Understanding the 11 Agents of Slough House in 'Slow Horses'

In Slow Horses, several disgraced agents find themselves at Slough House, a place for MI5 operatives deemed too innocent to fire and too useless for real responsibility. Despite this, the team gets caught up in thrilling and dangerous cases, impacting public safety due to the characters' reasons for being there and the high stakes involved.

Overseeing Slough House is the grizzled, flatulent, yet surprisingly effective Jackson Lamb (played by Gary Oldman) - a former field agent who remains highly skilled. His team consists of misfits with various transgressions, from accidental mistakes to antisocial behavior. Situated away from MI5's main base, The Park, Slough House is still part of the service and has been involved in many important operations. Understanding the team is key to unraveling the broader story of Slow Horses.

Jackson Lamb

Played by: Gary Oldman

Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) looks around in Slow Horses season 4, episode 5 - Played by: Gary Oldman

Meet Jackson Lamb, the messy but clever head of the Slough House team. Lamb is a mix of rudeness and brilliance. He took over the position after dealing with a mission to eliminate Charles Partner, the previous top agent who switched sides to the Soviet Union. Lamb's days are filled with drinking, smoking, enjoying Chinese takeout, and teasing his coworkers.

River Cartwright

Despite his inexperience and occasional clumsiness, River Cartwright shows promise in the world of spycraft. He may not have Lamb's sharp eye for detail or manipulative skills, but he makes up for it with his determination and loyalty to his team. River's willingness to learn and improve, along with his genuine care for his colleagues, make him a valuable asset despite his shortcomings.

Played by: Jack Lowden

Slow Horses Secret of Rivers Career River on the phone - Played by: Jack Lowden - River Cartwright

River Cartwright, while earnest and dutiful, falls short as a spy due to his struggles in navigating the complex world of MI5. Despite occasional moments of brilliance, he finds himself at Slough House after a humiliating training operation. It becomes apparent that certain aspects of the mission may have been manipulated to ensure his failure, highlighting his inadequacies as an agent.

In contrast to his more cynical colleagues at Slough House, River is portrayed as kind-hearted but struggles with the ruthless nature of the job. His relationships with Sid Baker and Louisa Guy show his caring nature, despite his occasional sense of entitlement. Although he can be effective in the field, his tendency to make high-profile mistakes, such as the accidental Code September incident in season 2, suggests that he may never achieve the level of success he aspires to in MI5.

Catherine Standish

Played by: Saskia Reeves

Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish looking frightened in Slow Horses - Played by: Saskia Reeves

Standish, behind Lamb, proves herself to be a skilled operator at Slough House. While officially the office administrator, she excels in the field too. She interrogates suspects, negotiates tricky hostage situations, and tracks down terrorists in Slow Horses seasons 1 to 3. Despite her capabilities, Standish has her flaws. She is a recovering alcoholic and remains fiercely loyal to her former boss, Charles Partner. This loyalty causes tension with Lamb, who is frustrated by her blind allegiance to him.

Louisa Guy

Played by: Rosalind Eleazar

Rosalind Eleazar in Slow Horses. - Played by: Rosalind Eleazar - Louisa Guy

Sent to Slough House after a failed operation, Louisa Guy is deeply affected by the experience. At first distant from her team, she eventually becomes romantically involved with Min Harper. Tragically, Min is killed in season 2, leaving Louisa devastated. This loss triggers a personal crisis, leading her to seek vengeance for Min's death and even commit a daring theft. Despite her struggle, Louisa finds solace in her friendship with River, forming a strong and effective partnership in season 3.

Roddy Ho

Played by: Christopher Chung

Christopher Chung in Slow Horses. - Played by: Christopher Chung - Roddy Ho

Roddy Ho, a highly skilled computer expert and hacker, is known for his irritating personality among his colleagues at Slough House. Despite his technical expertise, Roddy's arrogant attitude often creates conflicts with others. His difficult personality has hindered his progress within MI5, as his coworkers are reluctant to work with him. Nevertheless, Roddy has displayed moments of bravery in the field during seasons 2 and 3, proving that he is not without merit.

