Slow Horses cast addresses major season 5 death as one agent left ‘unbothered’
Tom Brooke has unpacked his character’s reaction to the unexpected death in the latest episode of Slow Horses
Warning - this article contains major spoilers for Slow Horses season 5
Slow Horses’ fifth season on Apple TV+ has been filled with surprises so far, with the jaw-dropping yet hilarious accidental death in episode four just the latest in a string of catastrophes for the Slough House crew.
In the latest instalment of the hit espionage drama, agents River Cartwright (played by Jack Lowden) and JK Coe (Tom Brooke) have been investigating a potential attack on far-right mayoral candidate Dennis Gimball (Christopher Villiers).
An altercation between River and Gimball ends in a disastrous mishap when Coe descends some precarious scaffolding to join them on the ground.
Thanks to Coe’s habit of wearing headphones, he doesn’t notice the heavy paint can falling alongside him, which proceeds to hurtle off the building and crush Gimball’s head, killing him instantly.
River is pinned to the accident when he’s drenched in pink paint and they realise the entire incident has been recorded by Gimball’s dictaphone. They quickly make their getaway as the credits roll.
Speaking to TheWrap about the latest twist, actor Brooke admits Coe probably won’t be too phased about inadvertently causing another death during his tenure at Slough House.
“I don’t think Coe set out to kill anyone that night, but I don’t think he’s particularly disappointed that he gets to put another notch on his scorecard,” he shared.
Coe’s unemotional reaction to Gimball’s death won’t come as a surprise to fans who have already seen him coldly take out Marcus’ (Kadiff Kirwan) killer at the end of season four.
“I always felt that, at the end of season four when he gets the gun and then he uses it, something has left him in that moment,” Brooke recalled.
“Something negative leaves him and he is then more with us in the real world, having killed someone.
“I feel like the more people he kills, the happier he gets. And that’s why he’s a real psychopath,” he added, with a laugh.
Viewers are already aware that Coe’s dispassionate outlook stems from a traumatic experience from earlier in his career, in which he was tortured during an operation.
Sign up for EE TV and enjoy more entertainment for free
Author Mick Herron’s original books delve into his backstory further, so fans may discover more about the root of the agent’s PTSD in future episodes.
“I think he offers a sort of lack of interest in things, which I think goes really well with River’s frustration with everything,” Brooke went on.
“Coe is not bothered by anything. He’s gone through such an awful experience before we even meet him in the show.”
With two episodes left of the new season of Slow Horses, how will Gimball’s death debacle affect the team’s latest mission?
Slow Horses season 5 continues Wednesdays on Apple TV+.