlook and I started to feel like I was watching an 80s action movie. I felt like the writers just got lazy this season. I hope season 4 picks up The preview at the end of season 3 looks much more promising.

A massive suspension of belief required

[neil_mack_uk · 6/10 · 7 March 2024]

If you are giving this episode and/or season a 9 or a 10, I have to assume you have not watched any quality shows for the past two decades. I'm talking of shows like The Wire, Breaking Bad, Mr Robot, Better Call Saul, Barry. Line of Duty is the only drama I'd say comes close.

The showdown lasts over one episode, is too drawn out and rather poor in execution. The show would be better without the over-the-top action sequences.

I know there is a need to suspend belief when watching shootouts but this was comically bad. Surely kill off one of the Slow Horses to make it feel a little more authentic when the odds are so heavily stacked against them. You even see two women overpower men (of course it's 2023/24) with no surprises whatsoever.

The acting is hit and miss. Sophie Okonedo as Tearny is so wooden and Saskia Reeves as Standish disappoints with her poor delivery of lines with a posh accent.

Season 1 was decent, felt realistic. I was still nothing special with all the tiresome bickering and unimaginative dialogue, but it's a far better season that season 3. I'm going to struggle to motivate myself to watch season 4.

Oh dear, what a shame

[TartanScorsese · 4/10 · 30 December 2023]

This is really bottom of the barrel stuff. Why on earth was everything so cheesy? Why was everything so trivial? I don't know. But I presume it's due to lazy writing. I'm really gutted, I loved the first seasons of slow horses but this really felt like a B version of what went before. Everything's a one liner, there's no depth to any of the dialogue. This season started slow, became interesting, and then got very boring again. Regarding this episode, why were all the agents sent in to do the killing cast as public schools boys? Not a hint of authenticity to any of it. This is a broader problem with this season, nothing is believable or authentic. DISAPPOINTING!

This Season's Played For Laughs Action Sequences Spoil a Great Series

[RaJoHoo · 4/10 · 27 January 2024]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 seasons. The characters, drama and intrigue was fresh and wonderful to follow. However, the inclusion of pantomime action sequences has spoiled this third season for me.

Maybe ultra-realistic violent action wouldn't suit, but surely for the action sequences to have any point, they need to be convincing enough to believe our heroes are in genuine danger and peril. For me, the series has enough dark and adult shades to make more realistic action sequences a better choice.

When you have highly trained killer bad guys being taken out in hand to hand combat by small clearly unfit women, or have killers walk past a blind corner while carefully looking the other way, then shout "clear" before being shot in the back, it causes my eyes to roll upwards and I suddenly find myself watching a bunch of actors saying lines and performing nonsensical actions.

I'll give the next season a go, and hopefully they'll have either removed the action, or make it less pantomime; "he's behind you"!

Worn Out Trope

[danekera-97717 · 5/10 · 30 December 2023]

After 2 phenomenal seasons of interesting twists, turns, and characters, this show is now relying on the worn out trope of 'we're a band of misfits who now have to save ourselves from our own higher ups.' It's old and really disappointing that the writers of Season 3 went this way. No real character development and nothing to keep a viewer glued to the TV.

While many died gruesome deaths in Seasons 1-2, 3 just heaps it on...more shooting, more deaths. That's not the clever British show I love...it's lazy American-style writing that relies on lots of shooting to make the plot.

I'm hoping that the next season is better.

Retconned to Dirt

[atmegh · 1 May 2024]

The writers have gone rogue and taken pieces from the book, sliced them to bits, and made this season with just a few of the original details. It's almost a completely different story and convoluted.

Season 3 is for the Dogs, literally.

The book is very good; but watching this is unpleasant, with so many changes that it doesn't make sense.

The first season was so good, dialogue was straight from the book, but they did change the ending.

The books are great reads, but the screenwriters need to stay true to the material.

Some violent scenes are gratuitous and take time away from the actual story.

The last ten minutes of S3 EP5 all of EP6 are ridiculous. Sort of like the book but boring and not clever. Worst episodes of the series.

Handguns against tactical? Right! Ridiculous.

They also retconned Slough House's location. So many details changed, but not in service of the show's storyline. They should have covered this intricate and well written material over two seasons. It would have made better shows and episodes with continuity.