Shirley Dander

Played by: Aimee-Ffion Edwards

Slow Horses season 2 Dander and River looking at eachother - Played by: Aimee-Ffion Edwards - Shirley Dander

Meet Dander, a field operative at Slough House who faces challenges with anger management and addiction. Despite her struggles, she has shown great capability by defeating Andre Chernitsky in season 2 and taking on a whole team of mercenaries in season 3. However, Dander's own actions have also led to consequences, like getting fired by Jackson Lamb for being caught at a crime scene with drugs. In the season 3 finale, she forms a tentative partnership with Marcus Longridge, where they support each other in overcoming their worst tendencies.

Marcus Longridge

Played by: Kadiff Kirwan

Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley and Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus look at something off-camera in Slow Horses season 3 - Played by: Kadiff Kirwan - Marcus Longridge

Marcus Longridge ended up at Slough House instead of joining Duffy's "Dogs" unit due to his gambling addiction. Despite his skills in the field, his gambling problem caused issues, especially as he tried to keep it hidden from his wife. He has been involved in important operations at Slough House, working closely with Louisa Guy in season 2 and Dander in the intense season 3 finale. In a shocking turn of events, he takes down Nick Duffy in a season 3 showdown, showcasing his dangerous side as one of the most formidable members of Slough House.

Min Harper

Played by: Dustin Demri-Burns

Min and Louisa in Slow Horses. - Played by: Dustin Demri-Burns - Min Harper

Meet Min Harper, a lovable and kind-hearted member of the team who ends up at Slough House due to a major mishap. He accidentally left top secret documents on a train, a mistake that not only impacted his career but also his personal life, leading to a divorce from his wife. Despite his struggles, Min finds comfort in a new relationship with fellow Slow Horse, Louisa Guy. Sadly, their time together is tragically cut short when Min Harper is shockingly murdered in the middle of season 2.

Sid Baker

Played by: Olivia Cooke

Olivia Cooke as Sid looking surprised in Slow Horses - Played by: Olivia Cooke - Sid Baker

Sid Baker, the enigmatic member of the Slough House team, remains a puzzle to this day. Unlike her colleagues who ended up at Lamb's crew due to professional blunders, Sid appears to be competent at her job. However, her sudden hospitalization and subsequent disappearance without a trace only add to the mystery surrounding her. Even though she hasn't been seen since season 1, the question of Sid's fate continues to linger unresolved.

Jed Moody

Played by: Steven Waddington

Jed Moody lying dead on the floor in Slow Horses season 1 - Played by: Steven Waddington

Jed Moody, a former member of the Dogs, tries to leave Slough House by betraying Lamb and joining Diana Taverner in season 1. He believes this move will get him back on the team, but his plans are cut short when he is accidentally killed by Min and Louisa. Moody's story ends early on in Slow Horses season 1, leaving his fate uncertain.

Struan Loy

Played by: Paul Higgins

Struan Loy Slow Horses looking glum - Played by: Paul Higgins

Struan Loy, eager to bond with his Slough House coworkers, ends up isolated within the department for sending an inappropriate work email. Despite his efforts to connect with his colleagues, Loy faces rejection and a tough decision in Slow Horses season 1. He must decide between assisting Taverner in setting up Jackson Lamb or staying loyal to his boss. Loy ultimately chooses Taverner, believing she will shift the blame onto his team for a failed operation. This decision proves costly as he loses his job and derails his career.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an insightful overview of the characters and their motivations in the thrilling series "Slow Horses." The misfit agents at Slough House, led by the enigmatic Jackson Lamb, find themselves entangled in dangerous cases despite their perceived incompetence. Their unique personalities and flaws add depth and relatability to the story, as they navigate the murky world of espionage and betrayal.

The article effectively captures the dynamics within the team, highlighting the tension between Lamb's unconventional leadership and the agents' varied abilities and struggles. Each character brings a distinct perspective, from River's idealism and Standish's loyalty to Louisa's resilience and Roddy's technical expertise. The article's detailed character descriptions and analysis enhance the reader's understanding of the intricate relationships and motivations driving the characters in "Slow Horses."